Welcome to Book Two of Fire and Water: Forest of Secrets! If this is your first time stumbling across the story, I strongly recommend you read book one, Into The Wild, as many of the changes/relationships/worldbuilding details are explained in that book. As a reminder, this story has adapted worldbuilding that does not exactly match up with canon - this leads to some cultural changes, a naming system, and other tweaks here and there. This story also has a tumblr blog, warriorsfireandwater, where you can keep up to date with any non-chapter updates and ask questions!

I'm so excited to finally be back on track with Book Two, and I hope you all are too!

PROLOGUE

The summer heat beat down heavily on a lean tom. He was crouched low to the ground, eyes trained on a rabbit many fox-lengths ahead. He needed this catch. He crept forward, painstakingly slow. He panted softly as he walked. He had failed twice already to make a catch, and the temperature did little to help his exhaustion. Nevertheless, he pressed on.

The rabbit lifted its ears. Now! The tom leaped forward. The rabbit darted away, racing as fast as it could. The tom dashed after it, forcing himself to run as fast as he could. He stretched his legs farther with each stride, trying to catch up.

Then, the rabbit dove into a hidden hole, and the tom skidded to a halt. He breathed heavily before he stumbled and flopped down onto his side. Useless, he thought. That would have fed the queens and apprentices.

"Ferretstar!" a voice called out. There was a thud of paws as another cat raced towards him. "Are you alright?"

Ferretstar lifted his head. He met the cat's gaze and sighed. "I'm exhausted, Deadfoot," he meowed. He rolled back onto his paws and stood. "Have any of the patrols returned with food?"

Deadfoot sighed dejectedly. "They're tired as well," he relented. "Keeping up with border patrols and feeding the Clan with so few warriors is nearly impossible. I saw Lizardpaw trip over his own feet on a chase and nearly fall into a tunnel. Owlwhisker has been yawning every other moment for the past three days." He sat down and curled his tail around himself. The black tom was skinny, with ribs protruding from his sides. WindClan cats often were slim, but this was unusual even for them.

"I thought summer would bring us strength," Ferretstar said, his eyes narrowed with fatigue. "But we haven't even mildly recovered since Brokenstar's death. The battles robbed us of valuable warriors…" his throat tightened with grief. "Flywhisker and Bristlefur had so many seasons ahead of them."

Deadfoot nodded, eyes closed. "Doestep is trying to delay it, but she must retire soon," he said. "Stagleap keeps offering to patrol."

Ferretstar lashed his tail. "What has WindClan become?" he asked. "When I was young, the elders would have never worried about such things…" he clenched his teeth together.

Deadfoot leaned back on his haunches and stared up at the sky. "Has Barkface said anything?" he asked.

Ferretstar shook his head. "StarClan is silent," he said. "He has tried to dream with them, but they offered nothing."

Deadfoot frowned. "How can we go on like this?" he asked. "You are not so young yourself, Ferretstar. I know it's taking a toll on you to hunt and patrol this much."

Ferretstar bowed his head. "How can I do anything else?" he asked. "I can't sit in camp while my warriors waste away." He flattened his ears. "We just don't have enough paws."

"We have to find a way," Deadfoot meowed. The deputy shook his head slightly. "We have no other choice but to push on."

ALLEGIANCES

Note: This story uses a naming system. Some names and appearances have been altered to better suit the adapted worldbuilding of this story. Additionally, trans characters are marked with * and are described using the gender/pronouns they identify with. Rude comments about either of these things will be ignored.

RIVERCLAN

Leader: Crookedstar—huge light-colored tabby tom with a twisted jaw (Silverstream's father.)

Deputy: Leopardfur—dappled, golden tabby molly with unusual golden spots (Dawnwhisker's mate.)

Medicine Cats: Mudfur—long-haired light brown tom (Leopardfur's father.)

Yellowfang—ragged gray molly

Warriors:

Beetleclaw—broad-shouldered black tom (Minkpaw and Grasspaw's father.) P: Beetlenose

Voleclaw—gray tom

Apprentice, Minkpaw

Petalstream—tortoiseshell molly

Blackclaw—broad-shouldered, long-legged smoky black tom with a long tail

Weaselfoot—dark brown tom

Dawnwhisker—ginger-and-white molly, blind in one eye (Lepardfur's mate.) P: Dawnbright

Reedtail—pale gray tabby tom (Skyheart's mate.)

Frogleap—brown tom with dark striped tail

Sedgecreek—mottled ginger-brown tabby molly

Apprentice, Grasspaw

Silverstream—pretty silver-gray molly with black tabby stripes

Beechflower—stocky brown tom

Shadefang—very dark gray molly

Mossfrost—slim, dilute tortoiseshell-and-white molly

Silverthorn—silver tabby tom

Fireheart—bright ginger tom

Apprentices:

Grasspaw—small brown tabby molly *

Minkpaw—thick-furred black molly

Queens:

Mallowtail—dark ginger-and-white molly (Mother of Maplekit, a tortoiseshell-and-white molly, Duckkit, a white gom with ginger tabby patches, and Shellkit, a white tom with one ginger paw.)

Brambleflower—brown tabby molly with small white patches (Mother of Dipperkit, a brown tabby tom with white patches, Sootkit, a black tom, Nightkit, a black molly, and Lichenkit, a tortoiseshell molly.)

Skyheart—pale brown tabby molly (Expecting Reedtail's kits.)

Elders:

Graypool—thin gray molly with patchy fur and a scarred muzzle

THUNDERCLAN

Leader: Thistlestar—well-muscled, spiky-furred, dark gray-and-white tabby tom with gray patches mottling his face (Whitecloud's father.)

Deputy: Tigerclaw—big dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws (Goldenflower's mate.)

Medicine Cat: Ravenpaw—sleek black tom with a white tail-tip

Warriors:

Bluefur—blue-gray molly with a graying muzzle (Mother of Mistyfoot and Mosstail.)

Whitecloud—big white tom * P: Whitestorm

Darkstripe—sleek black-and-gray tabby tom

Stonefur—large blue-gray tom

Mistyfoot—glossy blue-gray molly

Apprentice, Cinderpaw

Mosstail—brown tabby cat *

Redtail—small tortoiseshell tom, predominantly with ginger markings (Birchfoot's mate, Sandstorm's father.) *

Willowpelt—slender, very pale silver-gray molly

Birchfoot—slender, light brown tabby tom (Redtail's mate.)

Mousefur—small dusky brown molly

Apprentice, Brackenpaw

Addertail—pale brown tabby tom with black stripes

Apprentice, Swiftpaw

Graystripe—long-haired gray tom with dark tabby markings

Sandstorm—slender, pale ginger tabby molly

Dustpelt—dark brown tabby tom

Apprentices:

Swiftpaw—black-and-white tom

Cinderpaw—dark gray molly

Brackenpaw—golden-brown tabby tom

Queens:

Frostfur—beautiful white molly with blue eyes (Mother of Thornkit and Brightkit.)

Brindleface—pretty brown tabby molly

Goldenflower—sleek, pale ginger tabby molly (Expecting Tigerclaw's kits.)

Speckletail—old, pale tabby molly (Mother of Snowkit.)

Elders:

Halftail—big dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing

Thrushpelt—sandy-gray tom with a white chest

Patchpelt—small black-and-white tom

One-eye—pale gray molly, eldest cat in ThunderClan; virtually blind and deaf

Dappletail—once-pretty tortoiseshell molly with a lovely dappled coat

SHADOWCLAN

Leader: Russetstar—small, sleek dark ginger molly

Deputy: Poppyfoot—long-legged, light-brown tabby molly (Mother of Swampkit, Applekit, and Toadkit.) P: Tallpoppy

Medicine Cat: Marshcloud—small gray-and-white tom

Warriors:

Flintfang—gray tom

Apprentice, Rowanpaw

Fernshade—tortoiseshell molly

Apprentice, Antpaw

Rowanflower—cream-and-brown molly (Mother of Stumpytail and Cinderfur) P: Rowanberry

Nutwhisker—brown tom with amber eyes

Apprentice, Whitepaw

Darkflower—black molly (Mother of Rowanpaw and Cedarpaw)

Cinderfur—gray tom

Boulder—silver tabby tom

Apprentice, Littlepaw

Rainfoot—gray tabby tom P: Wetfoot

Apprentice, Oakpaw

Deerfoot—pale brown tabby tom

Apprentice, Cedarpaw

Acornfur—mottled brown molly P: Applefur

Ratclaw—scarred dark brown tom P: Ratscar

Snowtail—pretty white molly P: Snowbird

Apprentices:

Oakpaw—small, brown tom

Littlepaw—very small tabby tom

Antpaw—black tom with white chest and paws

Rowanpaw—ginger tabby tom

Cedarpaw—dark gray tom

Queens:

Dawncloud—small, pale ginger molly (Mother of Snakekit)

Elders:

Nightfur—sickly, sleek black tom

Ashfur—thin gray tom

WINDCLAN

Leader: Ferretstar—black and white tom with a very long tail P: Tallstar

Deputy: Deadfoot—solid black tom with a twisted paw

Medicine Cat: Barkface—short-tailed brown tom

Warriors:

Moor runners -

Doestep—light brown molly

Pigeontail—short-legged dark gray-and-white patched tom

Rabbitfoot—pale brown molly with a white belly

Owlwhisker—small, lean, mottled pale brown tabby tom P: Onewhisker

Apprentice, Whitepaw

Tornear—wiry, lithe gray tabby tom

Apprentice, Quailpaw

Tunnelers -

Sorrelcloud—gray and brown molly

Wrenfoot—brown molly

Mudclaw—wiry dark brown mottled tabby tom

Apprentice, Lizardpaw

Apprentices:

Lizardpaw—wiry, dark gray tabby tom P: Webfoot

Quailpaw—sleek brown molly P: Runningbrook

Whitepaw—white molly

Queens:

Ashfoot—skinny gray molly (Mother of Eaglekit)

Morningflower—light tortoiseshell molly (Mother of Gorsekit)

Oatstripe—creamy brown tabby molly

Elders:

Stagleap—dark brown tom

Crowfur—dark gray tom

Cats Outside the Clans:

Barley—large black-and-white tom from the barn

Blackfoot—large black tom with white paws, formerly of ShadowClan

Clawface—battle-scarred brown tom, formerly of ShadowClan

Mottlepelt—long-furred, pale tortoiseshell molly, formerly of ShadowClan

Stumpytail—brown tom with darker stripes and a short, stumpy tail, formerly of ShadowClan