So it may seem bizarre that I should randomly post an update on a story that I haven't thought about for years. And you're right: it is. However, I received a PM recently asking me how the story was supposed to end, and was simultaneously hit by a wave of Warriors and Slaves related nostalgia. So, here I am, tying up loose ends by posting my original plan on how the story would've ended if I'd carried on writing! :P

A note on the adopted version of the story. There was an additional chapter written and posted by Cotton Candy Mareep in 2017, so if anyone's interested please go and read that (it's rly good), but as their doesn't seem to be any further writing going on I feel justified in posting the conclusion here.

So, here we go. The events of the story arranged by Clan. You should also note that the following was written by me just after the story had been adopted by Cotton Candy Mareep.

WindClan:

After finding out from Ryesong that the prophecy Palewhisper keeps hearing in her dreams signifies her death for the sake of ThunderClan, Eaglefang becomes more and more aggressive in his protection of her. It should be underlined there would be clear development of the fact that they are close because of their Clan connnection, but also inevitably because of a growing romantic attachment. Unfortunately, the Greencough epidemic spreads, and Palewhisper eventually catches it, spurring Eaglefang into action.

Ryesong tells him that WindClan's catmint stores are all out, but also informs him secretly that RiverClan have a patch of their own nearby the shared border between them. (PLEASE NOTE: I know that this clump of catmint doesn't neccesarily exist in the canon Clans, but you should assume that because this is essentially dystopian it has grown up over time). He takes a trip into RiverClan's territory to steal the catmint and succeeds, although he comes very close to getting caught by a nearby patrol. He is saved by Sageclaw, who creates a diversion at the last moment for his fellow slave to escape.

Even though WindClan is progressively getting better from the Greencough because of the new herbs stolen by Eaglefang, Gorsestar decides that they are too weak to carry out a fight with RiverClan at this point in Leafbare. So, he goes with Sandpelt to RiverClan to negotiate peace talks (PLEASE NOTE: This would be seen from Sageclaw's POV, but since it directly relates to WindClan I decided to include it here). They decide with Streamstar, much to the distaste of Shellstorm, that any conflict between them should, at the very least, be delayed until a time where the effects of a fight may not be as catastrophic. Leafbare effectively comes to an end at this point, and Palewhisper is healed from Greencough. The resulting scene sees her and Eaglefang admit their love for each other, and they become mates.

However, as the weather gets better and WindClan grow stronger again, the temporary peace between them and RiverClan breaks down. RiverClan are still, reportedly, stealing prey. Another Gathering comes by, this time which WindClan chooses to attend with one of their slaves (Eaglefang). He meets Foxflame and Smoketalon, who tell him that during the previous moon they have been meeting and discussing a plan for escape. It is also revealed that Foxflame is in fact the cat who has been stealing prey from WindClan territory, because she has struggled to catch enough prey without fish. The bases of their plan are also revealed- because of the tensions between WindClan and RiverClan, a fight is inevitable. This would most likely, they decide, be the best time for an escape attempt, because many of the warriors would not be present in their respective Clan camps.

The war grows nearer, and Eaglefang, through arranged meetings with Foxflame, learns that RiverClan has managed to recruit ShadowClan, meaning that WindClan would effectively be outnumbered if a war emerged. He also learns, to his horror, that Palewhisper is pregnant with his kits. The slaves plan becomes clear when RiverClan and ShadowClan arrange a date to attack WindClan- once the camps are near empty, they will attempt to overpower the limited guards and make a run for it. They will meet up over the hills above WindClan territory, where the Clans first arrived at the lake.

The night of the attack arrives, and WindClan's camp is invaded. This awakens memories in Eaglefang and Palewhisper of the night ThunderClan's camp was attacked. However, they stick to the plan and manage to escape from the camp. No one chases them because the warriors could not be spared in defending the Clan.

But, when Eaglefang and Palewhisper meet up with the rest of their Clanmates, who have succesfully escaped (along with one other cat, who I'll come to later), Palewhisper drops to the floor. She is having a miscarriage due to over exertion, similar to Silverstream. The ThunderClan cats, who have no idea how to deliver kits, do their very best, but all but one of the kits are stillborn. The surviving kit, a young she-cat, Eaglefang names Dawnkit (obviously symbolising the new dawn of ThunderClan). The prophecy has been fulfilled- Palewhisper has died for the sake of the future of ThunderClan, but now, there is a new dawn for all the slaves.

RiverClan:

Sageclaw struggles to resist the urge to intervene and help Foxflame in her situation with Shellstorm. He asks her whether she needs any, but in her usual aloof manner says she doesn't. He decides to try and find out why Shellstorm has an obsession with Foxfame despite his apparent love for Reedshade. By this point, him and Reedshade have established times to meet so that they can continue practising to fish. During one of these meetings he asks Reedshade (at some point in this scene it would become apparent the fight they had was over Foxflame) who explains Shellstorm, when they were apprentices, had a crush on a warrior with a similar dark ginger pelt, who died in some sort of accident. She explains that they became mates soon after (a kinda grief/comfort relationship) and that although he is being unfaithtful she still loves him.

You would get the chapter where Sageclaw helps Eaglefang escape from the patrol, and the scene where WindClan representatives meet up with Streamstar, mentioned in the WindClan paragraphs.

Foxflame would finally inform him of the plan to escape afte the second Gathering. Shellstorm has begun to grow suspicious of Foxflame going to meet Smoketalon to discuss peace talks, and one night he follows her, but Sageclaw manages to lead him off. They have a confrontation where they both get aggressive and nearly get into a fight, but Shellstorm eventually lets him off with a warning not to get between him and Foxflame.

During another one of their fishing meetings, Sageclaw (somehow or other) realises that he is falling in love with Reedshade, and eventually they would have a scene where they both admit they have some form of feelings for each other. Reedshade explains that she can't be with him even though she cares for him deeply because she still feels loyalty to Shellstorm.

Finally, the night of the attack on WindClan comes. Many of the warriors have left the camp and so Foxflame and Sageclaw manage to escape virtually unseen, but they are chased by Shellstorm. Sageclaw and Shellstorm have their inevitable fight, and Shellstorm pins Sageclaw to the ground as well as overpowering Foxflame, but then, Reedshade comes to their rescue and kills Shellstorm. She tells Sageclaw that she loves him, and wants to be with him no matter what. Foxflame, Sageclaw and Reedshade escape to the hills where Palewhisper's miscarriage then takes place.

ShadowClan:

Smoketalon, grudgingly, allows Aspenpaw and Tanglepaw to carry on being friends. He also continues to talk with Ivynose, whom he seems to have a connection with. Of course, you would get the meetings where he and Foxflame discuss plans to escape but he would not tell Aspenpaw about this. However, he also secretly begins to plan his revenge on Emberheart. The plan he formulates includes luring him out of camp in some way (haven't really planned on how) before attacking him. Emberheart refuses to fight Smoketalon, and when told he is a coward the reasons why his Clan appear so hostile towards him are revealed. Smoketalon did not see this on the night of the battle, but Emberheart did indeed fight Beechfoot and pin him to the ground. Ravenstar was nearby them, and urges him to kill Beechfoot, but Emberheart says he cannot (strong sense of justice) but Ravenstar threatens to depose him as deputy if he does not. At this threat he kills Beechfoot, which Smoketalon. The Clan dislikes him because Ravenstar dennounced him in public after the attack for his moment of disloyalty. He tells Smoketalon it was the biggest mistake of his life and he regrets it every moment. Smoketalon doesn't forgive him but also decides to spare his life.

VERY IMPORTANT: I don't really know how, but somehow or other Smoketalon finds out why ThunderClan was attacked. Its all down to Ravenstar. As soon as he became leader he circulated lie after lie and rumour after rumour about the cruelty of ThunderClan. He turned his Clan against them and eventually managed to turn the other Clans against them, essentially manipulating them into believing that ThunderClan were a threat and needed to be destroyed. He appears to have some kind of personal vendetta against them.

Then, comes the biggest twist of the story. In a conversation with Ivynose, perhaps on the day before the attack, he tells her that he and Aspenpaw are planning to escape. He says, awkwardly, that she will be the only ShadowClan cat that he misses. Then, Ivynose reveals to him that she, is in fact, his mother. She had a forbidden relationship with a ThunderClan cat when she was younger (unspecified) and gave birth to three kits on the ThunderClan border with her mate. They believed that Smoketalon, at the time, was stillborn and they had previously decided that the kits would come with her to ShadowClan. The mate went to bury the kit before finding out he was alive and taking him to a pregnant mother who weaned him (similar to Stonefur and Mistyfoot, Smoketalon was never told that he was not ThunderClan). This, of course, means that he and Beechfoot's pelt similarity is a complete coincidence and they are not brothers. Ravenstar, Nightwhisper and Smoketalon are brothers. Ivynose explains the reason Ravenstar never visits her is becuase he discovered in his youth that he was not fully ShadowClan. This upset him deeply because, you know, ShadowClan pride and purity and all that. He practically disowned his mother and becuase he wanted to blame something, he harbored a deep hatred for ThunderClan, explaining why he was so determined to destroy them. Nightwhisper doesn't know the truth, only Ravenstar. Shocked, hurt and confused, Smoketaon stumbles away from Ivynose, who calls to him in despair.

On the night of the attack, he and Aspenpaw have trouble escaping. They manage to overpower their one guard, but Ivynose manages to distract a warrior who was about to discover them, allowing them to escape. Smoketalon should interpret this as Ivynose's attempt at an apology (you can choose whether he accepts it or not). Then the Palewhisper birth takes place and tadaah.

And thus, the story reaches a long awaited conclusion. Yours truly, Claudaujay.

FIN