Warriors: Scorched in the Heart

I don't own Warriors, it belongs to Erin Hunter!

Spoilers for the first-third Warriors series mostly (maybe the fourth series though I have to re-read it again!), and also Bluestar's Prophecy! But then again, there are divergences and this makes it different in ways from the series. Some stuff may happen out of order! No need to worry cuz this diverges from the canon anyways!

Ch. 1 A Rusted Tiger!

Tigerpaw looked around the woods on his way to the Thunderpath. This would be his first Gathering since his new apprenticeship! Bluefur, his mentor leaped the log behind him. Tigerpaw had chosen to go under the gap big enough to fit his body. He chuckled in his head when he thought of how annoyed the larger cats would be if they were to get stuck in the gap.

Sunstar lifted his tail up to signal to stop. Tigerpaw had remained behind his leader at all times, but just ahead enough that Bluefur had told him to not get ahead of himself with excitement, for they still had a ways to go. "Plus, you don't want to get there and be panting like a tired dog, do you Tigerpaw?" Bluefur glanced at him with faint amusement in her eyes. That shifted when she gazed at the Thunderpath.

Tigerpaw and the other apprentice-Whitepaw- were put at the front of the group, so that if anyone was left behind, the older warriors could get to the cat if need be. Sunstar streaked across the road. "Wow he's like a sun spot! He's so fast!" Tigerpaw was filled with a little awe at Sunstar's power. Tigerpaw knew his own father, Pinestar, was still greatly admired by ThunderClan and his young son couldn't wait to live up to his potential. Although, Tigerpaw felt a pang of sadness and wondered if he would ever see his father again.

After the cat in front of him went, Tigerpaw felt apprehensive. This was until he saw a flame-colored ball of fluff dart onto the asphalt. Hey what was that? Suddenly the thing moved. Is it a kitten? Tigerpaw knew he was correct when he was able to make out a soft mew. What if he didn't make it? In that moment, three things happened quickly.

Tigerpaw sprinted to the kitten, grabbed his scruff, and leapt to the safe side just in time to hear a truck wiz past. He looked to the side and saw Sunstar gaping at him. Looking across the street he saw the wide eyes from rest of his clanmates. "What? I couldn't let him die. Not if I could help it." Speaking around a tuff of fur was a little hard but manageable.

Setting the bundle down, he gave the kitten a check for injuries. Tigerpaw was no medicine cat, but he didn't think anything apart from some adrenaline rush happened. Wide green eyes looked up at Tigerpaw, as a small smile formed on the tiny cat's mouth. "Wow I would have been smushed!" was all that was said before the flaming fuzzball launched at Tigerpaw.

Being nuzzled with hugs from every angle, Tigerpaw stared slightly dumbfounded. He expected the kitten to be scared out of his wits, but here he was thanking Tigerpaw profusely. Knowing this, Tigerpaw felt a rush of happiness. He never got this kind of affection before, not since he was in the nursery sucking milk from his mother, Leopardfoot. With that in mind, Tigerpaw reciprocated a little bit before pulling away from the bright-orange tom.

"So what's your name kittypet?" When Tigerpaw said this, he didn't sound condescending or angry. He was taught that one's roots didn't make up all of who that cat was. She also told him that Pinestar went and left to be a kittypet, so Tigerpaw knew he couldn't say anything bad about them. When the answer came in the sound of a sweet voice, Tigerpaw could not repress the tingle it left him. "My name is Rusty! What's yours?"

"I'm Tigerpaw. I'm a ThunderClan cat." He could hear the pride in his voice and was happy that he was ThunderClan. He answered the few questions Rusty asked him before the rest were at their sides. Rusty was in the middle of asking Tigerpaw how many cats lived in the forest before he looked to see Sunstar staring at the kitten. Rusty noticed too for he let out a squeak and quickly closed his mouth.

Sunstar looked at the little tom before introducing himself. Then he introduced their patrol. "This is Bluefur, Whitepaw, Thrushpelt, Stormtail, Patchpelt, Lionheart, and Rosetail. We and other cats are part of ThunderClan. We're on our way to the Gathering. Would you like to join us?"

Tigerpaw could see Rusty look confused for a second, before wiggling around with joy. "Woohoo! Yeah sure! And then can I be in ThunderClan?" Tigerpaw noticed that Sunstar looked a tad shocked when the kitten asked this, but then nodded. At this, Rusty started spouting off "thank you's" and talking a mile a minute. Not that Tigerpaw minded. He liked the enthusiastic and energetic kit. He was sure when Rusty was old enough, he would have a blast training and learn all that Tigerpaw could help teach him.

Once it was confirmed that Rusty was ready to go, the troop started off again towards the Gathering. Rusty got tired after a while, and Tigerpaw let him ride on his back for a bit. Then after they passed a particularly large bush, they walked a bit farther in the grass, until Rusty noticed they were surrounded by RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan.

Tigerpaw saw Sunstar go over to the huge tree branch and leap atop it. He wondered when he would be able to do that easily too. Maybe when he got older. He looked over and saw Rusty's eyes widen like his did and felt happy. This little kitten was so easily pleased. Looking up at the trees he saw Hailstar, Cedarstar, and Heatherstar. They were all staring down at the cats who gathered in the hollow. He wondered why they weren't sitting on the Great Rock, but figured it would be slightly nippy for their rumps; plus it seems easier to climb the tree than the rock since it had rained yesterday.

He tried to pay attention as best he could since this was his first Gathering, but the excitement and the fact that he had a ball of distraction currently playing with his tail were not helping the young tom focus. Though this was true, he could not keep the smile from his face-not when seeing Rusty try his hardest to catch his striped tail. The farther it would move, the faster the young kitten would jump for it.

Gazes of other cats bore into him, and he thought to himself 'Have they never seen a kitten before?' He could understand the uncertainty, but to outright glare at Rusty when it was obvious the kit had done nothing wrong? Uncalled for in Tigerpaw's opinion. Especially one who could not help how he was born. Besides, why shouldn't he come live with them? He had nothing tying him to his kittypet life. The young apprentice couldn't see anything wrong with this.

The Gathering was almost over when an apprentice (or a warrior or leader) from another Clan spoke a most horrendous thing. Tigerpaw tried not to rise to the bait but he couldn't help himself. A sneer was on their muzzle "Why don't you get out of the forest with your little friend and become a kittypet like your no-good father? Maybe you three can start your own Clan!"

Now Tigerpaw knew he didn't know his father for very long, but was sure that Pinestar was a great leader, no matter what he had chosen to live the rest of his life out as. Tigerpaw was also sure that his father would be proud of him always, as he had said to him the day he left. No doubt that Pinestar would not have left Rusty to die on the Thunderpath. The tom would've saved the kitten on the road, whether or not it was part of the Warrior Code. Tigerpaw was not going to just sit here and listen to this garbage about Pinestar and Rusty.

Whipping his tail furiously, Tigerpaw bared his fangs and kneaded his long claws into the ground. "Now you listen here you fox-face. You don't have any right to say such lies about my father! Or the young cat I found today! Or so help me I will claw that smirk off your face." Before Tigerpaw could make do on his threat, Sunstar came up behind him and Rusty.

Tigerpaw felt a strong tail lay across his shoulders and draw him around to face the two standing beside him. He saw Rusty's wide eyed stare on him. The young apprentice had just enough time to wonder if the young kitten was scared of him, before he was knocked over by the fluffball. A loud purring sound drowned out the rest of the cats-a warm body pressed on his side. Tigerpaw was beginning to realize that this young flame-colored kitten liked giving and receiving affection. Well, it would certainly go two-fold back to him. Tigerpaw listened to Rusty as he thanked him for standing up for him. After a bit, the two got up off the forest floor.

Tigerpaw looked around and saw cats leaving the hollow, each going separately along the grass to their own camps. Rusty looked eager despite the possible danger and hostility that he would likely receive once he got to ThunderClan. 'No matter. I will try my hardest to protect him from harm.' With this thought Tigerpaw started heading to ThunderClan after Sunstar and Rusty.

Tigerpaw glanced at the trees he passed on the way to ThunderClan. He was always amazed by how high trees could stretch if given the chance. Lately he has been busy doing apprentice duties. It made sense since he and Whitepaw were the only apprentices so far. Tigerpaw liked when he had the time to look and try to climb the trees as far as he could go. Rusty must have seen his gaze too, for he too was gazing at the trees while trying to keep his balance. Tigerpaw's laugh was muffled and his eyes warm as he looked at his soon-to-be clanmate. Rusty was such a bright cat. Tigerpaw could already see much for his future.

Sunstar called a meeting up on the big rock so he could see all his cats. The big news about Rusty joining ThunderClan was about to happen. As Sunstar was telling the rest if the camp of the decision regarding the little kitten, murmurs of disapproval sounded from a couple cats. Stormtail and Thistleclaw especially.

"Why are we supposed to let this cat into our camp? Look at his pelt. It looks so soft that he'll go crying to his mother the minute it gets caught in a bush!" That was Stormtail's voice, which made Tigerpaw want to mouth off to him. The same with Thistleclaw. The gray uneven-mottled tom drew his lip back with his fangs gleaming. Tigerpaw felt his doing the same, subconsciously crouching beside Rusty. He'd be ready if they decided to attack him.

"The thing looks too tiny to ever become a warrior. He'll last maybe five minutes into a practice battle. If that." As Tigerpaw heard this come from Thistleclaw, he couldn't fathom why Snowfur would choose to mate with that fleabag. The young white female cat said it was because the prickly tom was soft on the inside, Tigerpaw and most of his clanmates had trouble seeing it.

Tigerpaw was bunching up his muscles to go and get Thistleclaw and Stormtail, when he felt Rusty leap away from him. Surprised, he saw the kitten chasing a butterfly. Tigerpaw felt a small smile creep up onto his face. He couldn't help it, the little one calmed him down so instantaneously. Tigerpaw went over a few tail-length paces over and sat near Rusty-all while keeping a sharp eye on the two troublesome toms.

After Sunstar got ahold of the meeting once again, he gave Rusty his new name. Firekit suited the flame-colored cat well. Tigerpaw watched as Sunstar touched noses with him. He was then introduced to the rest of the Clan. It was a good feeling to see the little ball of fluff so happy. Tigerpaw hoped he could keep it that way for as long as he could.