What would have happened if Ravenpaw had not seen Tigerclaw murder Redtail? What if Firestar had not been able to save Bluestar from Tigerclaw's tertiary? What if Tigerclaw gained control of ThunderClan?
Tigerclaw stalked forward, his eyes darting from side to side. The scent of Twolegs filled his nostrils and the whirling sound of the Treecut place buzzed in his ears. He could see the tall, broad Twoleg fence that guarded the forest from wandering Twolegs and kittypets. The great warrior spat at the fence, hissing with anger.
That was where Fireheart had come from and ever since the rusty red tom had joined the clan, ThunderClan had become soft and even Bluestar seemed to act like a kittypet.
Not for long. Tigerclaw thought triumphantly. He sat down at the base of a birch and waited patently. He knew that this was it. This was the day that finally all of his hard work would pay off. Memories flashed back to him, reminding him of what he had done.
"What are you doing?" Redtail's sharp response as Tigerclaw leapt at him. It was easy pinning him down since the brave deputy was exhausted from the battle with RiverClan. Tigerclaw bared his fangs as Redtail struggled to break free. He snorted with disgusted as he smelt the fear scent coming off of the deputy.
Some brave warrior he was! Tigerclaw thought, shifting his paws.
Tigerclaw thrust his muzzle into Redtail's face, his malicious eyes glittering with triumphant. "Remember me in StarClan," he growled. Redtail shuttered and then glared up at the tabby.
"StarClan will never forgive you for his!" he hissing, spitting in Tigerclaw's face. Tigerclaw lashed his tail angrily and then lunged forward. The deputy's yowl was cut short as his body thrashed and then became limp in Tigerclaw's jaws. The tabby spat out fur in disgust and then gazed triumphantly down at the fallen warrior.
Tigerclaw fluffed his fur out as a fierce wind bit into his flank. It whistled past his ear and seemed to cling to his fur. Tigerclaw snorted and turned away from the Twoleg nests, settling himself amongst the leaves. He vaguely remembered his other attempt at Bluestar's life. The thought made his flick his tail with annoyance.
Fireheart had sent his apprentice instead and the stupid she-cat had run right out on to the Thunderpath in front of a monster. He remembered the shock of finding the apprentice limp on the side of the road rather than Bluestar. It was the clan leader that he had sent for and it was the clan leader that should have been killed.
Tigerclaw growled at his failure and lashed his tail as he thought of Fireheart. The young warrior had been allowed to join the clan when he was just a kittypet. He had snuck around with Greystripe and Raventail, helping the other clans and breaking the warrior code. He was a disgrace to the clan and if it were not for his undivided loyalty to Tigerclaw, the tabby would have killed him already.
Tigerclaw pricked his ears as he heard rustling in the bracken. Opening his jaws, Tigerclaw caught the scent of cats mixed with the disgusting smell of crowfood. Ever so carefully, a band of ragged, matted cats stepped out from the bushes.
Their eyes glowed with hunger and their pelts were ragged and filthy. Their lean muscles were stringy and their ribs could be seen through their pelts, but their eyes glowed with anticipation and their tails thrashed with anger. They wanted revenge, and that was what Tigerclaw was offering them.
"Is the camp deserted?" a molten brown tom hissed stepping out from the ranks of the rouges. Tigerclaw glared at the tom coolly.
"That's my business!" he snapped. "I said that I would take care of the camp and so I have."
Tigerclaw felt the hair along his pelt bristle with distrust and his tail lashed with anger. He could hardly stand working beside these tyrants, but if he was to become leader, he needed their help. Tigerclaw watched as the tom nodded and then turned to the rouges.
"This will be the day that you will have your revenge. This is the day that you will fight and gain the honor that you lost. Today you will earn your ranks amongst ThunderClan!" Tigerclaw suddenly yowled. The rouges all rose up and yowled their approval and then began to steadily follow Tigerclaw through the forest.
Tigerclaw race toward the camp, anticipation making him go faster. Today would be his day of glory and triumphant and he knew just what to do when he won. He spotted the gorse tunnel, the entrance to the camp. Quickly thinking, Tigerclaw yowled his battle cry as he launched himself through the barrier.
"ThunderClan to me! To me!" he yowled turning swiping at the molten rouge tom. The tom yowled in surprise and fell to the ground from Tigerclaw's blow. Though his claws were carefully sheathed, Tigerclaw batted at the tom with all of his strength. This was the tom that led the band of rouges and the one that would expect a high rank in ThunderClan once Bluestar was dead.
Tigerclaw gently bite the flank of the molten tom and then trust him away. The tabby warrior glanced around. The clearing was now filled with fighting cats. Greystripe wrestled with a large tom in front of the nursery while Mousefur batted at a she-cat nearby the warrior's den. Fireheart and his apprentice, Cloudpaw burst through the gorse tunnel, immediately leaping at the closes rouges. Crookedtail was wrestling with Dustpelt, but Bluestar was no where to be seen.
Tigerclaw slipped away from the battle and toward the leader's den. She must not have come out yet. The tabby warrior stepped through the lichen that covered the leader's den and ran straight into Bluestar.
The leader's blue fur stood at end and her eyes were alive with fire. Her tail streamed out from behind her and her lips were already drawn back into a snarl. She relaxed as she spotted Tigerclaw and her fur flattened slightly.
"Are you well Bluestar?" Tigerclaw asked, slowly advancing towards her. Bluestar stared at him in confusion.
"There is no time for this Tigerclaw! Our clan needs us!" she spat, trying to slip past him. Tigerclaw blocked her way and then barreled her over with a swipe from his massive paw.
"Say hello to StarClan for me," he hissed.
"Tigerclaw! What is this?" Bluestar shrieked. Tigerclaw crouched down, watching his leader with hunger in his eyes.
"I don't care how many lives you have! I'll kill you as many times that I need to. It is time for me to lead this clan." He leapt and landed right on her back. She yowled with surprise and collapsed to the ground.
Tigerclaw knew that he had the element of surprise, but he did not expect Bluestar to be this weak. Her eyes were dull and she numbly struggled under him. It was as if all of the fire of the battle had been knocked out of her at his first leap. He thrashed his tail with anger. The old Bluestar would have fought him claw to claw, not this scared kittypet that lay under him now.
He scourged his claws across her muzzle and bit into her shoulder. Bluestar yowled and kicked upward, sending Tigerclaw flying across the den. He slammed into the wall and then slumped on to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. Bluestar screeched and launched herself at him, the fire back in her eyes, but Tigerclaw was ready. Nimbly the deputy leapt over the leader, landing behind her and taking hold of her tail. He bit down and could feel the shake of her spine as the pain split across it.
Bluestar turned and swiped her claws across his shoulder, but Tigerclaw barely felt it. He knew that Bluestar was weakening and he knew that this was her last life. He let go of her tail and backed away, ready for a new approach.
Bluestar stood across from him breathing deeply. Her eyes were glazed over with fear and betrayal. She shook on her paws and her tail lay in the dust. Her gaze met Tigerclaw's and he snarled at her. Bluestar flinched taking a step back.
"Why?" she asked. Tigerclaw thrashed his tail.
"What does it matter?" he hissed. "Your crowfood."
He leapt, swiping his claws across Bluestar's chest. The she-cat yowled, stumbling on her paws. Tigerclaw saw his chance and took it. He bowled her over and scratched at her under belly with his back claws while making a nasty bite at her ear. Bluestar bit his paw and scratched at his eyes. Blood flooded into his vision, but he did not stop. Lunging forward, Tigerclaw made contact and bit down at Bluestar's throat.