Hello my dear readers, or those who haven't lost hope that I would eventually update! I hope you had a very scary Halloween! Also I am officially 19 now, cause my birthday was Oct, 28! Anyway I hope that this chapter will be worth that painful wait! Also look up 'From the Ashes' by xXxRavenXDameonxXx (really good read!)
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Fireheart watched her kits from where she crouched beside the nursery, eating a magpie. Fernpaw, Fireheart's apprentice, also crouched beside her eating her own fresh-kill. It was three days since the Gathering and the discovery of Tigerstar's new leadership, and there was still no sign of the attack Bluestar had feared. ThunderClan had used the time to rebuild the camp, and although there was still a long way to go, Fireheart couldn't help feeling pleased when she saw shady walls of fern beginning to grow back around the edge of the camp, and the bramble thicket firmly interlaced with twigs to shelter the nursery and protect the kits.
"Tawnykit, keep your claws sheathed!" Fireheart called out to her daughter as she saw Leafkit flinch under her sister's claws. Tawnykit sheepishly released the tabby and retracted her nettle like claws.
"Their energetic!" Fernpaw meowed through a mouthful of mouse. Fireheart hummed agreement, Fernpaw really seemed interested in kits and with her warrior training running so well, Fireheart could tell that the pretty pale gray she-cat would be able to protect even the smallest of kits single-pawed.
"Their just getting warmed up, believe me." Fireheart purred back to her apprentice, the two of them sharing amused glances. After eating the last mouthful of her magpie, Fireheart stood up to stretch, taking the time to groom her fur as she waited for Fernpaw to finish.
Fireheart looked toward the gorse tunnel that was still healing from the fire, the dawn patrol was returning with Whitestorm in the lead. Fireheart took a few steps forward as the white warrior padded towards her. "Any sign of ShadowClan?" she asked.
Whitestorm shook his head. "Nothing," he meowed. "Just the usual scent markings along their border. There was one thing, though…"
Fireheart's ears pricked with curiosity. "What?"
"Not far from Snakerocks we found a whole stretch of undergrowth trampled down, and pigeon feathers scattered all over it."
"Pigeon feathers?" Fireheart echoed. "I haven't seen a pigeon for days. Is some other Clan hunting in our territory?"
"I don't think so. The whole place reeked of dog." Whitestorm wrinkled his nose with distaste. "There was dog dirt there too."
""Oh, a dog." Fireheart flicked her tail dismissively. "Well, we all know that Twolegs are always bringing their dogs into the forest. They run around, chase a few squirrels, and then the Twolegs take them home again." She let out a purr of amusement. "The only unusual thing is that it looks as if this one caught something."
To her surprise, Whitestorm continued to look serious. "All the same, I think you should tell the patrols to keep their eyes open," he meowed.
"Okay." Fireheart respected the older warrior too much to ignore his advice, but privately she thought the dog would be a long way away by now, shut up somewhere in Twolegplace. Dogs were noisy nuisance, but she had more important things to worry about.
She was reminded of her anxiety about food supplies as she glanced at the fresh-kill pile, where Brightpaw, Whitestorm's apprentice, and Cloudpaw, Sandstorm's apprentice and Fireheart's kin, who made up the rest of the patrol, were already looking over the small selection.
"Look at this!" Cloudpaw exclaimed loudly to Brightpaw. Showing something to the white and ginger splotched apprentice. "There's hardly a decent mouthful on it!"
"You should show more respect, and less complaining," Brackenfur meowed as he padded behind the two apprentices. "Prey is hard to find since the fire." The young warrior reminded, although he said it kindly.
"Then let's hunt again," Cloudpaw declared, his white fur fluffed out as he stared up at Brackenfur. Although Fireheart couldn't see it, she just knew there was a spark of determination in her nephew's eyes. "The Clan needs more fresh-kill, and I'm so hungry I could eat a fox!"
"You can come with Sandstorm and I." Brackenfur replied, taking a small vole off the pile.
"And be left behind while you and Sandstorm make lovey-dovey eyes at each other? No thanks! Can't I just hunt with Brightpaw instead?" Cloudpaw protested with a groan, making both Brightpaw and Brackenfur's whiskers twitch with amusement.
"Alright, but bring back as much as you can. And hunt for the elders first, I'll tell Sandstorm where you have gone." Brackenfur didn't get the last bit out before Brightpaw scampered over to Whitestorm, and with a nodd of the head from her mentor both apprentice's dashed off toward the camp entrance.
Brackenfur watched them go with a twinkle in his eyes. Before promptly turning to settle down beside a nettle bush that was completely barred of its spiky leaves. It wouldn't be long before Sandstorm would come and join the golden-brown tabby, and she took a moment to think about waiting to see if they both wanted to come hunting with her and Fernpaw. But shook the notion, like Cloudpaw said, they would be to distracted between each other to focus much.
"Alright, ready to go hunting?" Fireheart asked, Fernpaw scrapped earth over the bones of her fresh-kill, looking up at her mentor as she meowed in agreement.
"Can we come with you?" Hawkkit meow sounded as the tabby came trotting up, Leafkit and Bramblekit not a paw-step behind. Each of her tabby kits reminded her of Tigerstar, Bramblekit especially, and exact look alike. Hawkkit was just the same in personality, like his continuous and bravery, while Leafkit had his patience and sense of justice.
"No, You're kits. And therefore have to stay in camp," Fernpaw reminded as Hawkkit gave a huff of indifference. "But it won't be long until you're ready, then you can gloat all you want to Sorrelkit, Rainkit and Sootkit." Fernpaw added on, watching as Fireheart's second born son whiskers twitched in satisfaction at the thought.
"Just like you are doing now?" Squirrelkit sounded, her fluffy ginger tail sticking high in the air.
"Precisely," Fernpaw agreed. "A special perk for waiting patiently for so long."
"Sorrelkit is getting more and more rambunctious and mischievous as Squirrelkit and Hawkkit now, I think they are rubbing off on her!" Spottedkit meowed as she joined up with her siblings.
"You would know," Squirrelkit replied playfully. "You spend more time with them then even Willowpelt if you can believe!"
"Their fun to play with," Spottedkit retorted, although her ears twitched in embarrassment. "Besides, someone needs to look after them so Willowpelt can get some sleep."
"That's very kind of you," Fireheart praised her daughter, surprised to learn the fact that her daughter has been spending time with such young kits. Maybe spending time with the younger kits help with her shyness towards the more older apprentices and warriors. Whatever the case may be, she was glad to see her shyest kit making friends with the other kits in the nursery.
"I don't see why though," Squirrelkit meowed dramatically. "That Sootkit is a menace, he keeps stepping on my tail and doesn't even apoligious!"
"So?" Hawkkit huffed. "You step on my tail all the time, but you don't apologize to me."
"I don't have to apologize to you," Squirrelkit huffed, her green eyes locking on icy-blue ones. "You're my brother, I'm allowed to step on your tail!"
"Just like I'm allowed to bit your ear!" Hawkkit shouted as he tackled his sister and got into a tussle.
"You all stay where the other warriors can see you," Fireheart advised her kits as she shared a look with Fernpaw. "And maybe I can take you out sometime to see the forest." Her kits instantly stopped what they were doing to eye their mother with wonder.
"Are we going today?" Bramblekit asked with a whoosh of air knocked out of him where Leafkit and Tawnykit had pinned him.
"Not today," Fireheart meowed. "But sometime soon, I promise." Her kits didn't seem crushed, at least not as much as she expected. Instead there was a look of eagerness to them due to their mother's promise.
"Should we ask someone else to come with us?" Fernpaw suggested, her pale green eyes staring up at her mentor. Fireheart blinked thoughtfully at the question, and gave a light nod of the head. Scanning the clearing, Fireheart called out to Swifttail, a newly made warrior, and Cinderpelt, Fireheart's old apprentice as they emerged from the warriors den.
"Up for a hunting patrol?" Fireheart called to the both of them. Cinderpelt instantly perked up, her dark gray fur bristling with excitement as though she was an apprentice again, and Swifttail following a bit more sluggishly behind.
"Looks as if we'd need it," Swifttail huffed as he scanned the fresh-kill pile with disapproval. "We should go now, and find something on the way."
Fireheart observed the black-and-white tom through narrowed eyes, she can't say that Swifttail was her most favorite cat, not since the incident where Spottedkit was taken by Twolegs. But he was a remarkable young warrior, and was rightfully made a warrior due to his accomplishment of helping save Spottedkit from the Twolegs nest.
"Alright, if you're sure," Fireheart meowed, leading the way with the three younger cats following. Out of the group Fireheart was senior warrior, two young warriors and a apprentice. Fireheart thought that ThunderClan, even due to the fire, was growing. Soon Cloudpaw, Brightpaw, and Thornpaw will become warriors themselves. Maybe even mentor one of Fireheart's own kits.
I'll have to talk Bluestar about their naming ceremonies later. Fireheart thought to herself as she led her hunting party out of camp and up the ravine. At the top, she turned toward Sunningrocks. Doing her best to carry out Bluestar's order about doubling the patrols, she had instructed all the hunting parties to do broder duty as well, staying alert for other Clans scents or any other signs of enemy presence. In particular, she had warned them to keep a careful watch on the ShadowClan border, but privately she resolved not to neglect RiverClan. Her conversation with Fernpaw a few days ago heightening her suspicion about RiverClan activity.
She had an uneasy feeling about their relationship with ThunderClan. With Crookedstar growing old, his deputy, Leopardfur, would have more authority, and Fireheart still expected her to ask for something in return for RiverClan's help on the night of the fire.
As Fireheart led the way toward the river, she noticed plants pushing their way up through the blackened soul. New ferns were beginning to uncoil and green tendrils spread out to cover the earth. The forest was beginning to recover, but as leaf-fall approached, growth would slow down. Fireheart was still worried that her Clan was heading for a cold and comfortless leaf-bare.
When they reached Sunningrocks, Fireheart watched in amusement as her former apprentice and her current apprentice walked off together, Cinderpelt lending the eager apprentice the same advice that Fireheart had given her during her apprenticeship. Fireheart watched them go approvingly, each having something to give to the other, Fernpaw her patience and Cinderpelt her experience.
Fireheart skirted the rocks on the side that faced the river, where more of the grass and foliage had survived. It was not long before she spotted a mouse scuffling among some brittle grass stems. As it sat up, nibbling a seed clasped in its forepaws, Fireheart sprang and finished off swiftly.
"Not bad," Swifttail's voice spoke up from behind her, making Fireheart turn around to face the young warrior who padded up.
"Do you want it?" Fireheart found it polite only to offer. "You haven't eaten yet."
"No, thanks," meowed Swifttail dismissively. "I can catch my own, thanks." He slipped off into the shadows of a hazel tree. Fireheart glowered at how rude he was, but shook it off as she started to scrap earth over her prey so it could be collected later.
"You gotta watch out with that one," a voice meowed from across the river. 'He'd steal the pelt right off of you if you're not careful." Fireheart snapped her head up. Her old friend Graystripe was standing on the border with RiverClan, farther down the slope toward the river. Water gleamed on his thick gray pelt.
"Graystripe!" Fireheart exclaimed. "You startled me!" although she was more pleased than anything to see her old friend.
Graystripe gave himself a shake and sent droplets sparkling into the air. "I never thought I'd find you catching prey for someone like Swiftpaw! Thought he was a pain in the tail?"
"Swifttail is always a pain in the tail," Fireheart retorted, her sleek ginger fur rising at the thought of that aggregate warrior. "But he's not so bad."
Graystripe let out a purr of amusement, shaking his head as he meowed. "Oh, sure, you always were a softy." He strolled up the slope and lowered his head to butt Fireheart affectionately on the shoulder.
"I'll show you a softy," Fireheart growled playfully. "Or don't you remember our training sessions?"
"Never," Graystripe replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"But never mind that," she meowed, changing the subject. "Tell me how you're getting on. What's the news in RiverClan?"
The laughter died from Graystripe's yellow eyes. "Not much. Every cat is talking about Tigerstar." When Graystripe had been a ThunderClan warrior, he and Fireheart and then later Cinderpelt, had been the only cats to know the truth about Tigerstar's murderous ambition, and that he had killed the former ThunderClan deputy, Redtail.
"I don't know what to make of it," Fireheart admitted, she also didn't know how to feel about it either. But kept that comment to herself. "Tigerstar might be different, no he's got what he wants. No cat can deny that he could make a good leader-he's strong, he can fight and hunt, and he knows the warrior code by heart."
"But you can never be sure," Graystripe butted in. "He may know the warrior code, but will he listen? Don't get you're hopes up too high, a fox can't change its fur color."
"It's not up to us," Fireheart pointed out. "He's got a new Clan, and Runningnose reported an omen that seemed to say StarClan would be sending them a great new leader. StarClan must know that ShadowClan needs a strong warrior to build them up again after the sickness."
Graystripe didn't look impressed in the least. "StarClan sent him"" He snorted. "I'll believe that when hedgehogs fly."
Fireheart couldn't help a part of herself agree with her old friend, even if Tigerstar had privately assured her. She thought about all the other things he had kept from her, and the lies and plans that he had kept close to his chest. But maybe making his Clan healthy again might occupy him for a season or two, but after that...The thought of the fierce warrior at the head of a strong Clan sent a shudder through Fireheart from ears to tail-tip. There was no telling what he would do then, would he fall back on his old plans for more territory and power?
"If I were you," meowed Graystripe, breaking into Fireheart's thoughts, "I'd keep a very careful watch on my borders."
"Yes, I-" Fireheart began. She broke off as swifttail came bounding back, his mouth full by a young rabbit that dangled from his jaws. He padded across the pebbles, his eyes narrowed on Graystripe as he dropped the at Fireheart's feet. Looking torn between smug, proud and suspicious, he looked aggressively at Graystripe his hackles rising as he challenged Graystripe in a sneer.
"What are you doing on ThunderClan territory?" he demanded, his eyes shifting to Fireheart questingly.
"You remember, Graystripe? Don't you, Swifttail?" Fireheart questioned, watching the young warrior nod jerkingly.
"You left for RiverClan, right?" his tail was lashing, but he let his fur lie flat again.
"Yes, to be with his kits," Fireheart reminded as she turned questing eyes on Graystripe. "Speaking of, how are the kits?"
"They're fine, thanks," Graystripe relied. His eye glowed with pride. "They'll be apprenticed soon." Fireheart felt a thrill go through her, although her time as their temporary mother was short, she felt attached to the young newborn kits that was motherless when Silverstream died in kittening.
"Will you mentor one of them?" she questioned.
To her surprise, Graystripe looked uncertain. "I don't know," he meowed. "If it were Crookedstar's decision, maybe...but he doesn't do much these days, except sleep. Leopardfur organizes most things now, and she'll never forgive me for the way Whiteclaw died. I think she'll probably give the kits to some other warriors to mentor." He bowed his head. Fireheart realized he still felt guilty about the death of the RiverClan warrior who had fallen into the gorge when his patrol attacked a small group of ThunderClan warriors.
"That's tough," meowed Fireheart, sympathetic to her old friend as she gave her friend a comforting lick to his ear.
"But you have to see her point," Swifttail cut in bluntly. "Leopardfur will want to make sure that the kits are brought up to be completely loyal to RiverClan."
Graystripe turned his head around to glare at the black-and-white warrior, his fur bristling. "That's just what I would do! I don't want my kits to grow up feeling torn between two Clans." His eyes lost their glare as they clouded in grief. "I know what that's like."
Pain for her friend flooded over Fireheart. After the fire, Graystripe had shown how unhappy he was in his new Clan, and clearly things were no better now. Fireheart wanted to say, "Come home," but she knew she had no right to offer Graystripe a place in the Clan when Bluestar had already refused. "Speak to Crookedstar," she suggested. "Ask him yourself about the kits."
"And you should probably stick to your own side of the river," Swifttail added in, his tail sweeping over the border marker. "I don't think the RiverClan deputy would like to see an ex-ThunderClan warrior trampling around on his former territory and gossiping with his former den-mates."
Graystripe flinched. "Maybe you're right. I'd better be getting back, Good-bye, Swiftpaw-er, Swifttail, Fireheart."
"Try to come to the next Gathering," Fireheart urged.
Graystripe flicked his tail in acknowledgement and padded off down the slope. Halfway to the river he turned, meowed, "Wait there a moment!" and raced down to the edge of the water. For several heartbeats he sat motionless on a flat stone, gazing down into the shallows.
"What in the StarClan is he just sitting there for?" Swifttail muttered, head tilted in confusion.
Before Fireheart could reply, Graystripe's paw darted out. A silver fish shot out of the stream and fell to the bank, where it lay flopping and wriggling. Graystripe finished it off with a single blow of his paw and dragged it back up the slope to where Fireheart and Swifttail stood watching.
"Here," he meowed as he dropped it. "I know prey must be scarce since the fire. That should help a bit."
"We're fine," Swifttail hissed just as Fireheart meowed, "Thanks, that was a neat trick back there."
Graystripe let out a single huff of satisfaction. "Mistyfoot showed me how."
"You should be careful about feeding another Clan," Swifttail told him, although he had a sheen of interest at the fish. "It's against the warrior code to feed another Clan."
"We did the same when RiverClan was in need during the flood," Graystripe meowed thoughtfully. "I'll use that as leverage if she starts being a pain in the tail."
He turned away and bounded back to the river. Fireheart's heart ached as she watched her friend launch himself into the water and begin swimming strongly for the opposite bank. She would have done anything to have her friend back in ThunderClan, but she had to admit it seemed unlikely that the gray warrior could ever be accepted there again.
"How are we going to explain the fish?" Swifttail's meow made Fireheart look away from where Graystripe disappeared through the reeds, her whiskers twitched as she gazed at the fish.
"We can always say you slipped and the fish fell into your wide open jaws?" Fireheart suggested with a bit of teasing, Swifttail swatted his tail at the Clan deputy, but his eyes jumped with a bit of laughter.
"You carry it, I don't want that slipper, slimy taste in my mouth all day!" Swifttail meowed, picking up his rabbit as Cinderpelt and Fernpaw came back from their adventure both carrying a crawny vole each.
"How did you get a fish?" Cinderpelt asked in surprise, her eyes staring at the fish that Fireheart had picked up, although Swifttail was right, it was slippery.
"Graystripe got it for us," Fireheart murmured, watching as Cinderpelt's eyes jumped in surprise.
"Graystripe was here? How is he?" Cinderpelt asked as Fernpaw stared at the fish in wonder.
"He's fine, so are the kits. Fernpaw, I caught a mouse, can you go fetch it for me and carry it? This fish is a little hard to hold, let alone carrying two pieces of prey!" Fernpaw scampered off to do just that as Cinderpelt and Fireheart padded alongside each other, heading off after Swifttail at a slower pace for Fernpaw to catch up.
Fireheart struggled to carry the slippery fish as the made their way to camp, her mouth watering the whole time at the unfamiliar scent filled her nostrils. When she entered the camp she saw that the pile of fresh-kill already looked bigger. Cloudpaw and Brightpaw had returned and were about to go out again with Mousefur and Thornpaw.
"We've fed the elders, Fireheart!" Cloudpaw reported to her over his shoulder as he scampered up the ravine.
"And Spottedleaf?" Fireheart called back.
"Not yet!"
Fireheart watched her young kin dash out of sight and then turned back to the pile of fresh-kill. Perhaps Graystripe's fish would give Spottedleaf some variety, the young medicine cat has overworked herself. Being the only medicine cat in camp and also having the responsibility of keeping the Clan healthy and to see them through the aftermath of the fire.
"Are you hungry, Fireheart?" Fernpaw asked, looking up at her mentor with curious eyes. Dropping their prey on the fresh-kill pile. "I could save you something, if you want?"
"Thank you, Fernpaw," The magpie Fireheart had eaten that morning seemed a long time ago now. "I'll just take this to Spottedleaf."
"Okay," Fernpaw meowed, as she turned away, leaving Fernpaw to choose for her. Fireheart gripped the fish in her jaws more firmly and walked towards Spottedleaf's den. Before the fire, a lush tunnel of ferns had separated it from the rest of the camp. Now just a few blackened stalks showed above the ground, and Fireheart could clearly see the cleft in the rock that was the entrance to the den.
She stopped outside, dropped the fresh-kill, and called, "Spottedleaf!" after a moment, Fireheart was not met by the pretty dark tortoiseshell medicine cat, but the golden head of her daughter, whose amber eyes shined as they gazed at her mother.
"Mother, is that for Spottedleaf?" Mothkit asked as Spottedleaf in question poked her head out of the opening. "Mothkit? What, oh, it's you. Fireheart."
The medicine padded out of the den to join the two she-cats. Her tortoiseshell fur ruffled, and her eyes didn't have their usual glow. Instead she looked tired and distracted, sending concern racing through Fireheart.
"I'm glad you're here," she mewed quietly, her eyes flickering to Mothkit. There's something I must discuss with you."
"Have something to eat first," Fireheart urged her. "Look, Graystripe caught a fish for us."
"Thanks, Fireheart," Spottedleaf meowed, her voice sounding distracted. "But this is urgent. StarClan sent a dream to me last night."
Something about the way she spoke made Fireheart instantly alert, with a quick flick of the tail Fireheart beckoned Mothkit to take the fish a few mouse-lengths away and made up a lie about it getting on the herbs. And with Spottedleaf's permission, watched out of the corner of her eye as Mothkit began chewing on it. Fireheart wasn't going to get used to the idea of her daughter growing into a true medicine cat, unlike Spottedleaf, living without a mate or kits of her own, meeting secretly with other medicine cats and united with them through their bond with the warrior spirits of StarClan, and out of reach of her mother who would be unable to help her. Even if she tried.
"What was the dream about?" she asked. She had experienced dreams like this more than once, warning her of things that were to happen and also meetings with Rock, an ancient mysterious cat that Fireheart didn't know the origin of. And each time, Fireheart found the warnings more complex and important.
"I was standing in the forest," Spottedleaf began. "Which was strange because I was originally helping teach Mothkit about comfrey and had no remembrance of leaving to go into the forest. And suddenly I could hear something large crashing through the trees, but I couldn't see what it was. And I heard voices-harsh voices, in a language that wasn't cat. But I could understand what they said…"
Her voice trailed off, her amber eyes glazing over as though her mind was far away, her body sitting erect.
"What did they say?" Fireheart prompted. Snapping Spottedleaf out of her daze.
With a shunder, Spottedleaf turned her eyes to focus on Fireheart. "They kept chanting, 'Pack, pack,' and 'Kill, kill."
Fireheart nodded her head, her paws scratching at the dirt underneath her. A warning from StarClan should always be taken seriously. Along with everything else now added to this warning, Tigerstar's reappearance, Bluestar's illness, and the aftermath of the fire.
"It was a warning Fireheart," Spottedleaf warned, her voice quiet as Mothkit turned to stare in curiosity at the two she-cats. "A darkness looms over the forest, and this time, I don't believe it is Tigerstar. I think it is something much, much worse."
The way the dark pretty tortoiseshell she-cat put it, Fireheart couldn't help but shunder. What could possibly be haunting them now that the fire is over? What could possibly be lingering around the fringe of the charred and barren waste that became her home? "I'll see if StarClan can send me anymore sings to help clear up what it was that I saw, but Fireheart," amber eyes locked on jade green. "Make sure you keep an eye out for anything, strange."
"I'll make sure that I do," Fireheart agreed, her ears pricking up as a thin but loud yowl came from behind her.
"Fireheart, I saved you some fresh-kill! Are you coming back soon?" Fernpaw's voice sounded, chimed in by Cinderpelt, Brackenfur and Sandstorm. Fireheart turned around, and found Fernpaw peeking inside the burned fern tunnel, her tail lashing as she waited patiently for her mentor.
"I've got to go," Fireheart told the medicine cat. For a moment, Spottedleaf looked ready to protest before nodding in acceptance. "Just come and find me if you have another sign. Alright?"
"I will," Spottedleaf agreed. Watching through narrowed eyes as Fireheart backed away from Spottedleaf's den. "And keep a look out!"
"I will!" Fireheart promised, waving her tail in good-bye to her daughter and Spottedleaf before bounding across the clearing toward the her apprentice and three friends. For a moment, forgetting about the dream as she tucked into the vole that Fernpaw had saved for her.
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Okay, I feel guilty for not updating on my birthday or halloween so here is a new chapter for you! Also 'Spoiler' in Hawkwing's journey (Yes, I have the book now! Although I can't have it until christmas, but I read some of the important stuff!) Hawkwing, Blossomheart and Cloudmist are Sharpclaw and Cherrytail's kits! (I was so upset with 'Ravenpaw's Farewell when it didn't say who their kits were, but now I just have to shout it out loud!)
Review!