Disclaimer: I do not, and never will own Warriors.

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A Heartless Leader

Chapter 2

Difference

"Ravenpelt!"

The black cat sighed, padding out of the Warrior Den. He went to his leader, who was pacing around angrily.

"Where is the Kittypet?"

Ravenpelt felt that Tigerstar was too cruel to Fireheart, or Firepet as he was now called. But that was not the only thing about his leader that he did not like. Tigerstar had rearranged the Warrior code. ThunderClan was now different.

There were now two Deputies. The plain 'Deputy' and the 'Vice-Deputy'. If the regular deputy died, then the Vice-Deputy became Deputy, and a new Vice-Deputy was chosen. The only good part of that, was that Ravenpelt was Vice-Deputy.

There was also the rule of 'She-cats and toms must ask before they can become mates'. Tigerstar did not like it when something happened in the Clan, and he did not know about it.

Elders were not allowed to go to Gatherings anymore, and only one apprentice could go at a time. But all of the Warriors got to go. Another plus for him, but he felt bad for the others.

"The kittypet? He went hunting, like you asked him to, sir. He hasn't yet come back." Ravenpelt replied.

Tigerstar hissed. "I asked him to hunt long ago. Go fetch him! If you find him with other kittypets kill him"

He watched his leader leave, an obeyed. There was also that rule. 'Obey your leader and the code, or you shall be killed'. So he obeyed. But he did not want to kill his Clanmate. He knew that Tigerstar would send another cat, just in case, so he would obey, for fear of them both being killed.

The Two-leg place was the first place he checked. And sure enough, that was where he found him. He saw the red tom hop off a two-leg fence, and head towards him.

"Fire... pet." he called. "What are you doing?"

Fireheart stopped, and shivered. "N-nothing. Why?"

"I saw you jump from that fence. You were with other kittypets, weren't you?" he hissed.

"I-I was just visiting my sister..."

"Tigerstar will want to hear of this." Ravenpelt jumped upon the cat, and pinned him down. Grabbing his scruff, he began to drag his former friend towards camp.

When the arrived, he threw the kittypet at his leaders paws.

"I found him, jumping off a two-leg fence. He says he was visiting his sister." He reported.

"Then why did you not kill him?" Tigerstar growled.

Ravenpelt saw his leaders claw unsheathe. "I thought that you might want to do the honors."

He saw his claws be put away, and a grin appeared on Tigerstar's face. "Ah, good thinking. That's what I like about you. Your leader always comes first. But I won't kill him. Not yet. I find that there is still use of him. But he must be punished."

Ravenpelt knew what would happen. His leader attacked Fireheart, tearing through his fur and skin as if it were a thin petal. Once his job was finished, he left the flame colored tom, bleeding and whimpering on the ground.

"Spottedleaf!" Tigerstar called. "Take this filth. I need him well enough to work tomorrow." He hopped onto Highrock after she took him. "ThunderClan! From now on, the kittypet," He spat the word, "shall not be allowed to leave camp without my permission, and he must be accompanied by at least two cats. He will also now sleep there." He flicked his tail towards a hollow log close to the Apprentice Den. It was a prisoners den. "Also, for those who do not know, our Vice-Deputy, Ravenpelt, caught the kittypet leaving a two-leg nest. Thats all." He dismissed them.

Ravenpelt stretched, lying out near the Warrior Den after the speech. Tigerstar was coming towards him again, only this time, looking proud, and carrying fresh-kill.

He dropped the kill in front of him, and lied down as well. "I'm proud of you. You've learned well, my dear apprentice. If you became leader, I know StarClan would not reject you."

"Thank you, sir." He dipped his head. "I would do anything to please you."

"You're a good cat. Now, eat, eat." He took a bite of his own kill before nudging a rabbit towards Ravenpelt.

Dipping his head again, Ravenpelt ate it quickly. It was considered an honor to eat with your Clan leader. He noticed a few envious looks towards him. Tigerstar may have changed the Warrior Code somewhat, but the cats all looked up to him still.

"Oh, that reminds me. Tomorrow is a full moon. Me and Longtail have some things to discuss today, so I need you to choose an apprentice to go, and maybe a queen or two... I'm feeling generous, choose one elder as well." Tigerstar mewed before leaving.

That was generous, it was now at least. Ravenpelt quickly got to his task, going towards the apprentice den. "Okay, who hasn't gone to a gathering yet?" he asked. Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw both padded up to him.

"Ah, okay. Which one of you wants to go tomorrow?"

Brackenpaw smiled widely, showing off his prickly teeth. Cinderpelt spoke up. "Brackenpaw can go first. He is the oldest of us two." she mewed.

He nodded and made a mental note of that. There were only three queens now, so he didn't have to choose. Only one had recently gone to a gathering so the other two would go. Now for the elders...

He thought that Dappletail and One-eye would be good choices.

He padded to Tigerstar's den and mewed a greeting.

"Ah, Ravenpelt, come in. I suspect this is about the gathering cats?"

"Yes. I have chosen Brackenpaw, Dappletail, One-eye, Frostfur and Goldenflower to go."

Tigerstar approved of his choice. "I see you actually had the smarts to include my own mate in there, unlike somecat." he shot a glace an Longtail. "By the way, have you seen my kits yet?"

Ravenpelt nodded. "Yep. That little Bramblekit looks a lot like you. If I was leader, he'd be my first choice for deputy." he mewed.

He saw Tigerstar give an approving smile, and Longtail give an angry glance. He knew just how to talk to his leader. How to make Tigerstar like him more. Longtail, though, did not.

He left the den, and decided to get a good nights rest. He would need some strength to impress his leader tomorrow.

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I tried to make it longer. Hopefully it is. So... yeah. I like to write, so I guess it won't take that long to update after all. Heh...