Warriors: Fire of Vengeance
Okay, first off, hi everyone! Yeah, good start there Seichi, but uhh…for one thing, it's been far too long since I've updated this. But I notice how almost it seems once a month that I get someone asking if I'm going to continue or come back. And with work before, it was impossible…but I hope to change that. I quit and am in college now, and, oddly, that gives me more time to write! So, let's get this ball rolling. Also, I wrote this and the next chapter, and also some of the sixth, years ago, and just never updated them. Sorry~. Okay, go!
Chapter 4: Reminisce
"What made Tigerstar so evil?" Jayfeather wondered, climbing the rock face underneath the Highledge, "nobody ever explained it very well…not even Brambleclaw." He stood just outside the Leader's Den, licking his chest fur anxiously, "maybe I don't want to find out…"
"You can come in if you wish," Firestar called from inside, and Jayfeather made up his mind, padding in with determination. The ginger furred leader was sitting on his haunches, with his forepaws tucked neatly under him. The white streaks on his muzzle added an air of wisdom, that made Jayfeather even more nervous. "I had a feeling it would be either you or your sister…tell me, what's wrong with Lionblaze?"
The Medicine Cat stared hard into Firestar's green eyes, but couldn't find an answer, and only shrugged. "Firestar…" he began uncertainly, "what can you tell me about Tigerstar?"
The leader's eyes widened briefly, and he shook himself slightly. Jayfeather could pick up mingled feelings of apprehension and…fear? "What could Firestar be afraid of?"
"Tigerclaw was a great Warrior…when I arrived in the old forest, he had just come back from an attack on the Sunningrocks." Firestar gazed out past Jayfeather distantly, recalling the past. Jayfeather sat patiently as Firestar continued. "He told us that Redtail had been killed in the battle, but another Apprentice, Ravenpaw, knew the truth. Tigerclaw had killed Redtail, the former deputy, in hopes of being chosen himself. However, Bluestar, our leader at the time, she chose another Warrior, and also my mentor, Lionheart."
"At the time, ShadowClan's leader was Brokenstar, and he was merciless in his rule. I'm sure you've heard the story about how Graystripe and I brought WindClan back into the forest?" Firestar asked Jayfeather, and the Medicine Cat nodded. "It was because Brokenstar drove them out for their territory. After that, he went for Thunderclan next, and in the battle, Lionheart was killed. Tigerclaw was finally named deputy, but it wasn't enough for him…anyway, with the help of some of ShadowClan's elders, we were able to bring down Brokenstar, and there seemed to be peace. However, shortly after that, I started digging into dark secrets, but I don't regret it, because what I learned ended up saving Bluestar's life."
"Brokenstar came to the camp, blinded, and was held there as a prisoner. I noticed Tigerclaw, who had been so hostile at the time we made the decision, speaking with him. I naively thought that Tigerclaw was showing something I thought he wasn't capable of…sympathy. However, I was wrong, they were secretly planning an attack from within, and in the middle of the battle, I realized that Tigerclaw slipped into Bluestar's den. I heard them arguing inside, and then when I thought I heard Tigerclaw attack, I rushed in and stopped him."
"At the time, RiverClan sent a patrol, which helped us win that battle, but their true motives were to discuss Graystripe's kits. After the battle, I revealed Tigerclaw for what he was, and he was exiled. That only further sparked his ambitions. Fueled with vengeance, he killed a few of our Warriors, and brought the terror of BloodClan upon us. Their leader, a small but deadly cat named Scourge, split Tigerstar, who had taken over ShadowClan and RiverClan, renaming them TigerClan, almost literally in half. He lost every single one of his nine lives, and then Scourge told us to be ready to leave or fight. I gathered the four clans together, and was able to defeat Scourge." Firestar sighed, and layed down, as if the telling of the story wore him out. "Why did you want to know Jayfeather?"
"Well…I was just curious if it had anything to do with why Lionblaze was acting the way he is." Jayfeather improvised, hoping that the leader didn't know the truth about the three's true heritage. To his relief, the ginger cat didn't seem to know anything.
"What happened in the past can't possibly have…anything to do with what's happening now." Jayfeather wondered what the pause was for, but he shrugged it off. "You should go back and get some sleep, it's been a long day for both of us."
"You don't know the half of it," Jayfeather thought, then meowed aloud, "you're right, thank you Firestar." The Medicine Cat padded back out carefully, noting that sunset had just passed, he slithered back down the rock face, and made his way back to the Medicine Cat's Den. "I didn't need that story to tell me that Lionblaze, or rather Tigerstar, will seek vengeance against ThunderClan." The gray cat layed down, "but I think I know how he's going to do it now…he's going to take over ShadowClan again."
Is this truly Lionblaze/Tigerstar's plan? Find out next time on the Fire of Vengeance, Into the Shadows! And again, thank you for all your continued support!