Tigerclaw's whiskers twitched as he watched Cloudpaw attack Fireheart with paws flailing, hitting him on the shoulders and pushing him back, then leaping off the flame-coloured warrior before he could kick his apprentice away. Ever since Fireheart had brought Cloudpaw into the Clan, Cinderpaw's training had been switched to Ravenclaw's responsibility. Bluestar had thought that Fireheart was best to teach Cloudpaw, and for kittypet-born cats, both Fireheart and Cloudpaw were progressing smoothly into Clan life.

"Nice job, Cloudpaw," Tigerclaw meowed, stepping forward. "But try not to wave your paws so much. If you jump and focus your claws on the enemy's shoulders, but dive like a hawk without flailing your paws, your jump will be much cleaner."

Cloudpaw nodded. "Thanks!" he mewed, and, without warning, dove at Fireheart again, this time successfully knocking him on his back and catching him by surprise, then rolling over his head and landing neatly on the ground behind his mentor. If Cloudpaw had had his claws unsheathed, Fireheart's belly could have been shredded.

"Well done," Fireheart purred, pushing himself up. "And thank you, Tigerclaw." Tigerclaw nodded as he watched Cloudpaw face his mentor again, crouching before aiming for Fireheart's paws and lashing out. The snow-coloured apprentice knocked Fireheart's paws out from under him swiftly.

Fireheart regained his balance quickly and slapped his paw into Cloudpaw's side, sending him reeling across the training clearing as the hit connected. Cloudpaw didn't hesitate as he spun around and jumped at his mentor again, catching him squarely on the shoulders to try to push him down. However, Fireheart stood his ground and flipped over, ramming his hind paws into Cloudpaw and pushing him away forcefully.

Tigerclaw raised his head in approval and stalked off, ears perked for prey. He spotted a fat starling pecking at a tree and crouched, lunging out at the last second and killing it quickly. Giving thanks to StarClan, he picked up his fresh-kill and walked back to camp.

Bluestar caught up to him when he entered camp. "Tigerclaw," she meowed. "I need your advice. Swiftkit, along with Goldenflower's kits, are about to be apprenticed and need mentors. Do you have any suggestions?"

"What about Ravenclaw?" Tigerclaw answered. "And Sandstorm and Dustpelt seem to want apprentices, too." Bluestar blinked for a second, apparently a bit surprised, but then turned back to her normal expression.

"I would have thought that you would have wanted Longtail or Darkstripe to get an apprentice," she pointed out. Tigerclaw shrugged. "They deserve apprentices, too," Tigerclaw replied. "But I think the newest warriors were a bit jealous when you gave Fireheart and Graystripe apprentices and not them." Bluestar ignored the comment.

"Thank you, Tigerclaw," she mewed curtly. "I think I will give Ravenclaw an apprentice, but I may not give Sandstorm or Dustpelt, since we need more experienced warriors to train our apprentices, not just the newest jealous ones."

Tigerclaw tipped his head. "Sure thing, Bluestar," he said. "Whatever you say." Bluestar nodded, then crossed the camp to exit.

Tigerclaw picked up his starling and carried it to the fresh-kill pile, then chose a small squirrel to eat as he padded to Longtail and Darkstripe eating near the warriors' den, Cinderpaw playing with Brackenpaw next to the apprentices' den. Longtail was chewing on a thrush, spitting out feathers, and Darkstripe was leisurely eating a vole.

"Hello," Longtail greeted as Tigerclaw sat down. Darkstripe nodded, more focused on his vole. "How are you guys?" Tigerclaw asked casually, beginning on his squirrel.

"Fine," Darkstripe meowed. "I got a nasty cut from that fight with RiverClan, but other than that I'm good." Longtail flicked his ear, showing a long slash that slit off the tip of his ear messily. "That RiverClan fleabag Leopardfur cut off half my ear," he hissed. "Wish I could claw her."

Tigerclaw hissed. "I'd claw any RiverClan cat that dares come into our camp," he snarled. "Fish-eating cowards. We rightfully own Sunningrocks."

Darkstripe nodded in agreement. "We've also been finding half-eaten prey on our territory, with RiverClan scent drenched over it," he meowed. Tigerclaw's eyes widened. "Half-eaten?" he exclaimed. "What prey was it?"

"Mainly rabbits and squirrels," Darkstripe replied, shrugging. "A pigeon here or there." "But RiverClan wouldn't eat only part of fresh-kill," Tigerclaw argued. "And if they didn't like the taste, they would have stopped hunting, instead of leaving it half-eaten."

"Maybe they were just trying to spite us," Longtail suggested quietly. "To try to waste our prey." "That's still against the warrior code," Tigerclaw pointed out. "They could have given it to their elders or kits, instead of wasting it."

"Strange behavior," Darkstripe growled. "But we can still shred their ears for it." Longtail blinked for a second at the prospect of a violent approach, then nodded hastily and went back to his thrush.

Suddenly, a yowl came from the camp entrance. Tigerclaw stood up immediately, recognizing the scream for Bluestar's, and charged out of camp, Longtail and Darkstripe following close behind. They raced through the trees, the sharp scent of blood reaching their noses as they followed Bluestar's cries. Finally, they arrived at a horrific scene.

Bluestar was lying on the forest floor, blood pouring from her neck as she feebly twitched her unsheathed claws. A pack of dogs was sniffing around her, nosing her sides as if they wanted her to get up and fight again.

Without thinking, Tigerclaw let out a battle cry and charged at the nearest dog, raking his claws down its muzzle and slashing open its nose. Its bark turned to whimpers as Tigerclaw circled around it to stand in front of the dying Bluestar.

Darkstripe leapt on another dog, sinking his claws into its haunches and biting into fur. Longtail followed suit, this time landing on a large dog's head and biting hard into its thin ear.

Many of the dogs fled, but a few foolish ones stayed to fight. "Longtail," Tigerclaw muttered. "Go get help." "No need," Longtail meowed. "Look." Lionheart and Whitestorm were among the cats staring in horror at the dogs, ready to attack but staying behind Tigerclaw. Redtail's eyes were glazed with terror at the sight of his bloody leader.

"Attack!" Redtail suddenly exclaimed, jumping into one of the bigger dogs nudging Bluestar. "Avenge our leader!" The ThunderClan cats roared in approval, charging the dogs in battle as fur met in a whirling battle.

Tigerclaw raked his claws along a dog's spine, then dug his teeth into another. Flinging a smaller dog away from Bluestar's motionless body, he crouched down to peer at his leader.

"Bluestar!" Tigerclaw cried. "Wake up! That can't have been your last life..." "It wasn't," Redtail meowed from behind the tabby. "She had two lives left. But these horrid dogs have ripped both of them from her."

The prospect made Tigerclaw claw the ground, imagining it was a dog's belly. He whirled around to face one of the bigger dogs, hissing, but he suddenly felt a huge weight slam into his back, knocking him over.

Tigerclaw tried to turn around to free himself, but the dog was too massive and snapped at his already torn ear. He yowled for help, his claws pinned.

Then the dog was gone, a nimble black shape smashing into it with a splash of blood. "Ravenclaw!" Tigerclaw exclaimed. Ravenclaw turned to his previous mentor, bowing his head. "Our regrets to Bluestar," he meowed. "We will avenge her!"

Tigerclaw nodded and spun, ripping into dog flesh and feeling warm blood coat his claws. "For Bluestar!" he roared, and all of the cats in the clearing seemed to get a fresh boost of morale as they fought for the leader they lost and loved.

Finally, the dogs were driven, one by one, out of ThunderClan territory. "We won't be seeing them again," Whitestorm growled triumphantly. "Agreed," Lionheart hissed.

"But Bluestar is dead," Redtail sighed. "A great leader, torn apart by these StarClan-cursed mangled beasts. A moment of silence for her."

The Clan dipped their heads, praying to the lost ThunderClan leader, until Redtail dipped his head to her bloodied fur and closed his eyes. Tigerclaw joined him, as did Lionheart and Whitestorm, until the Clan was standing around her cooling body.

After a few minutes, Tigerclaw spoke softly to Redtail: "You must go to the Moonstone soon to receive your nine lives." "Tomorrow," he murmured back. "Tonight, we mourn."

"Other Clans will see it as a weakness if we have no nine-lived leader," Whitestorm pointed out. "It will be better if you go as soon as possible." "Fine," Redtail meowed. "I will go to the Moonstone with Spottedleaf now."

He walked from the clearing, while Smallear, One-eye, and Halftail marched out of camp and picked up Bluestar's body.

The Clan entered camp silently as Redtail and Spottedleaf exited. Bluestar's body was set down in the middle of camp, and ThunderClan gathered around it as the elders stepped back to allow the others to be closer.

"We will remember you, Bluestar," Tigerclaw mewed. "We will never forget you." Ravenclaw just dipped his head and stayed quiet. The Clan murmured agreement to Tigerclaw's words as he stepped back and looked at the sky. One star seemed to twinkle slightly brighter than the others. "Bluestar...?" Tigerclaw whispered. "Can you hear us?"

ThunderClan remained around Bluestar for quite a while before some began to trudge to their dens. Tigerclaw, Lionheart, and Whitestorm walked to the warriors den, shivering slightly, at moonhigh, when Redstar entered camp.

"Welcome, Redstar," Tigerclaw meowed deeply. Redstar dipped his head to him. "Thank you, Tigerclaw," he replied. "I still grieve for Bluestar, though."

"Did Bluestar give you one of your lives?" Tigerclaw asked quickly, but a sudden glare from Spottedleaf quieted him. "Whoops, I forgot that you're not supposed to talk about your visit," Tigerclaw meowed. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Redstar answered kindly. "But yes, she came to me." Tigerclaw drew in a sharp breath, wishing he could have been there when Redstar received his lives.

Redstar padded to the centre of the camp and yowled to get the Clan's attention. "Clanmates, please gather around," he meowed loudly. "I understand that I am a newly named leader, and I am honoured to follow in Bluestar's tremendous pawsteps. But I hope you will accept me as your leader."

Redstar paused, looking around at his Clanmates. "I would like to appoint Tigerclaw as my new deputy."

The Clan was silent for a minute, all eyes on Tigerclaw, before Lionheart gave a cry of congratulations. Whitestorm joined in, as well as Longtail and Darkstripe, until ThunderClan was shouting Tigerclaw's name to the glittering stars above.

"Bluestar would be proud." Tigerclaw started as Redstar appeared at his side and gazed at the sky. "Agreed," Tigerclaw mewed. "She shouldn't have died like that." "Yes," Redstar agreed. "But she lived a long, strong life. She will earn a special place in StarClan."

"Should we increase border patrols along the Twolegplace to ensure that no more dogs will be able to sneak up on us?" Tigerclaw asked. Redstar smiled. "You're the deputy," he replied. "You decide."

Amazed by his new freedom and power, Tigerclaw watched as Redstar walked into the leader's den. As Tigerclaw began to walk away, he was mobbed by Lionheart, Whitestorm, Longtail, and Darkstripe, all meowing congratulations.

"This is amazing!" Longtail exclaimed. "You may become leader like you always wanted." Tigerclaw dipped his head to him. "I hope so," he replied, barely containing his hidden excitement. "You get to plan all the patrols," Whitestorm added. "A big responsibility." "An important one," Darkstripe muttered from behind Longtail. "Tigerclaw may have the safety of the Clan in his decisions."

"I am honoured with this responsibility," Tigerclaw confessed. "But I am a bit afraid. Perhaps I will become more confident as I begin." His four best friends led him to the warriors' den, continuing their talking as they settled down in their nests. Lionheart took the nest next to Tigerclaw.

"Congratulations," he whispered as Tigerclaw sat down and curled his tail around his paws. "You have such a huge job. I'm proud." Tigerclaw grinned as he brushed a paw over his ear. "I just won't be seeing you guys as much anymore," he said reluctantly. "That'll be unfortunate."

"But when you become leader, you can make one of us deputy!" Lionheart added, sounding completely convinced that Tigerclaw would become Clan leader some day. "Then you can see us more often."

Tigerclaw nodded, slightly weary, as he placed his head in the soft moss to go to sleep. His tail instinctively twisted with Lionheart's, sending a wave of warmth through both cats. Tigerclaw closed his eyes and fell asleep, content with his new role.

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, Tigerclaw, or any characters in the story.

Sorry for the long delay! I've been busy with end of school and extra summer classes and stuff...

So Tigerclaw's now the deputy of ThunderClan because Bluestar got killed by dogs... are they the same dogs that killed Swiftpaw and maimed Brightheart? We'll have to see...

Please review and enjoy!