So no new reviews? Oh well, I guess it takes some time to get noticed.
It was enough that Brokenstar had ashamed and embarrassed Harescar, but now she was making him lead the patrol to apologize to ShadowClan (for something they never did) and convince them not to attack. This is a stupid, mouse-brained idea, Harescar thought like a grumpy kit needing a nap as he rounded up ThunderClan's four other toughest warriors with him.
He had been ordered to take Shorthaze, Birchfur, Beechflight, and Flashnight to ShadowClan with him. Harescar was lucky to have Beechflight with him to keep him company and cheer him up- or more so, chat him up.
"Alright, let's get this over with," Harescar growled before venturing into the thorn tunnel. The flood long ago had seemed to sharpen the tunnel, because now longer, sharper tendrils painted with layers upon layers of prickly thorns, poked into the cats' skin and sifted through their fur like an apprentice searching for ticks in an elder's pelt. By the time Harescar and the others emerged from the tunnel, their freshly-washed pelts were streaked and smudged with dust and thorns were embedded in their fur here and there. Harescar sighed loudly and went on, taking a right in direction of the ShadowClan border.
Behind him, Shorthaze and Birchfur got into a father-son argument of whether or not a squirrel was better than a mouse. It's probably just to pass the time. None of us want to this. Besides them, all was silent- Flashnight was firmly keeping his gaze on the path ahead- he wasn't too talkative anyway, and Beechflight was completely the opposite of his usual jokester self, eyes on his paws, stepping neatly over or ducking under each snaking tendril or branch unlike his usual clumsy self.
Harescar reduced his pace so that he could take the rear with Beechflight, letting Flashnight lead. "Hey, what's up Beech?" Harescar asked innocently, taking a side glance at the tom who had been his best friend since kithood.
Beechflight narrowed his eyes and looked down on Harescar from his tall frame. "Is there something you want, Hare?"
Harescar winced. He hated to be called Hare, and Beechflight knew it. Who made dirt in his fresh-kill? The last time Beechflight was mad about something was when we were apprentices. It was when Skunkpaw and Firepaw kept calling him Beechdirt. Like, all the time. Usually Beechflight brushes something minor away easily, but… something's really bothering him, and I gotta find out what. "So… how's training with Sandpaw going?" Harescar quizzed, ignoring the words "What's" and "wrong" rising up in his throat like bile. He tried to swallow them down again. Sandpaw probably just annoyed him or something when he wouldn't listen. I hope.
"Fine," Beechflight answered, just before turning down to stare at Harescar again. Harescar was surprised to see that his comrade looked desperate.
Soon, the dreaded question left Harescar's mouth: "What's wrong?"
"I- I'm in love, Harescar, that's what's wrong," Beechflight responded. He sucked in his cheeks and checked the deputy for his reaction.
"Well, look at you," Harescar meowed, only slightly jealous of his friend for finding love already. I couldn't find a mate before taking the big responsibility of being Clan deputy on my shoulders. I'd just never find time to spend with my mate and kits. "Who's the lucky she-cat?"
Beechflight gulped. "Er, um… it's she-cats."
Harescar stopped walking and flicked his tail at the other cats to imply that they needed to stop. They were at the ShadowClan border, and they were to wait for a patrol. He took Beechflight farther away from the others and spoke through gritted teeth. "What?"
"I can't decide between two she-cats in the Clan. I've spent some personal time with both of them, and they've both told me 'I love you, Beechflight' but I don't know what to do!"
Harescar sighed at his friend's dumbness. He took the time to lick down the ruffled fur on his grimy shoulders to think of how to say his reply. "Well, obviously you should have just declined the second one when she wanted to go out. Then you wouldn't be having this problem…"
"But they're both so beautiful," Beechflight objected hotly, flattening his ears against his head and wrapping his tabby-striped tail tightly and protectively against his front paws.
"Well, who are 'they'?" Harescar whispered. "I won't tell anyone else- tail promise."
"Tail promise" was something the two buddies had made up back when they were kits for revealing major secrets to each other. The action was simple; all one had to do was twine their tails together swiftly, then tell the secret within a heartbeat, or else one would be able to tell the other's secret, once told, to one cat they could choose. Harescar and Beechflight had been using the tail promise ever since.
Beechflight's nostrils flared on his distinctive dark pink nose, which was something Harescar knew he always did when he was thinking hard. "Alright," his friend finally decided. He lifted his dark cream tail, green eyes glinting with worry and… regret.
"You can trust me," Harescar murmured before he brought his tail up too. They twisted their tails together, creating a mix of ginger and cream. Almost right away they drew them back and Beechflight muttered the she-cats' names in the deputy's ear.
"Rainsnow and Hopepuddle."
Beechflight spoke the names so quickly that Harescar had almost been unable to catch them. Then he realized what the tabby warrior and said, and he backed away, sucking in his cheeks. "So… you have a taste in gray-and-white she-"
"Why are you here?" A booming voice interrupted Harescar's remark, and he spun around. Instantly his ears and nose paled.
It was Dullnight of ShadowClan again, along with his warriors, all of whom Harescar recognized from the Gathering yesterday: Indigowhisker, Ambermask, Ivywing, and Lionnose. It appeared that ShadowClan had brought an oversized patrol to the border as well. Harescar was speechless, and Dullnight noticed him eying all the cats beside him.
"See all of my cats here, hm? Just to make sure no cat sneaks into our territory." The black tom kinked a kooky, devious smile.
"You're no threat to ThunderClan. We have more warriors than you," Harescar retorted with a stinging insult.
Dullnight leaned in close to the ginger tom, who had stepped forward along with Beechflight. "Don't you dare speak of how low we are on warriors. Every Clan is having this problem. None of us have been too successful with kits." For a heartbeat his eyes glimmered with sadness. "My mate, Moontooth, and I lost two of our three kits just last moon. But that doesn't show our weakness; though some others may take it to our advantage, therefore that's why Coldstar didn't mention it at the Gathering. Now answer my question: why are you here? Or are you just stalling like the mouse-brains you are?"
"We're here to speak to your leader, Coldstar," Harescar informed him icily.
"I know my leader's name, stupid," Dullnight snapped. "But you may- he will deny anything you ask of him, by the way. Now come with me. Each of my warriors will escort you, as we don't want you hunting our prey. Indigowhisker, you go with that smelly tabby. Try not to let your long whiskers touch him. Ambermask, take that brown tom. Ivywing, go with the light-colored cat. Lionnose you walk with the black tom. And I'll have Harescar all to myself."
Harescar shuddered as the cats arranged themselves, and before long they set off, walking awkwardly in lines of two side-by-side. Dullnight and Harescar were in the back of the mismatched group. Harescar felt bad for dragging his Clanmates into this. I can't believe I forgot to tell Brokenstar. She punishes hard.
"So, Harry," Dullnight spoke in a fake, forced casual tone.
"I have a proper name, you know," Harescar corrected bitterly. "Harescar."
Dullnight grumbled, "How much of a mouse-brain do you think I am?"
"Well, I think you're a mouse-brain for starting all of this nonsense and blaming us for nothing. It is beyond ridiculous, and we didn't do anything wrong. You're just feeding unwanted trouble."
Dullnight sucked in his cheeks. "Don't make it worse than it already is."
Harescar sensed a hint of exasperation in Dullnight's tone. He twisted his neck and looked at the ShadowClan deputy in interest. "What exactly do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm not the one who started all of this madness. Morningpaw is. The stupid tortoiseshell claimed she discovered ThunderClan scent inside our territory on her first day as an apprentice. I sniffed around and didn't find anything, but Coldstar commanded me and everyone else in the Clan to act hostile about it. StarClan knows why, though."
Harescar was amused. Dullnight wasn't as feisty as he seemed? "So you're not the stupid one…"
"… Coldstar, Morningpaw, and everyone else in ShadowClan are," Dullnight finished for him.
I just might like this cat.
OoOoO
Soon, the patrol of ten arrived at the camp. Gruffly, Dullnight ordered his cats to take Harescar's warriors over to the center of the clearing. He's hidden his nice personality again.
While Dullnight was leading Harescar over to Coldstar's dim, uninviting den, a silver tabby that smelled of milk and kits padded over and licked his cheek. Harescar figured that she was Moontooth, Dullnight's mate. He stepped to the side to give the couple a little privacy. The ThunderClan deputy took the time to explore the ShadowClan camp with only his gaze, staying rooted to his spot like one of the tall, dark pine trees in the dense, marshy forest he was in.
Just like his camp, the ShadowClan cats' home was a hollow, but a bit more shallow. A sizeable pool containing clear water, where two apprentice-sized cats, one with shredded ears, were drinking and sharing tongues, was off to the side. Alpine dark green trees dripping with a white liquid towered over the hollow, providing good shade from the sun. Surely it must be cold in leaf-bare.
"Hey? Are you zoning out or something?" Dullnight flicked Harescar's ear, and he snapped back to attention.
"Sorry, I was just marveling at how protected your camp is," Harescar mewed truthfully.
"Why, thanks," Dullnight said, narrowing his eyes. The black tom then shrugged. "Come with me then."
The ShadowClan deputy led Harescar to a stone cave rounded on the top. It was carved in the bottom of a large rock jutting out a bit at the top. The leader's den.
Long strands of lichen reinforced the entrance to the den, making it safe and confined for Coldstar. I'm sure he's fine with it, considering the fact that they're all residing under this canopy of pine trees. A WindClan cat couldn't step paw in here for two heartbeats without screaming. Harescar snorted at his joke and watched as Dullnight shoved nothing beyond his shoulders into the den, making the lichen sway lazily in protest.
There was a slit of darkness in the bunches of lichen that Harescar could see through under Dullnight's paws. It's so… dark, he thought, shuddering. Do I really have to go in there? Then he sat up straight and bold. I'm the ThunderClan deputy, for StarClan's sake. It's my duty. For Brokenstar, and for the Clan.
"You may go in, but only for as long as Coldstar wishes," Dullnight told him, shuffling backwards out of the bone-chilling cave. Harescar turned back only once to cast a quick glance at his Clanmates, who dipped their heads to wish him good luck. That is, all except Beechflight, who stared at nothing in particular. Then Harescar stepped into the den, Dullnight giving him a friendly wink on his way in.
OoOoO
"Harescar," a voice stated plainly in the darkness, with no specific tone or emotion. It sounded dry and bored, almost, but once again proved no opinions, thoughts, or feelings.
Harescar blinked countless times, attempting to get used to the blackness. Once Dullnight becomes the leader, Dullstar, his name will match this den. When his eyes were finally adjusted, Harescar could visualize the shape of a cat in the back of the cave. He shivered. It's endless… and so cold… Coldstar seemed far away from him, but once Harescar inched forward a tail-length, he could feel the mottled tom's warm breathing stir his fur. And he could see his eyes.
His ambitious, powerful-looking amber eyes.
"Greetings, Coldstar," Harescar said, swallowing his fear only for it to rise up again in his throat like bile. He tried not to collapse on his quavering legs. "I come in peace representing ThunderClan."
A lifeless, tedious laugh trickled out from between Coldstar's lips like a stream weakened by drought. It almost sounded like a wheezy old elder's cough, despite Coldstar's youth. "We are very familiar with each other, Harescar. No need to introduce yourself as though you've come from over the mountain. Now what do you want from me? Dullnight advised me that you had a 'special message to pass on'."
"Brokenstar wants to call off the b- battle." What did she tell me to say? Oh, what did she tell me to say?
"So she's too lazy to come inform me herself?"
Harescar didn't respond. His joints were quaking, threatening of subside.
"Oh, so she wants to surrender to me then?" Coldstar grilled.
"I… suppose so." No… she didn't say "surrender"… oh! "She truly wants to apologize for our cats crossing the border and entering your territory." Robotically, he went on, dittoing everything Brokenstar had told him to say earlier. As if I couldn't come up with anything myself! "We are investigating on who it was that crossed, but we don't believe any prey was stolen, unless you scented a trail? She claims she wants proof that at least one ThunderClan cat did come over, though, because so far no feline has fessed up."
Coldstar make an unidentifiable noise that almost sounded like a grunt. "Ha, well you think I believe that? I want Brokenstar, right here, right now, before the next sunset to say that to me. I can't trust her puny little deputy."
Frustrated, Harescar challenged, "I have four cats to back me up." His fur stood on end, making him look like a spoiled fat orange kittypet. Embarrassed, he smoothed his pelt back down.
"You and what army?"
Harescar burst out of the den and stormed over to Shorthaze, Birchfur, Beechflight, and Flashnight. "You all come with me, to Coldstar's den. He doesn't believe what I'm saying." He flicked his tail harshly and stomped back over to the cave, a prickly storm that no cat, not even stubborn Shorthaze, dared to argue against.
"How dare him!" Birchfur snarled, thrusting himself forward so he could charge ahead the rest of the patrol. "I'll be the first to confront him, you just wait and see."
Beechflight looked like he was half-awake as he clumped after the rest of his Clanmates, while Flashnight walked briskly, lips forming a thin, faintly distressed line.
"We'll show him which Clan is the strongest," Harescar muttered to himself as he led his companions back to Coldstar's den. "We're ThunderClan, the fierce and brave ones."
OoOoO
"Oh, I see you're back, welcome. And you've brought some friends. My, my," Coldstar spoke sarcastically as he waved his tail, allowing the ThunderClan cats to fill into his cold living space one by one. "So this is your defense, hm Harescar?"
"Try me," Harescar growled just as Coldstar sprung forward. Shorthaze and Birchfur stepped up to their deputy's side, and Flashnight stood firmly just behind. Beechflight hung out at the back, half of his abdomen through the lichen, mumbling to himself.
"Wait, we don't need to fight now," Shorthaze testified mildly before Coldstar or Harescar could lift a paw and strike a blow. "Let's resolve our problems peacefully-"
"Shut up, oldie! You should be in the elders' den… you're blind anyway, look at your creepy eyes," Coldstar snapped to the tabby tom. How unprofessional!
He was about to claw Harescar's ears when Shorthaze replied lightly: "I may be getting on in my moons, even seasons, but I've still got gruff. And I'm not blind, Ratpelt says it's cataracts." Then Shorthaze unsheathed his claws and scraped Coldstar's face softly but enough to draw blood and pain.
"I can't believe you'd speak to my father that way!" Birchfur yowled, releasing a sharp, distinct battle cry before pouncing onto the black-and-brown tom neatly. The warrior clawed at the leader's cheeks and neck and bit into his scruff hard enough for it to hurt.
Coldstar shrieked and tried to scratch Birchfur's belly, but the tom was just out of reach. Snapping his jaws open and shut in frustration, the leader wriggled and squirmed in Birchfur's grip.
Harescar was speechless… it all happened so quickly. Birchfur bit into Coldstar's neck completely and fully then jumped back and watched the ShadowClan leader's blood pool onto the stone ground. The ThunderClan cats stood rigidly still, watching as Coldstar's chest stopped moving. He's losing a life, but he's still young. Maybe he's only down to six or seven now. Coldstar writhed and moaned then started breathing again after a few heartbeats' time.
"Oh, we need a medicine cat!" Harescar suddenly realized that he had just witnessed a cat basically dying and he hadn't asked for help. "Flashnight, go get their medicine cat. I think his name is Voletail, Voleeyes or something. This instant!"
The black tom streaked out of the cave, heading toward the den that was most fragrant of herbs Harescar presumed.
Then the ginger tom twisted back to examine Coldstar. His chest was barely rising and falling, and he was still rapidly losing blood. If we don't bring a medicine cat in here soon, he'll lose another life, Harescar thought urgently. He turned to Birchfur, who was shakily licking the ShadowClan leader's blood off his claws. "What have you done?!" he demanded to the tabby. "How will I explain this to Brokenstar? 'Oh, we just visited the ShadowClan camp, killed their leader a couple times, and then requested no battle.' What were you thinking?"
Defensively yet inarticulately Birchfur spoke, "I- I was just defending my father." He glanced up at Shorthaze sheepishly, and his father shook his head sadly and wordlessly, showing his disapproval. Birchfur sighed. "So maybe I got a little carried away…"
Harescar's eyes bulged. He was furious, just as Coldstar and the rest of ShadowClan would be once their leader was fully conscious again. "A little carried away? You basically just killed a cat from another Clan, Birchfur. How does that make you feel?"
"At least he's not from ThunderClan," Birchfur uttered.
Harescar moaned and his legs buckled underneath him. He banged his forehead against the ground a few times, sure that he was going to lose his position as deputy for sure. I'm not ready for this. Not yet.
"Move away, move away, medicine cat coming through!" A scratchy old voice interrupted Harescar's jumbled thoughts and mumbles. The ginger tom stepped to the side to allow a raggedy, patch-furred brown tom to slide in between him and Coldstar.
Flashnight followed Voleeyes in, panting. "Sorry we took so long- I pray Coldstar's alright. Voleeyes just took a while to gather his cobwebs and herbs." The black tom set down the clumps of various herbs and poultices that he had been carrying… on his shoulders. "Great StarClan, the smell of those poultices is terrible." Flashnight screwed up his face in disgust, and Harescar was surprised- rarely did he see his loyal Clanmate complain.
"Well, no wonder. It's probably mostly due to my bad breath. Sorry," Voleeyes grunted through chewing herbs and applying them to Coldstar's neck and his other scratches. The cats survived an awkward silence before the old brown tom went on. "So, who's the slaughterer?" Well, that's a harsh word to use…
"Me," Birchfur meowed, his voice barely a whisper.
Voleeyes groaned. "I feel for you, son. ShadowClan, excluding myself, and Brokenstar will not be proud of this moment you know."
Birchfur tipped his head to the side curiously. "'Excluding yourself? What do you mean?" the tabby quizzed.
"Oh, I dislike Coldstar strongly," the elderly cat rasped. "I was born when Rowanstar was leader, and I much preferred him. And Tawnystar. Then this Coldstar came, soon before Tawnystar's death. She had to choose a deputy at the last heartbeat before she died, and this youngster called 'Coldheart' was who she chose. He reminds me of that ambitious Tigerstar fellow. But don't tell my leader I said anything, or I'd be exiled without hesitation."
"O- Of course not," Harescar stammered, slightly shocked that old Voleeyes was revealing this much. "It's gracious of you to be saving him and not letting him die."
Voleeyes shrugged. "Hey, if I've lived this long, I'll live to see good old Dullnight became leader. Now there's a cat I like." He quit treating Coldstar's wounds and looked up at Harescar with his fading old eyes. "Now we'll need to let Coldstar rest. Dullnight will escort you back to the border, I figure."
Harescar mustered up a half-grin as he led his cats out of then den. I may be in deep dirt at the moment, but I'm learning a lot about ShadowClan cats: they're not as bad as I thought. At least, Dullnight and Voleeyes aren't, anyway.
OoOoO
Dullnight and a she-cat called Graystorm accompanied Harescar and his ruffled patrol to the border, then the ThunderClan cats returned, dazed, to the ThunderClan camp themselves. Guilty and scared of what was to come in his future, Birchfur took up the rear of the patrol with drooping shoulders and tail, along with Beechflight, whom Harescar wasn't exactly sure was even aware of what just happened.
Harescar stepped into the camp feeling sick. Thorns were snagging in his pelt, prodding and poking his skin like icy claws in a battle, such as the war with ShadowClan that was surely soon to come. Cautiously the ginger deputy hiked up to Brokenstar's den and entered, clearing his throat to attract his leader's attention.
"Oh, hello Harescar," Brokenstar mewed softly, studying Harescar carefully. Harescar was puzzled; did she already know what had happened? The brown she-cat sounded truly dismayed.
"Um, is something wrong?" he questioned tentatively. He stepped back a few paces, prepared for a snap.
Instead, she just sighed loudly. "Oh, well, Mole-eye is dead. He left for StarClan while your patrol was out." Brokenstar shook her head and open her mouth to speak again. There's more? "Brownkit was speaking with him at the time, on the sunning rocks. Now Blackstorm and a few others… Minnowcloud, etcetera claimed that he killed Mole-eye. Of course Ratpelt and I looked him over, and there were no possible signs of Mole-eye being murdered: no slits in his neck, not even any blood on him, the rocks, or Brownkit. Ratpelt says he just died peacefully of old age, but Brownkit's haters aren't so easy to coax into believing that."
Well, do I have some good news for you, Harescar thought scornfully. Some uncomfortable quiescence passed, and eventually Brokenstar said, "How did the conference with Coldstar go?"
"I'm sorry for Mole-eye's death-" he started.
"Oh, no it's not your fault. Anyway, go on," Brokenstar stated gently.
Start out with a joke. Yeah, that might cheer her up. "Well, the meeting with Coldstar wasn't exactly warm; after all, his cave that serves as his den- how could ANY CAT sleep in there- was very dark and col-"
Brokenstar bit her lip. "Get to the punch line. I don't want to waste my lifetime listening to you stalling." She waved her tail a few times, as if stirring up the still, dead air or swatting away an annoying fly. That's all I am as deputy- a pest.
"Well… I couldn't convince Coldstar myself… so I brought in the patrol… and Birchfur did something… and…"
"Great StarClan!" Brokenstar fumed. "Just get to the point already!" She wavered for a heartbeat or two, and then went on. "It didn't go well, did it?"
"Er, Coldstar lost a life."
Sharply Brokenstar drew in a breath. "Is he alright? What happened?" Her scrutinizing didn't help with Harescar's nervousness.
"Birchfur came in… Coldstar called Shorthaze 'blind' and told him he should be in the elders' den… and then Birchfur freaked out and shouted, 'I can't believe you'd speak to my father that way!' then leaped on him and Coldstar lost enough blood to lose a life… well, Birchfur did bite down on his neck…"
"Oh, our Clan will perish for sure," Brokenstar moaned. Then she glared up at Harescar and roared like a lion: "Call Birchfur up here immediately! No excuses!"
Harescar bounded out to the edge of the Highrock and took a few precious heartbeats to stare down below his paws. The cats look like ants from up here… what if I can't handle this when I'm leader? He swayed, dizzy, until he remembered what his recently assigned task was. "Birchfur!" he called from up above. "Birchfur, Brokenstar needs to see you right now!"
His Clanmates glanced up at him in confusion. "But Harescar," Willowberry's soft, sweet mew came from near the center of the clearing, where some cats were gathered around Mole-eye's body to prepare for his mourning that night. What if ShadowClan attacks tonight? Harescar's thought was gone, however, as suddenly as it had come when Willowberry pursued. "Birchfur went back out to hunt. Or at least that's what he said? Why, is something wrong?"
"You have no right-" The outraged Harescar was about to confront his former mentor when he realized that she also shared the position as Birchfur and Brokenstar's mother. He swallowed and said, "Well, you and…" Desperately he raked the clearing with his sharp gaze, searching for a cat. "… um, you and Minnowcloud. Go out and look for him on the double!"
Harescar flashed back into Brokenstar's den, frightened of what her reaction would be when Birchfur wasn't with him. But her ears were pricked- it was obvious she had heard everything. "What is my brother up to?" she mumbled. "He's never been a troublemaker- you know, all of the usual foolish kit-things when we were young- but now… I just can't imagine him doing this even to that mouse-brain Coldstar."
The ginger deputy dipped his head respectfully. "I remember my brother, Stonepaw…" he trailed off, unable to say any more. Both he and Brokenstar launched deep into thought, remembering profoundly.
Yes, Harescar had had a brother. And parents- but all were dead.
Stonekit was a gray-and-brown tom, getting some of his tortoiseshell mother's brown patches. He planned to call himself Stonedust and to be the best warrior possible (after Harescar that is). Like poor Leopardpaw's tragic stories that everyone in the Clan knew (and that some lived through or witnessed), Harescar's parents died when he was young. But Leopardpaw was lucky to still have his brother, Sandpaw, around to hang out with. Stonepaw died on the day of their final assessment as apprentices before becoming warriors while hunting. He had been stalking a squirrel up on a tree. It had rained recently, and as fate would have it, a slippery leaf lay in wait for him. Stonepaw slipped on the leaf and fell to his death. His mentor, Shorthaze, had watched from the bushes, unable to help Stonepaw in time, and had to tell his mate and Harepaw the depressing young cat's death. Harescar took his brother's death hard, as did his parents, but he knew that he had to move on.
Then a terrible bought of greencough washed through ThunderClan soon after Harescar became a warrior, taking many cats with it, including his parents. A few new kits after that tragedy had been named after the dead cats, all who were nursery-mates and had shared their lives together.
Too many deaths, Harescar thought, his throat closing up with grief. We had so many young warriors, and we'd have many more if they hadn't left us… and if Stonepaw were still alive he'd be by my side.
OoOoO
"Brokenstar, Harescar?" Willowberry's soft voice, gentler than a lamb's, flooded into Harescar's ears, startling both him and Brokenstar out of their mood-dampening thoughts. He whipped around to find the gray she-cat and Minnowcloud sandwiching Birchfur, their pelts brushing tightly against each other's. Birchfur's face was pinched into an ugly and disgusted facial expression.
"Well, if it isn't my runaway brother," Brokenstar joked mildly. "You can let him go," she added in direction of her mother and Minnowcloud. "Both of you may return to the clearing to mourn Mole-eye or rest. It will be a long night." The warriors bowed their heads respectfully to their leader before leaving the cave in a wave of gray fur.
"I was just hunting! T- They wouldn't let me hunt!" Birchfur sputtered, exasperated, once Willowberry and Minnowcloud were gone.
"Oh, sure," Brokenstar retorted playfully. "You went hunting, without any other cat, when you were just on a patrol to ShadowClan? Any normal feline would stay and rest a bit, especially because of the mourning."
"I don't want to mourn," Birchfur whined rudely like a resistant kit. "I hardly even knew Mole-eye."
"You must," Brokenstar responded firmly, voice tight. "He was an important cat- not to mention storyteller who preserved old memories- who lived a nice, long, life in our Clan. Leader's orders."
"But you're just my sister!"
Harescar's stomach clenched as the heat of the siblings' anger wafted all around him. If Stonepaw were here, he and I'd probably argue like that too sometimes, and it's tough when one is in a higher rank than the other. I bet Birchfur is either really jealous, really guilty, or both. "I have the right to exile you, you know," Brokenstar went on, lips drawn back in a full-out snarl. "After all, you killed a cat."
Birchfur's eyes blazed. "He's still alive- seven lives, their medicine cat said."
His littermate rolled her eyes and sighed. "And you think that ShadowClan is swell with you killing their leader, or cross?"
"Swell as a fat mouse in his burrow," Birchfur answered scornfully.
"I can't believe you," Brokenstar growled. "You bedevil me, you… you piece of fox dung. You think that lying and refusing to accept the truth is fine, just fine. Well, here's some news for you: it's not. And you can be confined to the camp for a moon. In fact, you are."
Birchfur gaped and then gasped. His lower jaw was nearly touching his paws. Then he croaked, "Why would you do this to me? I'm your-"
"You're nothing to me as long as you qualify to join the ranks of the Dark Forest," Brokenstar bellowed. "Now, get out of my sight. Go find Berryfang and tell him that he's in charge of keeping you in the camp for a moon."
Birchfur's tail dragged on the ground as he trailed out of the den. It seemed as though every body part of his was droopy and saggy- ears, shoulders… and his head hung low.
Harescar thought about the days when he trained his eager apprentice, Berrypaw, when he was still a normal warrior during Squirrelstar's last season of reign over ThunderClan. I forgot to train him to look over cats moons older than him, he thought with hidden amusement. Yet he still knew that this was a serious matter, and right away Harescar redirected his attention to Brokenstar, who had spoken his name steamily.
"And as for you, Harescar," she growled. "You must be responsible. You could have stopped this battle from coming, and you witnessed Birchfur killing a cat without doing anything. I'm starting to have second thoughts choosing you as my deputy."
Harescar stiffened as her stinging words sunk in and bit him right in the rump. "Yes, Brokenstar. I- I understand completely."
Brokenstar sucked in her cheeks then went on. "If something to the harm of the Clan is caused by you again, you will be relieved of your deputy duties… then again, StarClan wouldn't necessarily agree…"
The ThunderClan leader had mumbled that last part to herself, but Harescar had heard it clearly and instantly straightened up. "If I may ask, what do you mean by 'StarClan wouldn't'-"
"I mean," Brokenstar stated loudly. "I mean that that night when I was at the Moonpool, when I received my nine lives, Squirrelstar told me after giving me my new name that I needed to pick a strong and noble yet young cat for my deputy. A cat with no responsibilities- mates, kits, or an apprentice at the time. The only cat that really qualified for that was you. Then I was given a prophecy by a scraggly old gray cat- I think her name was Yellowfang, I've heard stories about her before- and she said, 'One will join ThunderClan and will not be welcome by some. Then that one will rise above all and unite the Clans in the worst of times.'"
Harescar spoke the same name Brokenstar did, and they whispered it in awe: "Brownkit?"
OoOoO
Still stunned by the events in Brokenstar's den, Harescar blundered out into the clearing after unsteadily climbing back down the rocks. Every step felt different, now that he knew how special he was to StarClan- and how special Brownkit the dog was to them as well. He had completely forgotten that he could lose his deputy position. Right at that moment, he didn't care. He didn't have a care in the world for that mouse bile.
"Hey, what's up Hare?" A familiar, missed friendly voice greeted Harescar at the base of the stone hollow.
Harescar tried not to gasp. "Beechflight!" His friend couldn't stop beaming. "What-" Before the deputy could go on, the tabby flicked his tail, motioning for Harescar to follow him somewhere.
Beechflight was obviously holding in some exciting secret, as he fast-walked over to… Birdspring? "Hello, Harescar," Birdspring mewed, dipping her head in respect for the ThunderClan deputy.
"Birdspring," Harescar returned. He glanced at Beechflight for a friendly explanation.
Beechflight finally released his hard-to-be-kept secret. "Birdspring and I are mates," he announced. "The Clan may have some new kits soon," he added, purring as he rubbed up against the pretty brown tabby.
"Well, congratulations!" Harescar meowed happily. Whatever happened to Rainsnow and Hopepuddle? "I'm so happy for you two."
"Thanks," both Beechflight and Birdspring spoke at the same time. Then they laughed and nuzzled each other some more, and Harescar walked away, leaving them some privacy. Just like with Dullnight and Moontooth… oh, I wish I had picked up a mate before deputy duties overwhelmed me. But then Brokenstar wouldn't have picked me for deputy because StarClan's wishes were for a cat with no family to distract him… well, at least I'm not a she-cat. I wouldn't have to deliver the kits.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting," Brokenstar suddenly yelled. Harescar's gaze flitted upward to find the brown she-cat standing stiffly on the broken-off edge of the Highrock.
"I'm telling you, I can catch my own prey," Creamkit was saying to his sister as he, Hazelkit, and Lightningdrop emerged from the nursery.
Hazelkit rolled her eyes. "You couldn't even catch that earthworm on the leaf that one time," she pointed out.
"Oh yeah? Well, I was just distracted," Creamkit retorted, lifting his little dark pink nose into the air and trotting ahead of his family.
Behind them, out came Skyclaw, Frostkit, and Brownkit. Puzzled as to where Streamkit was, Harescar looked around until he found the gray tom beside his father, Minnowcloud, who were already sitting up front. He saw Frostkit's eyes catch with Streamkit's, and the brothers glared at each other- Skyclaw and Minnowcloud did the same, and Brownkit looked at his paws forlornly. Is he driving their family apart?
Mole-eye hadn't had a mate or kits, so no kin of his was still alive. However, senior warriors Shorthaze and Willowberry were still polite enough to stay by the dead elder's side in the middle of the clearing as Brokenstar, their daughter, spoke.
"ThunderClan, I have you gathered here today to tell you that another cat has died," she meowed. A gasp shuddered through the Clan as several cats looked around to see who was missing. Mole-eye was the only body in the camp, however. Then a cat called out:
"Brokenstar, have you lost a life?"
Every cat held their breath as Brokenstar hesitated to answer. "No," she responded. "But this cat is from another Clan. One of our own warriors killed Coldstar, causing him to lose a life. He has seven lives left."
"That ShadowClan mongrel!"
"Yeah, who cares about him?"
"But who would do such a thing to Coldstar?"
"True, true. Yeah, Brokenstar, who did it?"
Brokenstar lashed her tail once, indicating for the Clan to quiet down. Once they did, she answered. "I am ashamed and disappointed to inform you that my own brother, Birchfur did it. He is confined to the camp for a moon, and Berryfang will watch over him during this time to make sure he doesn't leave. When Berryfang's out, my father Shorthaze, you will watch him. Berryfang and Shorthaze may not be out at the same time, got that Harescar? And, of course, don't let Birchfur out for anything."
Insulting murmurs and gossip rippled through the Clan at high speed. Harescar craned his neck over the cats in front of him to see Birchfur looking embarrassed, his ears back, nose flushed red. Berryfang was sitting next to him, puffing out his chest, his healthy, shiny fur gleaming in the midday sunlight.
The Clan was just about to silent when Cherryfur stepped forward until she was standing before Birchfur. Her voice was barely a whisper, but Harescar could catch it on the incoming breeze, which brought it to his ears.
"Why would you do this, Birchfur? Why?" The tortoiseshell shook her head. "I'm expecting your kits. Why?" Her voice was clearly pained.
More gasps went through the crowd. Cherryfur was expecting Birchfur's kits? No one had even known that they were mates. Cherryfur just shook her head and slipped into the nursery. Harescar had noticed that her belly was beginning to swell, but he had figured it was just with the newleaf prey.
Birchfur sucked in his cheeks and looked away from the hot gazes of the confused crowd. He had no more to say.
"This also means," Brokenstar went on, seeming to have no sympathy for the pair, "that the battle with ShadowClan is still on as of now. And since their leader lost a life due to us, they will be more appalled than ever. Now, we must prepare-"
"Prepare for this?" A flood of foul ShadowClan scent choked Harescar, and he could barely turn to see Coldstar standing at the foot of the Highrock. He's well already? There were still deep bite marks visible in his neck from Birchfur's assault, though.
Brokenstar inhaled sharply, and ThunderClan watched as more and more battle-hungry ShadowClan warriors flooded into the camp. However, instead of going right to attacking, they filed in behind their leader, claws unsheathed. Dullnight was not one of these cats. He's probably watching their camp. And they have fewer warriors than us… so their camp probably isn't too protected.
"Ah, Coldstar," Brokenstar spoke coolly. "What a nice surprise!" She flayed her tail a couple times, and at once her warriors leaped on the ShadowClan cats from behind. Startled yowls of surprise echoed in the camp.
Harescar released a battle cry and launched into the fight. He checked quickly to make sure that the queens, kits, and Blackstorm were safe in their dens. He realized that Flashnight was ramming his head into Blackstorm, who was also his father's, bottom to get him into the nursery, where Cherryfur and the others were huddled.
The ginger deputy whipped back around, and instantly blood flew into his eyes. They stung like a Dark Forest cat's scarlet claws digging into one's pelt. "Hey!" Harescar shrieked. He blinked multiple times and opened his eyes to find a determined-looking apprentice with shredded ears glaring at him. He was in a hunting crouch. So I'm prey?
Harescar laughed meanly. "You're no more than nine moons." He lashed out and clipped the youthful tom's already torn ears, and the striped apprentice screamed in pain.
The tom, whom Harescar remembered to be Tornpaw from a previous Gathering, recovered swiftly and pounced toward Harescar, knocking him over. An afflictive belly rake followed. "I'm nine-and-a-half moons, by the way," Tornpaw spat in Harescar's ear as his claws dug into Harescar's underbelly.
Harescar managed to find the strength to rise back up, bringing Tornpaw down to his back. The apprentice writhed and squirmed, but Harescar was able to hold him down and sink his fangs into the tom's tail. A new stinging insult popped into Harescar's head to make Tornpaw mad. "You can't fight any better than a kit!" he meowed through a mouthful of dark tabby fur.
Sure enough, Tornpaw screeched in anger and pain. He yanked his tail out of Harescar's jaw's gruesome grip. He ripped away, streaking like a rabbit across the WindClan moor out of the thorn tunnel. "Ha," Harescar snorted in amusement. "It's annoying how young cats always think they can actually fight well, especially when they're from another Clan."
"You bullying my apprentice?" a she-cat's voice snapped from behind him. Harescar turned to find Blizzardtail, a white she-cat with blazing amber eyes.
"I defeated him, and I can defeat you," Harescar scoffed. Blizzardtail was stupid enough to gape, and Harescar took his chance. He jumped onto her and scratched her left flank. He wrapped his claws all around her abdomen, going under her belly then coming back up to scratch her right side before she pulled herself away, dark pink nose twitching in defiance. Then Blizzardtail fled, following Tornpaw out of the thorn tunnel.
Wow, two cats already. I'm on a roll, Harescar thought in satisfaction. Just then, a voice rose above all, significant and wretched:
"Where's that piece of fox-dung who made me lose a life?!" Harescar lifted his neck to see Coldstar, one glistening red paw on Brokenstar's shaggy, bloodstained chest, his gaze searching the battlefield hungrily. "I'll show him how it feels to die!"
But when Coldstar was in the middle of his second exclamation, Harescar thrust his whole, weighted body forward, shouldering his way through the bruised and wounded cats until he stood before Brokenstar. She wasn't breathing.
EDIT: Added line breaks.
Oh no! Poor Brokenstar…