Me: Nya, welcome to another segment of Warrior talks, live here from the Moonstone! Today's guest has managed to come be see us all the way from StarClan, please welcome Yellowfang!
Yellowfang: *waves fluffy tail in greeting* Thanks for having me kittypets.
Me: I know it must have been difficult but thank you for joining us. We just have a few questions if that's ok?
Yellowfang: Shoot.
Me: Is it normal for a blind cat to care about their, um, disability?
Yellowfang: If it is a condition they are born with, no it doesn't bother them like Jayfeather for example. But fussing over and babying them they do mind, they just want to be treated normally.
Me: Ok what if you are somebody like Fireheart whom was blinded by injury or disease?
Yellowfang: Now that is a bit of a touchy question, kittypet. From experience warriors that go blind from either seem prone to suffer doubts, depression, and even feel useless. But this where support of your clan mates is important, which sadly Fireheart lacks right now.
Me: Not entirely he does have Sandstorm, Princess, and Longtail.
Yellowfang: *smirks* Yes indeed.
Me: Oops, look at the time. On with the next episode of Rise of FireClan~!
Chapter 4
Blood Bonds Us All
~.~.~
It was evening by the time the sleek, petite shadow had arrived at the water fountain in the park. Eyes of ice glowing as they reflexed the moonlight in the dark of the night. His tail twitched out of excitement but also uncertianty as he heard the rhymthic breaths of slumbering cats. Slowly he stalked over silently and poked his head under the rose bush and spotted the cat he was looking for and went in. Slowly he went over to the slumbering ginger tom and started to prod him with his paw, earning some grumbling sleep chatters.
"Wake up."mewed Scourge.
Fireheart moaned as he with tired sightless green eyes yawned and stretched his limbs. It took him a moment but he instantly caught the BloodClan leader's familar scent. Causing the tom to lock his gaze onto the petite tom.
"Scourge...what are you doing here at this hour?"he yawned.
"Come with me, Fireheart. I'd like to talk."mewed Scourge as he turned to leave.
Fireheart simply blinked in confusion but quietly he got up and with care as to not wake his mate, sister, and friend sleeked out from under the bush. Letting his other senses be his guide as he followed Scourge to another park of the park. From the scent it seemed to be a large pond maybe? He could smell the musky water and the reeds and hear shockingly, frogs singing. If it weren't for a coming far off siren in the direction of the thunderpath he would have thought he was back in the forest as he took a seat by the shorter tom.
"Why did you wanted to see me?"the ginger tom finally asked.
"i needed to confirm something...something only you can answer."meowed Scourge smoothly.
"i'm listening, if I can give you answer I will."chirped Fireheart, one of his ears swerved towards Scourge.
"I-If your father by chance a ginger tom by the name of Jake...?"Scourge sounded oddly nervous and maybe even hopeful? It was a tone the tom was shocked to hear.
Fireheart's expression he gave next was one of surprise and it was all the confirmation he needed. "Y-you knew my father?"
Scourge's turn to be surprised when he heard the younger tom's words at infact now giving a onfirmation now completely set in stone. For the first time in al ong time the black tom broke into laughter.
"Knew him? He was MY father as well Fireheart!"laughed Scourged.
Fireheart's eyes lit up with astonishment but also amazement and...was that delight Scourge saw in those fiery green emerald depths? He'd never seen a cat so excited. Not since his own generals had taken control of this entire twolegplace. Heck, Scourge would be lying if he said he wasn't excited himself.
"Guess that makes you my little brother."purred Scourge as he found himself make a move to playfully cuff the ginger tom over the ears.
Fireheart though was actually faster to dodge it then Scourge had expected. Scourge had at least one blind cat in his clan's care, patrially blind but she was a queen expecting his own kits.
"You have the reflexes of a fighter, good very good. I'd expect nothing less from my own kin."chirped Scourge.
Despite the praise Fireheart deflated and looked angry and was that defeat the leader saw on the scarred tom's face? Now Scourge was NOT gonna let that stay. Not on his newly discovered little brother.
"Fireheart what's with that look on your face? That is not a look my kin should have."chirped Scourge.
"I can't fight, not anymore..."sighed Fireheart as dug his claws into the damp earth.
What Scourge said next surprised the exiled ThunderClan warrior.
"Dogshit you can't! You got four good legs, sharp fangs, four good sets of claws, and better reflexes then some of my cats!"hissed Scourge, his tail lashing wildly.
"But my eyes-"Scourge was fast to cut him off with putting his tail on his mouth.
"Screw that, screw being able to see! I know cats here that get along just fine without it! Now it's time to stop feeling sorry for yourself little brother!"snapped Scourge as he got up and made a turn to leave.
Fireheart was fast to hurry after his new found kin, not wanting to be left alone there by the pond. "Wh-where are you going?"
"You mean WE are going. We're gonna fix your so called problem."said the BloodClan leader in a icy determined tone.
Fireheart simply looked confused and baffled; it amused the older tom.
"I'm gonna personally teach you to fight, turn your disability into your greatest strength!"sneered Scourged.
Two very young figures followed by two older ones were creeping through the forest brush as they followed after a golden yellow queen. Fear scent leaked off them from the uncertainty and ominous danger that they did not know whom or what it was. But still they remained cautious as they left the forest behind them.
"And you're sure uncle went this way?"chirped a fluffy snow white tom of about a year old.
"No doubt about it, it's stale but they went towards Twolegplace."mewed the black and white patched tom, clearly just a bit older then the white one.
"Are we really doing the right thing, um I mean leaving ThunderClan I mean?"chirped a ginger and white splotched she-cat.
"I won't expose my kits to the clan's ridicule anymore cause of my ex's foolishness. No, we keep moving."chirped the golden queen, her two little bundles huddled close to her.
"Yes, we keep going until we find my uncle. But if you wanna go crawl back to psycho blue be my guest."huffed the white apprentice.
"Go back, like in silverpelt I'm leaving you alone to fend for a queen and kits Cloudpaw!"snapped the black and white apprentice.
"Swiftpaw's right Cloudpaw, you can't protect Goldenflower, Tawnykit, and Bramblekit all on your own."pointed out the ginger and white she-cat.
"Now young ones that's quite enough. Let's hurry onwards. I'll feel better when we find a safe place to sleep."scolded Goldenflower.
The young trio nodded and hurried into twolegplace, helping the queen with the slumbering kits. Cloudpaw just hoped his uncle hadn't made too far ahead of them.
Scourge smirked as he dodged yet another blow from his ginger pelted brother. Crowds of cats cheering and gloating them on both young and old. Some even placing bets on who would win this sparing match. From the old to even kits were getting in on the action. Scourge had declared Fireheart and his friends would stay with them for a little while longer and they were to be treated with the utmost respect and given full privileges during their stay.
It had been a couple weeks now in fact.
Scourge was amazed at the speed at which his brother picked up on things during the time he had taken his little brother under his mentorship. He had even assigned someone to teach his little sister, Princess to help her grow some backbone. And it was working wonderfully! Fireheart despite his inability to see was using all his other senses to fight even better then his own generals like Bone. Fireheart was using his touch, his smell, and his hearing to make split second judgments.
Yes, his brother knew how to fight already.
He just needed to make changes.
And Scourge was very pleased by Fireheart's progress in fact. He could see the confidence that slowly returned to his eyes each time they trained like this. Saw the light return to those fiery green orbs and the way he now held himself in dignity and pride. Yes, this was how his kin should hold himself.
Scourge before long though had his brother pinned to the ground, signally the match was over as Fireheart touched the black tom's shoulder with his fluffy tail. "You got me, Scourge."chuckled Fireheart.
Scourge laughed and allowed the tom to get up, "You came close this time. Be proud of that as not many can do that to me."
"You still upset that I have to leave your territory tomorrow?"mewed Fireheart as he left with his brother.
"Nah, you'll fine now. I have confidence our paths will cross some how , some day."Scourge said smoothly. "But first there's somebody I want you to meet," and almost as an after thought the leader quickly added, "Bring our sister."
"Sure."chuckled Fireheart.
The two brothers for the time being parted ways. Fireheart headed towards the park and Scourge, well, he wanted very much to go see the she-cat that was carrying his legacy.
To Be Continued...