I think it's time for a filler.
Tigerstar: But Ruthie, you promised you wouldn't have any of those in the sequel!
Actually, I think this will be more along the lines of a "pass the time so we can give TigerHEART the Total Son of a Badger a realistic amount of time to recover" chapter.
Sasha: Works for me. Although, I personally think you should just bump that furball off here and now.
You have no idea how much I want to do that, Sasha. But I can't. Why? Because...Well, I'm going to torture him a bit more. (turns to readers) Would you like that? A little TigerHEART bashing? You know how to talk to me. (pokes the "Submit Review" and "Send a Private Message" buttons)
Tigerstar's POV
The condition of the brown tabby tom's stomach did not improve at all after hearing Whitepaw's account. On the contrary, he started to feel even sicker and dizzier. The ground seemed to lurch out from under Tigerstar's paws as he stood. He swayed slightly and managed a soft farewell to the cats around him. Still stumbling he staggered back to his den. A shiver ran through him.
Exile.
The word pounded through his veins in an unending chorus. Exile. Exile. Exile. Exile. Every beat sickened him. He wondered if it was possible to die from emotions. A smile flickered across his muzzle at the thought of Redtail's face when he confronted the massive tabby in StarClan. 'I'm sorry...what killed you?' he would say. Yes, Redtail, I died from anger, fear, and distrust.
"Tigerstar?" Honeypelt's voice made Tigerstar's tense shoulders and twisting belly relax instantly. "Tigerstar, say something."
"Come in," he murmured. Honeypelt slipped smoothly into the shadowy den, her bright blue eyes glinting in the low light. She curled close to him, purring in hushed tones and twining her body with his.
"Don't let Tigerheart get to you," she soothed. "Think about other things, like our kits. Sandpelt says they're coming along perfectly fine, and we should probably expect two or three. What do you think they'll look like? Like Hawkfrost and Mothwing?"
"Our first litter together." Tigerstar thought of the tom who looked so much like he himself did. Almost like Brambleclaw, but with his mother's eyes. "I wish they'd stayed with you. Then they could be together with us in FourClan."
"Their destinies lie outside this forest," Honeypelt mewed, though Tigerstar could hear in her voice that she shared his feelings. "But our next litter's will lie here with us, in our new home."
Tigerstar let Tigerheart slide from his mind and lost himself in the warmth of his mate's fur. He relaxed totally and let his mind drift over the kits in Honeypelt's belly. What would they look like? Would they be toms or she-cats? He sighed. "I'm starting to wonder if we should just get Tigerheart out of the picture now," he mumbled. "It would make everything so easier."
"You're the leader. It's your decision."
"But it wouldn't be right. We've got him and the dogs to worry about." The idea that there was more than just one dog out there still sent a jolt of ice through his veins. Honeypelt seemed to sense this and pressed closer to him. "I think he's been nurturing this pack for a while now."
"There's not much we can do," she mewed quietly, "until Tigerheart recovers enough to tell us what he knows about the pack."
"And from the look of him, we'll be in the shadow of these dogs for a while...maybe even forever."
Tigerstar sighed as his mind turned over the unsavory decision of Tigerheart's punishment. The young warrior would have trouble enough walking with only three paws, but hunting? It was almost like a death sentence! But still, it was the only thing to fit his crimes. He had disregarded Clan law too many times in too many ways, and he would have to pay.
Honeypelt curled up, pressing her body even closer to that of Tigerstar. The dark tabby sighed and laid his head on his paws, feeling himself slide slowly into a dark, easy slumber. Things would look better in the morning. They always did. Tigerheart was thoroughly out of commission now, so there would be no tussles between him and the rest of FourClan. Still, Tigerstar thought grimly with the last of his conscious energy, Tigerheart would be much easier than the dogs to order around. I'd rather have him in my fur than them...
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Whitepaw was cleared to return to apprentice duties the next day, which came as a huge relief to Tigerstar. Arrowstripe was overjoyed, and his enthusiasm was dimmed only slightly when Ravenflight warned him the apprentices were not to leave the camp—with or without their mentor. Sandpelt also pointed out that Tigerheart seemed to have gotten over the worst of his shock, and was sleeping peacefully.
It was sunhigh. Bright, warm, and golden, the sun's rays cascaded down through the tree's unfolding leaves to dapple the forest floor like a tortoiseshell pelt. The air was reliably warm now, and greenleaf couldn't be more than a few moons away. The river gurgled merrily along its course, no longer frothing and foaming dangerously. It would have been an ideal day for FourClan...if not for the threat of the dogs.
Tigerstar paced at the entrance to the FourClan camp, his tail twitching in agitation. He had taken Ravenflight out secretly at daybreak to check out the former ThunderClan camp. The dogs' scratched nests were empty, and their stench was growing stale. They had found a new den, it seemed, and the FourClan leader felt he could only sleep in peace if he could find it. He stopped pacing at the pawsteps of a small cat. He gazed down into the green eyes of Wetkit. The gray she-kit stared up at him.
"What'cha doin'?" she squeaked. Tigerstar bent down to lick her fluffy head.
"I'm watching the camp," he replied. Wetkit tumbled over from the strength of his tongue. She flumped down on her stubby tail and blinked up at him.
"Why?"
Tigerstar hesitated. What was he going to tell this sweet, innocent little scrap of fur? That there was a pack of bloodthirsty beasts outside the camp, creatures brought in by one of the warriors? He couldn't bring himself to either tell the truth or lie. Fishbelly saved him. "Wetkit, don't bother Tigerstar!" she scolded, coming up behind her daughter.
"I'm not botherin' him!" Wetkit protested as her mother picked her up by the scruff of her neck. "Put me down!"
"Fishbelly, I don't mind," Tigerstar meowed as Sparrowkit, Featherkit, and Songkit appeared behind their mother, their eyes bright and curious. His amber eyes gleamed approvingly. "She's a bold kit, and she'll make a fine warrior some day." Fishbelly purred and released Wetkit.
"Honestly, I'd like to take a quick run," she mewed. "If I take Joey with me, can I do that? I'll find some cat to watch these four pawfuls while I'm out." Her blue eyes were pleading. "Tigerstar, I haven't been able to go ten fox-lengths from the nursery ever since I kitted. Please? I will be careful."
Tigerstar hesitated. There were no other nursing queens to raise the four kits if their mother met the dogs, and they were hardly old enough to eat fresh-kill. But he knew what Fishbelly had said was true: She'd been tending her kits for the past few moons all day, every day, without any chance to stretch her legs. He relented. "All right," he meowed. "But take Arrowstripe with you as well. I'll watch these four." He swept his tail and drew the kits close.
Fishbelly's eyes glowed happily as she nuzzled Tigerstar's dark flank. "Thank you," she whispered. "I promise I'll be careful. Maybe I'll do a little hunting, too. The Clan needs all the fresh-kill it can get." Tigerstar nodded.
"Don't hunt too much, though," he warned. "I don't want you to be so burdened down with prey that you can't make a quick getaway." Fishbelly dipped her head in obedience and bent to touch each kit.
"Now you behave yourselves while I'm out. Do whatever Tigerstar tells you, and don't you even think about leaving the camp—Wetkit, that means you—and you too, Sparrowkit!" she added menacingly, as Wetkit's green gaze flickered in the direction of a breach in the camp wall and Sparrowkit lifted a paw as if to walk in its direction. "I'll be back before sundown." She looked up at Tigerstar. "Long before sundown." The huge tom nodded. "All right. I think that's everything." She padded off in the direction of the warriors den to gather the two burly tomcats.
Tigerstar looked down at the four kits at his paws. Honestly, he was more than happy to take on the little furballs. That way, he could get a good idea of their personalities and select the right cats to be their mentors. Wetkit struggled free of his tail just as Fishbelly left, flanked by the two toms who were her escorts. "What're we gonna do?" she asked.
"Let's see," Tigerstar murmured. "What are we going to do? Mother's out of camp, and she won't be back for a while." He looked at each of the kits. "What do you think we should do?"
"I wanna go out and play hide-and-seek!" Wetkit squealed, bouncing from paw to paw excitedly. Tigerstar suppressed a mrrow of laughter. Featherkit spoke next. Tigerstar marveled at how much she resembled her mother. She studied the massive tabby looming over her with a startlingly intelligent stare.
"Are the elders awake?" she asked. "We could always ask if they have a story for us."
"Who wants to sit in there all afternoon?" Sparrowkit asked in a tone of voice Tigerstar heard so many times in Joey's meow. "It smells yucky in there, and they can't agree on how the stories go!" Songkit nodded her head rapidly. "I say we go to the warriors instead. I bet they've got more interesting stories."
"What about you, Songkit?" Tigerstar asked, blinking kindly at the tiny tortoiseshell. Songkit looked down at the ground, then over at her littermates. She opened and closed her mouth soundlessly a few times, then shrugged.
"Whatever anyone else wants to do," she whispered. "It all sounds like fun to me."
She'll make an obedient little warrior, Tigerstar mused. His tailtip twitched. Perhaps a little too obedient. Her mentor will have to teach her to stand up for herself. His mind flicked instantly to Honeypelt, but he knew his mate would be in the nursery when this kit was apprenticed. Shadepaw could do just that when he's a warrior. "Well, I'm sorry, Wetkit, but we can't leave the camp." Wetkit yowled in disapproval loudly.
"Mother went out!" she protested.
"Your mother is a warrior," Tigerstar reminded her gently. "And I only let her leave if she had a few more warriors with her." She's a bold one. Whoever he mentor is, they'll have to be tough and keep her out of danger. Maybe Leafpaw will be able to do that when she's a warrior.
"I still think the elders could keep us amused," Featherkit murmured cooly. Tigerstar nodded to himself. She's got a cool head, despite what any other cat is doing around her. Starshine, definitely. They'll get along great.
"THE ELDERS ARE BORING!!" howled Sparrowkit at the tops of his lungs. Tigerstar flinched back from the noise. Sparrowkit needed a relaxed mentor, one with a paw both gentle and firm. Nightfur will be looking forwards to getting his first apprentice. Perhaps he would be a good match for Sparrowkit.
"That's no way to talk about the elders," Tigerstar meowed, cutting into the argument that had broken out between the kits. "They've served their Clan long and hard, and they deserve the utmost respect."
"What does 'utmost' mean?" Wetkit asked.
"It means the most you can possibly give them," the dark brown tom replied calmly. "Now, we can either listen to the elders"—Sparrowkit made a face—"or the warriors." Sparrowkit leapt up in the air and bucked gleefully. "Which should it be?"
"Warriors!" he and Wetkit shouted. Songkit looked nervously at her brother before murmuring, "Warriors" in a very unexcited way. Tigerstar turned to Featherkit. The silver tabby she-kit shrugged.
"Whatever they want," she mewed. "If they say warriors, then I guess we'll listen to the warriors."
"No we won't!" Wetkit darted off in pursuit of a scrap of moss drifting across the camp, her fluffy tail held high. She was followed closely by Sparrowkit and Songkit. Featherkit watched them, whiskers twitching in amusement.
"If you'll excuse me," she mewed, then whipped around and bounded after her littermates, crying, "Wait for me!"
Is it just me, or can anyone else here see Featherkit sitting up straight and looking very dignified and pushing a tiny pair of glasses up her nose? Because that's basically how I picture her. With little glasses. Weird, huh? But at the same time, pretty cute. Little kitten wearing pince-nez. XD
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"I'm sorry I'm a little late getting back, Tigerstar. Did they behave themselves?"
Tigerstar swallowed a heavy sigh as his tail twinged mercilessly. He and Fishbelly were standing in the nursery, looking down at the four sleeping furballs that were Wetkit, Featherkit, Sparrowkit, and Songkit. Did they behave themselves? Great StarClan, no!
Wetkit had used the moss-ball as an excuse to slip through the break in the camp wall and out into the forest. Sparrowkit proceeded to challenge her to a "who can make the most noise" contest, where the loser had to yowl the winner's name while running around the outside of the camp five times. Tigerstar had managed to catch them; stuff them back into the camp; set them under the watchful eyes of Ravenflight, Starshine and Cloudpaw; and finally, chase after Sparrowkit, who was still paying the losing penalty.
Once the four troublemakers were safe inside, Sparrowkit had stumbled upon a new game: Tigerstar the Evil Dog. The rules were quite simple. Any cat named Tigerstar was an evil dog, and any cat whose name ended in 'kit' was a Clan warrior. That being said, the Clan warriors set out to attack the evil dog. It was a no-holds-barred, screeching, all-out assault on the Clan leader, which was only stopped when Ravenflight had entered the game. A new rule was invented: And cat named Ravenflight was Clan deputy, and his orders had to be obeyed immediately. Ravenflight had decreed the evil dog defeated, and ordered the brave warriors into their nests to recover from the vicious battle.
"Yes, they were wonderful," Tigerstar sighed. "It was a joy to play with them." About as much joy as having a thrush peck you to death, he added silently. Fishbelly purred as she settled herself around her sleeping litter. When they were sleeping...they actually looked harmless. Tigerstar's whiskers rippled in an amused twitch and he turned to leave the nursery.
"I think you're bleeding," Ravenflight remarked, looking up from the mouse between his paws. His tail pointed to one of the dark tabby tom's ears. Tigerstar licked a paw and drew it over the ear in question. He studied his paw carefully.
"My fur's so dark, I wouldn't know the difference," he muttered, speaking about the paw. "Ravenflight, are all kits like those four?"
"At their age, they're seeing the world for the first time, Tigerstar. You can't blame them for wanting to prod, nibble, sniff, inspect, and yowl at everything they lay eyes on."
"They picked a bad time to open their eyes, then." Tigerstar grabbed a mouse of his own from the fresh-kill pile and flopped down beside his deputy. Ravenflight looked more closely at the ear. He frowned.
"Go see Sandpelt," he meowed. "You are bleeding." Tigerstar took a huge bite from the mouse and gulped it down swiftly without bothering to chew to silence his rumbling belly. Ravenflight let out a soft mrrow. "Keep eating like that and she'll have to treat you for bellyache as well," he teased. Tigerstar growled angrily and licked his lips.
"Taking care of those little monsters is something I wouldn't even make Tigerheart do," he mumbled. "I'm sure they're good kits at heart, but that doesn't stop them from being terrors."
"You only had to deal with them for the afternoon," Ravenflight reminded him evenly. "Fishbelly's got to keep tabs on them until they're apprenticed. That's another four or so moons. She's got it worse than you."
"But she's a she-cat," Tigerstar meowed, swallowing another bite of mouse; this time, though, he bothered to chew before swallowing. "They've got some kind of...superpower when it comes to annoying, violent kits."
"Hey, those are my annoying, violent kits!" Joey joked as he padded from the warrior's den. Tigerstar pulled a face playfully at him. "Good to know FourClan has such a mature leader." The three toms' voices were rich and deep with amused mrrows.
Tigerstar looked up at the sky, nodding a little at the first few pricks of light coming from Silverpelt. Ravenflight followed his gaze upwards, his amber eyes narrowing contentedly. Joey looked to Silverpelt as well, but his body posture said he couldn't see anything phenomenal in it. The sun was slowly sliding down between the moors and the faraway rocks of Highstones. Newleaf night settled over the forest, warm and heavy with the scents of the opening flowers.
The ginger tom rose to his paws, yawning. "We came across a dog marker," he meowed, sounding as if the thought had just occurred to him. "It was on the other side of the river in the direction of High Land. Sort of stale, though. I'd guess it was laid early yesterday morning."
"Thank you." Tigerstar dipped his head to dismiss Joey. The former rogue flicked his tail is agreement as he yawned widely again, then slunk into the halfnest den. Ravenflight rolled onto his side and leaned against Tigerstar's shoulder.
"Have they spoken to you recently?" he asked softly, his tone almost begging. Tigerstar shook his head sadly. The black tomcat sighed. "Well, that's all right. They're still watching over us...They don't like to tell us everything. They don't have to be direct to be there."
"You think they would at a time like this," Tigerstar murmured. Silverpelt seemed so distant as more of its warriors twinkled into view. "They're supposed to watch over us and protect us." His eyes turned to golden-brown slits. "Why aren't they speaking to us?"
Ravenflight was silent, and Tigerstar could smell his growing fear. He decided to change the subject and broke his gaze away from his warrior ancestors. "I don't think I've gotten around to telling you this, Ravenflight, but you're handling to rank of deputy quite well for a cat your age," he meowed. Ravenflight butted the tabby-striped shoulder affectionately.
"I did have a wonderful mentor," he purred. Tigerstar started to groom the sleek, black-furred flank beside him. Ravenflight imitated the gesture, and they sat outside the den, sharing tongues until the moon started to rise.
Tigerstar stood, feeling very relaxed and good-tempered. His aches from kit-sitting vanished and the warmth in Ravenflight's tawny eyes made him feel much better about the state of his Clan. But part of his heart was still heavy. His mind replayed Ravenflight's words. They don't have to be direct to be there.
They don't, he admitted grudgingly. But that doesn't change the fact that I wish they would. He yawned and nodded good night to his dark deputy. The massive tabby tom started off in the direction of his rocky den beneath Greatshard. Inside the shadows, he curled up in his soft, mossy nest and fell asleep.
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Tigerstar sat up, his eyes widening in surprise. The clearing at Fourtrees was just as it had been before the Twolegs had torn it apart. He was sitting atop the Great Rock, looking down at the empty clearing. "It's been a while, eh, Tigerstar?" an amused voice meowed behind him.
"A little too long for my taste, Redtail," Tigerstar replied, turning around to face the much smaller tomcat. Redtail's amber eyes glinted cheekily. Tigerstar found he couldn't stay angry at him. "Why?"
"Why?" Redtail echoed curiously, hopping down from the Great Rock. He flicked his tail for Tigerstar to do the same. "We've been having a bit of difficulty ourselves. As you know, StarClan do not appear to cats who do not believe in them."
Tigerstar nodded. "But the whole of FourClan believes!" he protested, padding after Redtail. The tortoiseshell tom turned and shook his head.
"Not all of it," he mewed. "We lack the belief of one key cat." He sighed. "Sandpelt."
"Sandpelt believes in StarClan!"
"She used to. But ever since Tigerheart started giving you and Ravenflight trouble, she's been beginning to doubt us." He imitated the she-cat perfectly as he spoke his next words, causing Tigerstar to wonder if he was actually echoing her voice. " 'Why don't StarClan do something about that bully Tigerheart? If they really watch out for us, this wouldn't be happening!' 'If there really is a StarClan, why aren't they protecting us from the dogs?' 'Why didn't StarClan keep Whitepaw away from Tigerheart?' "
Tigerstar sighed. "Why didn't you come to me?" he asked. "You've sent me dreams before—you warned me about the dogs in the first place! I've believed in StarClan since I was a kit, Redtail. You can trust me with dreams."
"I know I can," Redtail meowed, "but that's not the way it works, and you know it, Tigerstar." He headed towards the ThunderClan border. "However, I felt the need to bend the rules tonight. Follow me."
Tigerstar didn't feel like pointing out that he'd been following Redtail through the whole dream. He remembered the tom's ThunderClan deputy days. Redtail was a mellow, mild cat, but once he was angry enough, he became a fearsome warrior. Instead, he followed without comment. He heard a soft mrrow. "I said follow, but I never said you had to be silent."
"Where are you taking me?"
"I thought you would have figured it out by now."
"I have a good idea."
"Tell me, then."
Tigerstar glanced from side to side. "We're going to the ThunderClan camp," he replied.
"Good!" Redtail affirmed cheerfully. "Yes, but not the camp from this forest. We're going to the camp from the forest you reside in." He slipped down a narrow trail, weaving his lean body in between the branches of bushes and outcroppings of rocks. Tigerstar, with his broad shoulders and tall frame, was hard-pressed to keep up. The forest suddenly became dark and forbidding. Shadows hissed at him, gnashing dark fangs and flexing unseen claws.
"Redtail!" Tigerstar called nervously, his ears flattening in fear. "Redtail, where are you?" The former ThunderClan deputy had vanished from sight and hearing. Tigerstar broken into a flat-out run, pelt bristling as he raced through the strange forest.
A loud yelp rent the air, and unfamiliar shapes leapt over his head. The air was filled with the shouts of his Clanmates as they fought fiercely. Tigerstar forgot Redtail and ran solely for the sake of the cats in his care. He skidded to a halt, heart hammering against his ribs, lungs bursting as they struggled for breath. Redtail sat calmly before him. "Well run," he commented. Tigerstar spat, stiffening his shoulders. "Oh, calm down. Now come this way, but quietly."
Tigerstar clamped his fangs down on a seemingly endless flow of curses, insults, and sharp words. I'm getting what I wanted, he reminded himself as he sneaked along the dark ground. I asked for a dream from StarClan, and that's what I got. He slipped into the camp behind Redtail, ears pricked.
"Now," whispered the small cat, "I can tell you this much, Tigerstar. The pack has found a new place to sleep, high in WindClan's old moorlands. The pack leader is very keen on living the quiet life up in the hills, for he remembers what happened to the last pack leader when they were near cats."
"Then why did he accept Tigerheart's food?" Tigerstar hissed.
"Would you eat a fresh-kill some cat gave you if you were hungry?" Tigerstar nodded. "Exactly. The pack was starving when Tigerheart found them."
"So we don't have to worry about them? You said it yourself, the pack's leader doesn't want to deal with cats."
"He doesn't. But the rest of the pack got a good taste of cat blood this go-round. Specifically Tigerheart's blood." Redtail's amber eyes glinted in the low light. "As long as Tigerheart is kept inside FourClan's camp, every cat is in danger."
"As much as I hate him, I can't leave him out now." Tigerstar felt a low rumble of anger fill his deep chest. "But rest assured, once he's recovered, he's on his own."
"That may be too late," Redtail murmured grimly, his tailtip twitching like an adder's head. "The pack is restless. Most of the dogs want to finish the job they started. The leader is holding them off, but he can't do it forever."
"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?" the dark tabby yowled angrily. The whole situation seemed hopeless. Redtail whipped around, his eyes wide.
"I told you to be quiet!" Tigerstar stiffened, feeling his legs lock in terror. He couldn't move. Something hot and humid tickled the back of his neck. He turned his head slowly. One of the dogs crouched over him, drooling and breathing heavily. The rank stench of it filled his nostrils, flooding him with fear. The huge beast let out a thunderous bark that made the ground shake.
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Tigerstar jolted awake, his heart pounding. Fear-scent filled his den and by the look of his nest he'd spent the night thrashing around. He sighed. A dream. The dog wasn't there behind him. "A dream," he panted, shivering from the tip of his nose to his long, striped tail. Hearing the words spoken aloud soothed him. The huge tom squeezed from his den and found himself nose to nose with Ravenflight.
"You heard it too, then," the black tom meowed. Tigerstar tilted his head to the side. "The dog...you heard it barking, didn't you? That's why you're awake at this StarClan-forsaken hour of the morning?"
Tigerstar's gut froze solid with all the cold fear of leaf-bare. He pushed past Ravenflight and pelted out of the camp, fur rising on his shoulders. His ears shot up stiffly and he licked his nose to sharpen his sense of smell. He skidded to a halt outside the camp, staring wide-eyed in the direction of the old WindClan territory. Long, hooked talons shot from their sheathes and dug into the newleaf-soft earth below him.
Dogs!
Dang! Not only do you get a semi-filler, but you get a cliffhanger to boot! (laughs her head off)
Tigerstar: Are you going to kill Tigerheart now?
Maybe, hon. Maybe. XD I'll never tell you. But don't worry. He'll get what's coming to him in the end. And not just in the form of exile. No...he gets it a little more. :D But you wouldn't know about that just yet.
Sasha: Ruthie! Stop teasing the readers!
Oh, fine. By the way, you know whose reviews I'm really, really missing? Spottedstar's. Those always made my day. If anyone knows Spottedstar, can you ask them to say something? I miss the Hyperactive Leader of WindClan who speaks in CAPS LOCK. :'(