Before I start I'm just going to say I'm just going to say the cat's name because I don't feel like describing them. I have typed a few documents multiple times and am tired of it.
And now, on with the story!
Kyoya ran beside Firestar as they burst into the WindClan camp. TigerClan scent lingered around the clearing but there were no TigerClan warriors left in the camp. Cats lay around the clearing wounded. The only sign of life in some was the rise and fall of their chests.
"Stay close. Some of these cats might be hostile because of the surprise attack," Firestar advised Kyoya. Kyoya just nodded, a little shocked by all the damage that had been done. A Clan could be beaten so easily? How could that be possible?
Graystripe came up on Firestar's other side as the WindClan leader Tallstar came up to them. His fur was torn and covered with dust. His long tail drooped with exhaustion. "Firestar!" His voice was rough with pain. "I knew you would come."
"Not soon enough, I'm sorry," Firestar replied.
"You did your best," Tallstar rasped, looking at his injured warriors. "You can see what Tigerstar has done."
"Tell us what happened," Graystripe urged.
Tallstar twitched his ears. "You can see. Tigerstar and his warrior crept up on us...we had no warning, and in any case there were too many for us to fight."
Firestar, Kyoya and Graystripe padded forward, gazing at the WindClan warriors. None of them had escaped without wounds. Each warrior was staring at nothing as if they couldn't believe what had happened. Kyoya could hardly believe it himself. Tigerstar had attacked without a reason. Tigerstar had gained nothing from the attack either. What reason could the power hungry leader have for attacking? He obviously wanted to scare the WindClan cats into joining TigerClan.
"Hey! Firestar!" a weak voice called. They all turned to see Onewhisker lying on his side with Barkface beside him. He had deep wounds on his throat and shoulder.
"Onwhisker..." Firestar breathed. Kyoya stared down at the warrior. At least he was alive. So far Kyoya hadn't heard of any deaths. Onewhisker's eyes were bright with pain.
"It's not as bad as it looks," he grunted. "You should have seen the other cat."
"I wish we'd come in time," Firestar meowed.
"I wish you had too. Look over there," Onewhisker turned his head, which frustrated Barkface.
"Keep still!" the medicine cat ordered. Kyoya and Firestar followed Onewhisker's gaze to where Morningflower crouched over a small motionless body. Firestar's eyes shone with grief.
"No..." Firestar choked out the words. "Not Gorsepaw."
"Tigerstar killed him," Onewhisker explained, his voice tight with rage. "He pinned him down in the center of the clearing with his warriors around him so none of us could get close enough to stop him. He...he said he was going to kill him to show the rest of us what we could expect if we refused to join him."
Firestar closed his eyes tight for a moment before opening them again and padding softly over to Morningflower, Kyoya and Graystripe followed. Morningflower looked up as Firestar touched her shoulder with his nose. Her eyes were dull with grief.
"Firestar," she whispered. "I didn't think you'd saved my son for this. What have StarClan done to us?"
Firestar crouched down beside the queen, pressing himself against her side as he touched his nose to Gorsepaw's fur. "He was growing into a fine warrior," he murmured.
Graystripe bowed his head and touched Gorsepaw's fur before turning to Firestar. "Firestar, what do you want us to do? We can't just leave them like this."
Firestar, Kyoya and Graystripe moved away from Morningflower before the ThunderClan leader answered. "Graystripe, take two or three cats on patrol," he ordered. "On or two of WindClan, too, if any of them are fit. They'll know their boundaries better than us. Check to make sure that there are no TigerClan warriors still lurking around. If you find any, you know what to do-chase them off, or kill them of you have to. And bring back as much fresh-kill as you can. WindClan need to eat, and they're not capable of hunting for themselves."
"Right," Graystripe meowed. He called Sandstorm, Cloudtail and Dustpelt, and checked with Tallstar for permission to patrol in his territory. Tallstar agreed gratefully and ordered Webfoot, who had escaped with torn fur and scratches, to go with them and show them the best places for prey.
"I just want to rip Tigerstar's pelt off!" Kyoya growled, sheathing and unsheathing his claws.
"Calm down. Tigerstar still has all of his nine lives. He'd kill you once before you took all his lives," Firestar pointed out.
"I still hate him!" Kyoya growled.
"I've always hated him from the moment he tried to kill his own apprentice," Firestar meowed. "I don't know when it'll happen, but when the time comes, the final confrontation is mine."
Kyoya saw a look he reconized well in Firestar's green eyes. The look of determination. Kyoya then realized that Firestar and Tigerstar were more than just enemies; they were rivals. It was like Kyoya toward Gingka, except Tigerstar was evil.
Tallstar then padded up to Firestar. "We need to talk," he meowed. "Tigerstar left a message for you."
"A message?" Firestar echoed, pricking his ears.
"He wants both of us to meet him tomorrow at Fourtrees at sunhigh," Tallstar replied. "He says he's tired of waiting. He wants our decision about whether we'll join TigerClan or not...and he's shown us what he'll do if we refuse." He flicked his tail toward his wounded warriors and the dead apprentice, all his grief contained in the simple gesture. Firestar met the WindClan leader's gaze and a long moment of silence passed before anyone spoke.
"I'd rather die than join Tigerstar's Clan," Firestar declared.
"So would I," Tallstar agreed. "And I'm glad to hear you say that. Bluestar was right about you all along. Many cats thought you were too young and inexperienced when she made you her deputy, but you're showing your quality now. The forest needs cats like you."
Firestar bowed his head. "So-we'll meet tomorrow at Fourtrees," he meowed.
Tallstar nodded, gravely. "Take my advice, Firestar, and bring some of your warriors with you. When we refuse to join Tigerstar, I don't imagine he'll let us walk away without a fight."
"Then, if we have to, we'll fight together?" Firestar asked.
"Together," Tallstar promised. "Our Clans will join together like a lion to fight the tiger who prowls our forest."
The lion will beat the tiger alright, Kyoya thought, digging his claws into the earth.
"I swear by StarClan that my Clan will be the friend of yours, to fight this evil side by side," Firestar meowed.
"I swear it too," Tallstar replied.
Firestar stared off into the distance, lost in thought. Kyoya saw a trace of fear in his green eyes. He feels fear but is willing to fight Tigerstar until he loses his ninth life, Kyoya thought. He then shook the thought away. No. The only one losing lives will be Tigerstar!