Chapter 11, In defense of the greatest good

Fireheart lightly dabbed the light grey fur on Featherpaw's back with cobwebs, even though the bleeding had already stopped. The sliver that was the moon was trained on his back, giving him a little light to work with. Fireheart was lost. From the time the sun began to sink from its spot in the sky, Fireheart had seen two old friends, went with them into hostel territory of two clans, watched as a horrid prophecy unfolded in front of him, watched Tigerstar sentence a brave and powerful warrior to death because of something he couldn't control, freed the prisoners of one of the most dangerous cats known in the forest, and stole the daughter of his best friend. Fireheart was more than a little tired and very sick to his stomach.

But he couldn't rest. Not only did Featherpaw have his nest, but unsettling thoughts kept piercing his thin mind, tormenting him as he worked on the small she-cat. Why didn't he know any herb mixtures to help Featherpaw, in spite of spending more time in the medicine cat's den than the average non-medicine cat? He couldn't even remember what medicine cats used to curb pain, which Featherpaw showed a lot of in her tight ball. She was asleep… Fireheart hoped. She had lost a lot of blood from too many smaller cuts, and Fireheart could only pray she would wake tomorrow. He had left a moss ball soaked with water and a small dove he had caught before in the nest with her, to help tempt her back. The only thing that kept Fireheart reassured she was alive was the slight bobbing of her body that he could feel every time he pressed the two leg's cobweb on her.

Tigerstar would surly know that someone in Thunderclan had stolen his prisoners, and made him look like a fool. Tigerstar wasn't one to forgive easy, nor did he take revenge lightly. His last plot dealt with using mindless dogs to mercilessly tear apart his old home because they didn't give him the power he wanted. More importantly, if he did plan to take the whole forest, why didn't he attack with the full force of two clans? Surly he didn't think one clan was stronger than two? Or was he just plotting…

And what about that one clan? Thunderclan? He had been seen on clan territory! When he had battled with Thunderclan against Riverclan, he could claim to be thrown out with Greystripe and return with him. When he took the dogs to the gorge on Bluestar's last day, Thunderclan might have thought him dead. But this time, not only had he rammed head first into the clan leader, but that leader was Sandstar. With her Starclan sealed tightness to the warrior code, and the tension they had suffered while Fireheart was deputy…

Fireheart pulled his paw away from Featherpaw's clenched form and let the cobwebs drop to the side. Working his worries into medicine cat work wouldn't help. It be better to get some rest, Fireheart knew it. Fireheart took two steps back on the branch he was standing on, looking around for a suitable bed. In the trees, there weren't many places for cats to sleep. Fireheart had only happened on his den by chance when he was considering sleeping in two-leg gardens. Needless to say, he found the wood of the tree felt more like home than a two legs bush.

Fireheart heard a twig snap. He froze, and tried to pinpoint the sound. But it happened so fast that all he knew was that it was close. He pulled himself close to the branch, hoping against hope that whatever was out there couldn't see him. He listened, and waited.

It didn't take long until he heard a voice calling out a name. His name. Fireheart's heart started beating faster and he held his breath. Fear and natural instinct kept him pinned to the branch, but curiosity brought his head to the side so he could look down on the forest to see who had called him.

Fireheart could see a… no, two… cats? The first had pale coloring, making it easy to spot in the dimmed light. But the second was black… and was only given away by the ginger splotches and the sheen it got when it was in direct moonlight. The pale one had their head towards the ground, and was probably scenting for something. It then lifted its head and called Fireheart again, though Fireheart ignored it. His attention was on the black one. It was staring directly at him. Fireheart couldn't see their face, but their gazes locked, and Fireheart knew he was in trouble now. He just waited for it to tell its partner what it had found.

But for the longest time, Fireheart nor the other… cat, moved, or blinked. Fireheart felt his name being called again, but it bounced off of him entirely this time. He was facing a life or death situation. He was numbly aware of his lungs, and found he wasn't breathing. He started to take shallow breaths through his nose, as though wind was blowing though a rock.

Then the creature stood. It had been sitting? It was too dark to tell before. It walked towards him. Firehearts claws agonized him for clinging tighter to the branch, but he didn't let go. He watched intently. The being slid into shadow, and became too hard to see. Fireheart didn't try to see. He pulled his head over the branch again. He closed his eye's tight. He waited for the sound of claws on the tree trunk. He could hear the faint breathing in his den, surprisingly loud for the situation.

Then, he heard his name being called again. His whole body shook as the sound crashed the shadow'd stalemate. It was the pale cat…? It was distant. They had gone away in their search for Fireheart. Had the black cat gone with them? Fireheart relaxed, glad for the piercing effects of the pale cat's call. His heart beat at the bottom of his throat. Featherpaw's gentle breathing became more soothing to him. He wasn't sure what happened to the black and ginger cat, but he felt safer now.

With all the sudden tension around him broken, he found himself more exhausted that he could plainly imagine. He decided that the branch he was on was good enough to sleep on. He eased his body on it, becoming more relaxed. That black cat could still be out there, and out for his blood. But he still felt… liberated and safe. Like when he could hear the gentle talking of a mother to her kits to help them sleep. He should sleep. He could sleep. He did… sleep…

Sandstar pushed thought the bracken tunnel that led into camp, letting the cool leaves work against her hot frustration. She had gone out in pursuit of Fireheart, but just like every time before, his scent trail had ended abruptly. Sandstar couldn't understand how he did it. He didn't cross any rivers or through wild garlic. The trail just vanished, and it annoyed her that she couldn't track him. Sandstar was known for her hunting abilities, and rightfully so. She knew all the best tracking, crouching, and catching methods. Why couldn't she catch up to Fireheart?

The Thunderclan camp clearing was crowded with cats. There were a lot of disapproving tones and defensive mews, proving there was a clan wide debate about something. Even a dim cat could tell that the debate was about the group huddled near the high rock, all three of them outsiders. Ravenpaw and Whitestorm were talking to each other, while Mistyfoot, an enemy warrior, and Stormpaw, an enemy apprentice, were in a quiet defense against being in a rival clan. Sandstar didn't know what to think of the two. Were they prisoners, or messengers? Traitors or spies? They looked quite beaten and scratched, and thin for a Riverclan cat in any season. Sandstar knew it fell on her to deal with them.

Sandstar weaved through the crowd towards the new-comers. She still wasn't use to how cats respectfully got out of her way when they noticed her, but she did her best to ignore it, accepting it as part of leader hood. Like a lot of what came with being a leader, it made her feel isolated from the clan. By the time Sandstar reached the high rock, Whitestorm was waiting for her. He and Ravenpaw bowed their heads to her, and even Mistyfoot acknowledged her presence.

"What's happing here, Whitestorm?" Sandstar asked, casually looking over the two Riverclan cats.

"Greystripe and Ravenpaw went into Riverclan territory to find Greystripe's kits, but had to fish them out of prison. Poor pair haven't eaten in days." Whitestorm reported, sympathetic to the mangled Riverclan cats.

"Where's Greystripe?"

"He's gone out to look for the other one. Featherpaw. "He briskly pointed at Stormpaw. "That one's sister. He figured that Ravenpaw was good enough to tell us the story."

Sandstar mulled the report over for a moment. "Thank you, Whitestorm. And its nice to see you again, Ravenpaw." She acknowledged the clan runaway. " Can you tell me what happened?"

"Well," He started. " I was coming to Thunderclan to pay Bluestar the last respects that I owed her when I heard a splash come from the river. It was too big to be a common fish splash, so I thought I'd check it out."

"Why were you following the river? That's not the fastest way to camp?" Sandstar stepped in with.

"You can say I was… taking the scenic route. There are a lot of memories for me in Thunderclan, you should know that."

"Right… go on." Sandstar berated herself for asking. Of coarse she could trust Ravenpaw.

"So, when I was basking in the memories in the forest, I heard the splash. I decided to follow it to see what went in. And, to my astonishment, I found Fireheart cat-struggling to the other side. I never knew him to be a swimmer, so I knew something was happening."

"Did you say Fireheart?" Sandstar interrupted again. "Fireheart was swimming into Riverclan territory?"

"I wouldn't call it swimming. It was like he was trying to use fish as stepping stones."

"But he was going into Riverclan?" Sandstar pushed.

"Sandstar, I think it would be best to let Ravenpaw finish his story before you start to flood him with questions." Whitestorm said in his mentor voice. Sandstar wanted to protest, but habit of obeying Whitestorm took over, and she kept her mouth shut.

"Anyhow, I followed Fireheart through the river to the other side. I can't say he didn't have to pull me the last fox-length, but I made it. After a short conversation, he told me he was following Greystripe. So we followed his scent trail till we found him amongst the reeds. He told us he was looking for news on his kits, since Mistyfoot hadn't been at a gathering for quite a time. Fireheart was skeptical, but he and I agreed to help him.

So, we travel into Riverclan, something I wished I'd never do. The fact that both Tigerstar and Shadowclan there didn't help, but we stayed anyhow. Then we saw actual clan cats. There were a lot of them lying around, most of them looking like crow food that could move. There was also a big pile of prey bones, all of them picked clean for the pile. Tigerstar called a meeting from on top of it, so he must have built it to mimic the high rock. He said something about two legs and the river, but that wasn't the bad part.

He presented these two to the combined clan as prisoners. I don't know why he would do that to cats that were suppose to be a part of his clan, but Tigerstar has always been twisted."

"Its… Its because we have Thunderclan blood in us." Stormpaw piped from his place behind Ravenpaw. "Tigerstar thought we might betray Tigerclan for our Thunderclan heritage."

Ravenpaw turned and studied the apprentice. "Yes… that would make sense… but. I didn't know you had a parent or two in Thunderclan." he said to Mistyfoot.

"My mother… my mother was from Thunderclan." She said gauntly. "She…"

Sandstar remembered when Stonefur and Mistyfoot and returned Bluestar's body. They had claimed her to be their mother, but most of the clan called treason on them. It was only because of Whitestorm that the two had escaped alive. Sandstar didn't believe them for a moment, but she had sided with Whitestorm.

"So you really are on of Bluestar's lost kits." Whitestorm said, his voice growing distant "You look so much like her.

Ravenpaw looked at Whitestorm, then Mistyfoot. "Bluestar had kits? And your one of them?" he asked, sounding quite unlike himself to be surprised.

"Yes…" Mistyfoot reacted stiffly, as though she hadn't expected any cat to react like that. "She had to give us to our fathers clan when we were just kits."

"Not to be rude, but cat you please continue your report, Ravenpaw?" Sandstar returned to the subject. Greystripe had returned, worry and frustration evident. He obviously hadn't found Featherpaw.

"Right. So Tigerstar gave his speech why they shouldn't trust them. Then, he offered Stonefur a spot in Tigerclan if he would kill Mistyfoot. But Stonefur choose not to, saying he'd die to protect the his sister. He fought brilliantly, but was outmatched by Darkstripe and another cat. Starclan receive his soul.

We had to hold Greystripe down to prevent him from doing the same thing to himself. Tigerstar decided that Mistyfoot would be useful to him, probably as a threat or exchange point, and put her into an old fox hole. The three of us dug her out, and she lead us to Greystripe's kits in Shadowclan.

Needless to say, we broke in, freed Stormpaw and Featherpaw, and were just over the border when we met your patrol."

"Now that they know what happened, can we please send out a patrol to find Featherpaw?" Greystripe didn't hide his desperation. "She could be lost or hurt out there."

" I think we should. I saw Fireheart run off with her in his grasp." Sandstar leaped at the chance. The story only proved that Fireheart had the clan's best intention, and gave him every right to be a Thunderclan warrior again.

"Fireheart has her?" Greystripe breathed a sigh of relief, and he withdrew his claws from the dirt. "Thank Starclan."

"Sandstar, before we do that, shouldn't we decide what we should do with these two?" Whitestorm said. Sandstar heard Stormpaw's breathing stop.

"Well, they are Riverclan cats." She said.

"Your not thinking of sending them back to Tigerstar, are you? Didn't you hear what he did to them? They'd die if we send them back." Greystripe pressed his leader. "Can't we shelter them here? I'll catch anything they need to eat!"

"We're not helpless. Give us some time, and we'll be able to hunt for ourselves, as well as your clan." Mistyfoot said.

"Greystripe has a point. Besides, they have Thunderclan blood in them. They have a right to ask us for shelter, especially now." Whitestorm interjected.

"Please, Sandstar? We worked hard to get them." Ravenpaw pleaded.

Sandstar hadn't planed to send them to Tigerclan again. But, where else could they go? Sandstar stared at Mistyfoot. She did look like Bluestar, But thin and mangled.

"If your wish. Greystripe, take them to Cinderpelt to have them inspected and treated. We don't want them to get infected." Sandstar glanced towards the medicine cat's den. Cinderpelt was limping towards them with a wad of medicine cat stuff in her mouth. She had probably taken one look at the Riverclan cats and had gone to fetch supplies. It annoyed Sandstar that she had done that without permission, but Sandstar ignored it. She had an announcement to make and a patrol to organize.

The calm night sky blanketed the cool, dry land, and the last Fireflies of leaf green dipped in the night air. Their was faint traces of a breeze, and if one wasn't paying attention, they wouldn't be able to tell. Familiar, soft scents of the forest took to the air, masking any hint of the days events. And amongst it, a single, sleek, tortoiseshell she-cat sat atop a branch on a tree near the two legged place, her tail softly covering a Ginger-tom warriors shoulders. He needed sleep, and it was the least Spottedleaf could help him with.

It felt less than a moment ago when Spottedleaf had received her banishment. Starclan had voted to cast her out for showing such a sacred ritual to an outsider. Not even a medicine cat got to witness the ceremony. The transition from warrior to leader was a sacred one.

But that didn't stop Spottedleaf from doing what she believed was right. He was the rightful leader of Thunderclan. If he didn't get to take his place as leader, than at least he should be able to experience the ceremony. By destiny, he had been selected to guide Thunderclan. But fate had interfered, throwing him onto a new path, one of an outcast. Spottedleaf wouldn't allow fate to change Firehearts destiny, to the fullest extent she could.

She kept her gentle gaze locked on the hansom tom, taking in the melodically pattern of his breathing. He was at peace. Spottedleaf wished she could let him enjoy it longer. But the ever menacing paws of fate and destiny never rested, always ready to weave together the strains of life. Tomorrow held a lot for the clans. Tigerclan had staged an attack on Windclan tonight. Even now, a messenger from Windclan was rushing towards Thunderclan to plead for assistance. The attack was already over. There had only been one death. Gorsepaw. Tigerstar had demanded a meeting, to answer whether Thunder and Windclans would join or not.

But for now, Spottedleaf protected Firehearts rest. Of all cats, he needed it. Of all cats, he deserved it. He was on a rough path, and he would need to rest to see it to its end. She couldn't help him directly. But, she could guide him. Without Starclan, she was alone. But, without Starclan, she could focus on helping Fireheart. She would fill her own part between the ever fickle paws of fate and destiny.