Chapter 14, Foreign foe, latten leader.

Fresh air streamed though the forest, the fresh after sought of a storm that cleans the lungs and sooths the skin with a light, unseen mist. It was a mid leaf fall day, promising to not be too hot or cold. It was the kind of weather that warriors would gather around a comfortable spot and share stories, laughing at jokes and debating whether doves tasted better than mice. It was the kind of day that Starclan themselves sent to rest weary warriors. For any cat in the forest, though, it was a day short from the potential end of all clans. They had just one day to either gather their clans and leave, or to stay and fight for their home.

Fireheart was willing to fight. And he'd be half a cat if he didn't try to get Shadowclan and Riverclan to fight as well. He knew what was happening. Tigerstar was killed, and the cats responsible, Blood clan, were in Shadowclan territory, waiting for their chance to chase the clans from the forest. Starclan had told him so. Spottedleaf had told him in his dreams. It was strange, that Spottedleaf would give him straight news instead of a prophecy, but if Starclan sent it, it must have been important.

He was on the stepping stones now, his nose pointed straight at the sun, his eyes closed so he could enjoy the suns light. It had been a while since he had been able to feel the sun without the feel of bark. It felt soothing, almost light-hearted to be here now. It was almost like a young warrior traveling with a message of peace for another clan. For all that was, Fireheart pretended like that was what he was doing, if but to feel like a clan cat again.

But he knew he couldn't stay there forever. Time was short, and his safety shorter. He was here at his own peril, since he had no clan to fall back on. But he knew he wouldn't abandon Thunderclan. The best was he could help was to get Riverclan and Shadowclan to fight as well.

He crossed to the other side of the rocks, all while scenting for a patrol. He wanted to make himself look as unthreatening as he could, and if he could catch they eye of a patrol instead of their side, then his chances would improve. He landed on the other side of the rocks, and looked around for other cats. To a mixture of relief and tension, there wasn't any. He put his nose to the ground to smell for makings. But the ones that were there were several days old. In the recent events, the clans might have been to traumatized to even maintain their own boarders. It was an odd idea, for a whole clan to simply stop working, but in light of recent events, Fireheart didn't blame them. Between Tigerstar and scourge ravaging both clans with twisted greed, most cats would loose heart.

Fireheart started towards the clearing with the bone pile in it. He wanted to hide in something, anything at this point, but he forced himself onto open ground. He calmed his mind with lessons from when he was an apprentice. "Keep relaxed, and breath slowly."

He reached the clearing with no trouble. It was chilling, how empty Riverclan territory seemed. He met no cats scent the whole was there, and only when he crossed into the clearing could he find signs of other cats. But the ones he found made him sick. The clearing was covered in rotting prey unfit for a crow to eat, and the smell of rot mingled with the scents of un-kept cats. There were cats from both Shadowclan and Riverclan here, as Fireheart expected, but the gaunt look to each made Fireheart sicken with empathy. Most had gritty, wild fur, a sign that they hadn't taken time to wash themselves. All were leaf bare thin, Even though leaf bare was still a time away.

Fireheart scanned the clearing for Leopardstar. She was sitting under the bone hill, staring at her paws as Blackfoot talked to her. There was a small fish at Leopardstars paws. She shook her head when Blackfoot pointed at it with his paw. He gave her a cross look, picked up the fish, and walked away towards a group of young apprentices. Fireheart quietly slipped into the clearing, ignoring the incredible fear the held him back. He walked carefully towards Leopardstar, keeping track of each and every paw step he took as to not betray his fear. He had to look strong, confident. "The best way to convince other clans is to be convinced yourself." Bluestar had told him so long ago. If nothing else was true, Fireheart was convinced that the clans could work together to drive off Scourge.

Fireheart felt his nerves tighten when the cats around him started to notice him. Cats started whispering to each other. Others simply stared at him. Some choose to simply ignore him. But Fireheart could hear their questions in his mind. "Who his he?" "What is he doing here?" "Isn't that Fireheart?" "Isn't he a rogue?"

Fireheart pressed off the questions as he neared Leopardstar. Her eyes were centered on him, dull, yet defensive. Fireheart didn't need to see her eyes to tell she had been through a lot, but her eyes told him how much. "Are you alright?" Fireheart asked.

"What are you doing in my territory…!"

"I… yes."

"Last I heard, you had been driven from your clan. What makes you think your welcome in mine." It was a statement rather than a question.

"I wanted to… What are your plans… Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Why would you, an out-cast, care about what we do tomorrow?"

"Because what you do tomorrow could effect the clans forever. Windclan and Thunderclan are going to fight Bloodclan. But we need your help to fight them."

"Did Thunderclan decide to take you back in?" Her question was skeptic. "Or are you just good at spying."

"It doesn't matter."

"What doesn't matter!" Blackfoot blindsided Fireheart with the question. Fireheart turned towards the deputy warrior. He had hopped to talk to Leopardstar alone first, but it looked like he didn't have that leisure now.

"Blackfoot. I was just talking to Leopardstar about"

"About Bloodclan. Why else would an out-clan cat be here. So now your here as a messenger from Bloodclan to tell us we're out of time. Don't worry. I'll be sure to shred every one of you Bloodclan cats. And that means your too!"

"Blackfoot! Stop this instant!" Leopardstar snapped at the deputy. "He's not here from Bloodclan."

"Then why else would this… thing be here now!" Blackfoot sized up next to Leopardstar like a loyal deputy, his powerful frame belittling Leopardstar.

Fireheart curled back the insult. It hurt worse than being called crowfood, but if he fought with Blackfoot here, then he would be attacked by the rest of the clan cats.

"I'm here to ask Shadowclan and Riverclan to fight with Windclan and Thunderclan tomorrow."

"So those fools think they can take on Scourge and his murderous, faceless, cruel…"

"Yes. And we need your help."

"Our help? What makes you think we're going to stay behind and be killed with the rest of you. And since your not a clan cat, then why do you care?"

"Because I care about what happens to the forest! I'm not going to walk away while savage murderers come and tear apart the home that Starclan gave us! I may not be a part of a clan, but I'm as much as a clan cat as your are!"

"So you think that a kitty-pet rogue deserves to be a warrior too? Not on…!"

"Silence Blackfoot!" Leopardstar hissed. At this point, cats were gathering around the three, and those close enough to hear jumped at Leopardstars demand.

"But he"

"I said silence! I'm the leader, here! I will judge what he has to say!"

"Thank you." Fireheart said, relief pouring out over his gratitude.

"First. Tell me why you are here. Blackfoot is right to question the motives of a cat who betrayed their clan."

"Wh… What? Betrayed?!" Fireheart felt the words sink in. It was the first time in a long time anyone accused him of that. "I never betrayed Thunderclan."

"Then why were you banished?"

"Its… Its because I stopped a battle between Windclan and Thunderclan."

"Stopped? So they thought you were too much of a cowered?"

"I'm no cowered! It… I arranged for a peace talk between Tallstar and Bluestar.. .But I had to go against Bluestar's orders to do it. She was convinced Windclan had been stealing prey from us, and ordered an attack. But it was the dogs, not Windclan. I couldn't let her send her warriors into a fight they didn't need to fight."

"She… She what? That doesn't sound like Bluestar as I knew her." Blackfoot interjected. "She was always about peace."

"I'm afraid she wasn't the same cat then as she was before. May she forgive me for what I'm about to say.

Your both aware that I had to take her place on the great rock during gatherings. We told you that it was because she had inhaled too much smoke during a fire. Though that was mostly correct, the troubles started way before that. It started back when Tigerstar left Thunderclan. Its when he lead Shadowclan rogues to attack Thunderclan in an attempt to kill Bluestar and take her place. You should remember, Blackfoot. You were one of the rogues attacking us." His hid his satisfaction at returning the rogue remark.

"Bluestar's mind buckled under the though of Tigerstar betraying Thunderclan. From there, she grew worse and worse, even calling everyone in the clan traitors. I was the only one she trusted. But…" Fireheart trailed off. He couldn't bear the idea of betraying Bluestar's trust. Laying it out now made him feel worse. He was the only cat in the clan she had faith in, and he threw it away. He could feel his heart bleeding sorrow, and he could only wish that she found peace in Starclan.

"Tigerstar… He had told us we were there to save Brokenstar. He might not have been a good leader, but a leader is a leader."

"Trying to kill Bluestar wasn't the last of his crimes. But now isn't the time to discuss him. He's paid for his crimes with his lives. The real problem is Scourge. We need to join together to have any hope of beating him."

"How do you know he can be beat? Tigerstar had nine lives, and was a powerful warrior, and not even he could stand up to Scourge. What makes you think we could?" Blackfoot voiced his doubts.

Firehearts mind seized up. How could you kill a cat who could kill another nine times with one cut? What could you do against that kind of lethal attack? But a soothing near-voice calmed his fears, and the answer licked him in the back of the head.

"Tigerstar wasn't just fighting Scourge. He was fighting Starclan and the warrior code itself. He killed, plotted, and abused the cats of the clans. But Starclan won't abandon us if we don't abandon them. Starclan has always dictated that there will be the four clans of the forest. If we fight for the warrior code, then I know that Starclan will help us."

A somber pause passed through the clearing. Cats around Fireheart looked on their leaders, while others whispered to each other. Had he convinced them? He could feel tension ebb and flow around the group. What were they thinking? Fireheart watched as Leopard studied him with acute eyes. Firehearts fear started to rise again. Had he failed to convince her?

"I need a moment to talk this over with my senor warriors." She said at last. She flicked her tail, and several warriors gathered around her. Blackfoot gave Fireheart a questioning glance, then joined the group. Fireheart stepped back a little so they could have some privacy. He wanted to listen in, but he knew it was rude. He didn't need to give them any reason to hate him.

Fireheart gazed up at the sky, and wondered if Starclan approved of what he was doing. Spottedleaf had told him what was happening, but she didn't tell him what to do. He was grateful they hadn't abandoned him, but they seemed… different. Were they holding something back? Did they have a different path for Fireheart? For now, though, he would just have to trust them.

Fireheart looked around at the cats that circled him. Most every cat from either clan was here. Fireheart couldn't help but feel as though they were waiting for him to collapse, like crows waiting for prey to die They looked hungry enough, or most of them. There were some who looked like they had enough to eat. Though… Though most of them had a distraught look in their eyes. It was hard to miss. They were gathered together, in one spot, just beyond where Leopardstar spoke to the clan cats. They were staring at him… pleading him for something. What did th…

Fireheart realized that he didn't recognized them, not by scent, or by sight, and they weren't speaking, so Fireheart couldn't recognize them by voice. They didn't look young enough to be new warriors or apprentices. It was strange… Familiar, even. They… What did they want from him? He knew them. They were the… where were they from… and why?

"What are you staring at?" Some cat said from next to Fireheart.

Fireheart turned to the cat. It was an apprentice, a little over 6 moons old, tom, with bright crème colouring. "Um… its nothing." Fireheart glanced back at the spot he had seen the cats. They were gone, like a frail seed on the wind. Fireheart couldn't help but feel like he was nuts.

"Oh." The apprentice said. "Well, is Featherpaw and Stormpaw alright?"

"Featherpaw and Stormpaw? How would I know? I'm not a clan cat."

"Well… yes, though I think your just like a warrior. You don't have to hide it. Everyone knows you're with Greystripe when he took them. A cat would have to be stupid not to recognize your scent. Its like, Thunderclan if Thunderclan could float."

"If Thunderclan could float?" The apprentice was a bit paw-over-stump.

"Well… You know. Up in the air…" The small tom looked down sheepishly.

"Yes, they're fine. Featherpaw was a bit shaken up, but I'm sure that Thunderclan is taking good care of her." Fireheart relented.

"Good! When will they be coming back?"

"As soon as they can. They'll need to recover some from being Tigerstar's prisoners."

"I guess so. He treated them badly." The apprentice looked crest-fallen, as though he was the one responsible. "I didn't even know they were 'half-bloods'. I don't even know what that means. No one will tell me. Is it really that bad?"

"No… I don't believe its bad." Fireheart said softly. "Its not bad. Its only… a name."

"Then why did Tigerstar decide to make them prisoners?"

"Because he didn't believe that a cat could good without good parents. He though that for a cat to be strong, they had to be forest born cat with parents from the same clan. He though that my mixing clan cats with each other, or cats from outside the clans all together, that you would ruin what made the clans strong."

"Oh…" The apprentices eyes we're closed in thought. "So."

"If your quite done gossiping with apprentices, Fireheart, then I've reached a decision." Leopardstar said. The apprentice noticed the leader, and quickly bowed to her before returning to the cat-circle. Fireheart faced Leopardstar once again. He noticed her fur was more groomed than it was before, and Fireheart realized that she probably was listening to Fireheart talk with the apprentice.

"You've decided?" Fireheart asked.

"Yes, I have." Leopardstar said, a small flicker of annoyance evident in her whiskers. "I believe that what you say has truth to it. I believe that Starclan wouldn't want us to run like cowards when challenged like this."

"So your fighting with Windclan and Thunderclan against Bloodclan tomorrow?"

"Yes. Riverclan will fight alongside Windclan and Thunderclan for the forest tomorrow."

"As will Shadowclan" Blackfoot said as he came up behind Leopardstar to stand by her. "I might be able to tolerate ex-kittypets so long as they have a back bone and a piece of mind. But I won't let them take my home before I shred their pelts!"

"That great. But, ex-kittypets?" Fireheart was confused.

"Bloodclan came from the two-legged place." Leopardstar explained. "Surprisingly, you aren't the only cat from there who can hold his own in a fight."

"They came from the Two-legged place?" Fireheart thought back to his old home. He didn't remember any talk of dangerous cats when he lived there.

"Tigerstar was hoping to use them to convince Thunder and Windclans to join Tigerclan, then drive them out when all the clans were together. But it looks like Tigerstar couldn't control Scourge. He had promised them some territory in the forest if they would help." Blackfoot looked discussed with sharing clan secrets with Fireheart.

"Well, we won't lose like Tigerstar did. We'll be ready for them."

"More importantly, who will lead the clans against Scourge? I don't think I could…" Leopardstar was heart fallen, and Fireheart was surprised. He thought that Leopardstar would demand as much control over the clans as she could. "Are you planning to lead us?" Leopardstar asked.

"Me?" Fireheart was stunned at the question. Leopardstar wanted Fireheart to lead Riverclan and Shadowclan into the fight? "I don't know. I'm not a clan cat. What right do I have to lead?"

"You were Bluestar's deputy at one point, I know? Your no stranger to authority." Blackfoot said mildly. "And you're the one who asked us to fight. If your going to be there, too, then shouldn't you have some right to lead Riverclan into battle?"

"Well…"

"You are going to be there. You wouldn't come ask us for help if you weren't planning to fight yourself, correct?" Leopardstar said questioningly.

"I wouldn't miss this fight if my life depended on it, and I'm willing to give if necessary." Fireheart said. He knew he owed his life to Thunderclan.

"And you will lead us?" Leopardstar said.

Fireheart closed his eyes and gave a hard look to his fear. "If I must."

Everything was quiet. Not a live creature could be seen in the warm, blue forest. It was still, the quiet which all warriors strove for. Trees were wound together by their branches, providing a cover protection that wasn't needed. A silver-lined pool of perfect, clear water glistened the center of it all, lightly dabbing the ground around its edges. Near it, four cats were sitting together, watching its surface carefully. To them, its wasn't simple water. It was a looking glass into the world they were from. It was the way of the clan cats, the protective eye of Starclan.

They were watching Fireheart, the chosen cat that was now an out-cast. He was the cat that Starclan had picked to protect the clans. When he was denied the role of leadership, they thought he would be strain from the path that Starclan had intended for him. But though he was outside of the clans, for now, he still did everything in his power to fulfill his destiny, even if he didn't understand it.

Bluestar watched as her apprentice approach Leopardstar. She listened when her warrior convinced Riverclan and Shadowclan to take up the fight. She was proud when her deputy accepted the right to lead the clans into the battle. She feared what would happen tomorrow. Starclan didn't know everything. No cat knew whether the clans would defend their forest, or die hopelessly before blood clans merciless ways. But Bluestar knew that Fireheart wouldn't be there to fight alongside the clans.

"Do you think Sandstar will be able to lead all four clans?" Yellowfang said.

"She will have to." Thunder said. "She is the only one we can turn to."

"But she's inexperienced. She was only deputy for a short while, and she became leader before she was ready." Yellowfang voiced the worry of the cats.

"We'll just have to put our faith in her." Bluestar said.

"Faith? Hmph! You don't have faith in her. You wouldn't even call her by her leaders name after she received her nine lives!"

"I do have faith in her. I picked her as my deputy."

"But you weren't you when you did." Thunder interceded. "You were mad with distrust, and banished the cat you knew Starclan had chosen. Your not to blame for that. You mind had given way. But you chose Sandstar as your deputy then as well. So can you truly say you have faith in her now?"

Bluestar kept her eyes on the pool. It now showed Sandstar, training the kits in case Bloodclan attack Thunderclan directly. Fireheart had been destined to be Thunderclan's leader, but there was nothing Bluestar could do now to make that happen. He had a new way to fulfill his destiny.

"I have full faith in Sandstar."

Authors note

This is where things will get a little more interesting. Due to the nature of this story, it's possible, if not a guarantee, that it will have multiple endings that branch off at different times. I will mark the places that these endings splinter in obvious fashion, and then write the ending at the bottom of the chapter as an epilogue-style summery. I know you could simply read them all, but I think it will give some nice flexibility to the story and allow me to more freely manipulate plot detail, as well as give more for readers to read.

I'd also like to encourage you to write a review of the story, should you find it in you heart to do so. I know this story is filled with flaws, and would like to hear about them, as well as anything you like about the story so I know my effort isn't wasted.

I thank you all for reading the story thus far, and hope I can continue to entertain you with my miss matched stories. Sincerely; Zinico

This story is in no way shape or form associated with Erin hunter or Harper publishers, and is a fan story based on the Warriors cats book series. The author claims no ownership over the included content, characters, settings, or any other associated production. Any part of the publication may be removed or edited in part or in full without the consent of the Author, as mandated by the federal power of being a jerk on the internet.