Chapter Thirteen: The Journey to StoneClan

Three days later, Hazelstar, Bigstorm, Fivefur, Bluepaw, Silverfur, Berrypool, and Brackenstripe set off from the FlameClan camp in the direction of StoneClan. Mousetail had wanted to come, but Hazelstar had diverted her by saying that he wanted a strong warrior to be able to support Hollythorn. In truth, he did not want to leave Clover alone without the company of another she-cat, even if the she-cat was the temperamental Mousetail. He could not spare Berrypool, and he could very much use a break from the touchy caramel-colored warrior. Mousetail had swelled up to nearly twice her diminutive size with sheer pride, and immediately attempted to order Hawkfang and Lionpelt about, much to their chagrin.

However, none of the traveling FlameClan cats were aware, that at this very moment, they were being followed.

StoneClan warriors were known and feared for being strong, silent, swift, and deadly. This, however, was not the case with one coal-colored tom, who had refused to stop whining ever since the deputy of StoneClan had discovered the intruders' tracks, and had thus prolonged the patrol.

"Weaselheart, now that every fox all the way to the far side of TorrentClan territory had heard you, would you kindly shut up?" hissed the deputy, a tall sienna brown tom.

"No, I won't," the black tom muttered, "I don't see why we all have to come all the way out here just because you say so, Campionstripe."

"Because he's the deputy, and you're not, mate," said a light grey tom cheerfully.

"Thank you, Mosspaw," Campionstripe said distractedly, "Now, if you don't mind, keep quiet and let me concentrate."

Although every fox all the way to TorrentClan had not heard Weaselheart, at least one had. Before this particular fox could move in on the StoneClan patrol, however, he was distracted by a much closer and less observant group of cats. The FlameClan patrol.

As the fox emerged from the undergrowth, Bigstorm noticed it almost immediately. The grey warrior had been extremely silent and detached all day, but now, his brown eyes lit up with the anticipation of an adventure, and after a moment's pause, he ran toward the fox.

Campionstripe was certain that the unknown cats were close. He turned to another of the most experienced warriors, Mallowtail.

"Mallowtail, take Gorsepaw and Thistlepaw that way. Weaselheart, Mosspaw, you come with me."

Mallowtail nodded, then he and the two apprentices disappeared into the shrubbery.

Hazelstar barely had time to register that Bigstorm had gone before the grey tom was bounding off down the hill with the fox in hot pursuit.

"What does he think he is doing?" Brackenstripe cried. A few moments later, they heard a scream.

Silverfur turned to Hazelstar, eyes wide.

"What is going on?"

At that moment, they beheld none other than Bigstorm racing toward them, completely unharmed.

"What on earth?" Hazelstar cried.

"I'll tell you later," Bigstorm panted, "Let's get out of here!"

Campionstripe, Weaselheart, and Mosspaw had also heard the scream and had come to investigate.

They found Thistlepaw staring numbly at the still bodies of Gorsepaw and Mallowtail. The apprentice was in tears, most unusual for a StoneClan cat. But Thistlepaw was very young.

"What happened?" Campionstripe asked. Thistlepaw did not reply.

"Dark Forest take you, Thistlepaw, tell me what happened!"

Thistlepaw simply stared blankly at him through mossy green eyes.

Mosspaw stepped between his irate mentor and the quivering apprentice.

"He's in shock, sir. You can hardly blame him. I'm sure he'll tell you all about it when we get back to camp and he's had a little rest."

"He'd better," Campionstripe said, "Although I can guess from the bodies that something big came through here, if it killed Mallowtail. He was a good warrior."

"Whatever it was could come back," Weaselheart whimpered, "Let's get out of here!"

The coal-colored cat turned and dashed off in the direction of the StoneClan camp.

Campionstripe sighed.

"Wonderfully brave, Weaselheart, as usual. Come on, Mosspaw, Thistlepaw. We'd best catch up to him."

When the FlameClan cats finally reached a safe resting place beneath a bridge, Hazelstar immediately motioned Bigstorm over to the outskirts of the group.

"Why did you charge off like that?" he asked, "You're the one cat we can't do without, and you nearly threw your life away this morning."

"I know," Bigstorm said, "I'm sorry, but to tell you the truth, I've been feeling nervous about this whole thing, and, well, I feel better now."

"So what happened?"

"Well, I was running, and I went through a clump of bushes. When I got clear of them, there were three cats there. StoneClan, I guess. Well, I shouted for them to run, but they were going to attack me, so I ran on. I guess it was one of them that screamed. I'm sure it wasn't me."

As they talked, Kehaar landed beside them. Sadly, he landed on Silverfur and Brackenstripe.

"Get off, you big feather bag!" Silverfur growled.

"Kehaar sorry," the gull said apologetically.

"I am too," Brackenstripe murmured.

"Now that Kehaar is here, we can get down to business," Hazelstar decided, "You know the plan, right, Bigstorm?"

"You and Berrypool have been constantly drilling it through my head," Bigstorm said, "I know it by heart."

"Then good luck."

"Thanks, although I doubt I'll need it."

When Campionstripe finally returned to camp, he sent Mosspaw to take Thistlepaw to the medicine cat den, then made his way to Bloodstar's den. There he found a terrified Weaselheart cowering on the ground as the StoneClan leader raged at him. Bloodstar's red eyes were alight with rage.

"You are a coward, Weaselheart! You abandoned the rest of your patrol!"

"Bloodstar," Campionstripe said, bounding forward, "I sent Weaselheart on ahead."

"Is that so?" Bloodstar asked. He turned to Weaselheart.

"You're dismissed."

Weaselheart immediately scurried away, but Campionstripe lingered.

"What do you want, Campionstripe?" Bloodstar asked.

"Sir, on our way back to camp, Mosspaw and I ran across a loner. He says he wants to join StoneClan."

"Wants to join StoneClan?" Bloodstar asked in surprise. This was not the sort of request he was often confronted with. Most cats wanted to steer clear of StoneClan at all costs and would do anything to escape.

"Very well, then, assign him to a Mark and be done with it," Bloodstar said, wondering why Campionstripe was bothering him with such trivial matters.

"With all due respect, sir," said Campionstripe, "He's not an ordinary cat, if you take my meaning."

"Well, then, where is he?" Bloodstar asked. He trusted Campionstripe's judgement, and if his deputy thought there was something special about a cat, there usually was. Even that bumbling Mosspaw had grown more adept under his careful eye.

Campionstripe turned toward the entrance to the den, and a cat Bloodstar did not recognize, presumably the loner, stepped forward.

He was slightly larger than your average cat. His fur was light grey, with a darker grey chest, and a thick forelock.

As Bloodstar gazed at him, he felt as if he had seen him before. But the arrogant light in the grey warrior's eyes dispelled that feeling. The cat he thought of would never have met his gaze with such insolence.

"What is your business here, wanderer?" Bloodstar asked.

"As your deputy has no doubt told you, I want to join StoneClan. I am a wanderer and a warrior searching for a leader who will appreciate my talents."

"Where do you come from?" Bloodstar asked.

"ThunderClan. A long journey sir, many suns away. It lies destroyed now, the Twolegs' work."

Bloodstar knew firsthand what the Twolegs could do. An image entered his mind of a raging fire, and two youngsters, the only survivors of a terrible tragedy. Despite his infamous cruelty, he felt a stab of pity for the stranger.

"You are welcome here. What do they call you?"

"Bigstorm, sir."

Bloodstar sighed. Only a resemblance. This cat was not who Bloodstar had suspected him to be.

"You are welcome here. As long as you remain loyal, you will have a warm place to sleep, and all the freshkill you desire. But betray me, and I'll tear the flesh from your bones."

He turned to Campionstripe.

"Find Chervilclaw, and tell him I've found him the extra warrior he requested."

An hour later, Bigstorm, his flank still bleeding from the Mark inflicted upon it, was being inducted into the ways of StoneClan, his new home.

After Campionstripe had seen Bigstorm to where he belonged, the sienna-furred warrior made his way to the medicine cat den. He wanted to check on Thistlepaw.

"Nightheart?" he called, "Are you in there?"

A few seconds later, a sleek black tom looked out.

"Campionstripe. To what do I owe this honor?"

"I just wanted to drop in on Thistlepaw. Is he here?"

Nightheart looked around to be sure no one was watching.

"He's here, but I can't let you see him. He's lost his mind."

"Excuse me?"

"He won't say a word, and he snaps at any cat who comes close. I'm not skilled enough to fix him."

Campionstripe felt a stab of pity for the young medicine cat. Nightheart had been unexpectedly thrown into his position by the death of his mentor during the long, hard leaf-bare.

"You'll do fine, lad. Have faith."

Nightheart gave him a blank look.

"What's faith?"

"It's not important," Campionstripe said, "Forget I said anything."