Chapter Twenty-Five: The Great Game

Two days later, Hazelstar called a meeting of all the cats, including Fivefur, who was feeling much better. As the cats of FlameClan gathered around the Highrock, Hazelstar searched the group, looking for Fledgepaw, Pinepaw, and Starpaw. He found Fledgepaw and Pinepaw sitting with Mousetail, and Pinepaw's siblings. Because they were still too young to be real apprentices, Pinepaw and Fledgepaw were staying in the now quite crowded nursery, while the slightly older Starpaw had joined the apprentices.

"Everyone," he called, when all the cats were seated, "Some of you already know that when Fivefur was captured by StoneClan, he discovered that Campionstripe is being held captive, and could not escape with the others for reasons that he preferred not to disclose. So, this is the question. What is to be done to free him?"

"I don't see what we can do," Bigstorm said.

"Oh, is that it?" Fivefur squeaked, outraged. "Thanks very much, Campion. Sorry about your death and all, it couldn't be helped, because it would have endangered valuable FlameClan cats, which can be risked for a medicine cat, but not for a warrior."

"I don't like it any more than you do, Fivefur, but what can we do?" Bigstorm snapped, "March boldly into StoneClan and tell Bloodstar he's innocent?"

Thistlepaw, who had been characteristically silent, suddenly began pulling on Woodpaw's tail. The fluffy brown and white cat stared at him.

"What is it?" she whispered. Somehow, Woodpaw had an ability to understand the silent apprentice. "You have an idea?"

Thistlepaw nodded.

"Hazelstar, Thistlepaw has an idea!" Woodpaw announced.

"Really?" Hazelstar asked, surprised, "What is it?"

"He says I can only tell you," Woodpaw said.

"Well, all right. Come up here and tell me."

Woodpaw rose and padded through the crowd, Thistlepaw following her like a fawn-colored shadow.

The she-cat whispered something to Hazelstar, and after a moment, he nodded.

"I think that's a good idea."

Hazelstar looked out at the cats, and finally, his gaze settled on Leopardpaw.

"Leopardpaw?" he said, "How would you like to be a hedge wizard?"

"Sure!" Leopardpaw mewed, "What's a hedge wizard?"

The plan, such as it was, largely depended on the apprentices, and one or two of the older kits. It would have been even better could they have used other animals, but Kehaar was too well known for that.

So, Starpaw, Echokit, Leopardpaw, and a very reluctant Hawkfang took the job.

"Ugly Weaselheart coming!" Kehaar announced, "You lucky, he comes alone."

Hazelstar and Leopardpaw quickly got into position.

"All right, Leopardpaw," Hazelstar whispered, "You'll make your entrance through the log."

"Okay," Leopardpaw said, tugging on a flower until it came off of its stalk. She poked it in between her ears.

"Makes me look magical," she confided, "Okay, I'm ready."

The two cats inched down to the log. Leopardpaw crept in first, with Hazelstar behind her. The spotted cat could see Weaselheart just outside. Stifling a mischievous giggle, she yelled her lines.

"Weaselheart, oh valiant warrior!"

The black cat jumped.

"Who…who's there?"

"It is I! Leoparda Milana, the hedge wizard!"

"D-don't hurt me!" Weaselheart squeaked. He had no idea what was going on, but he didn't like it very much.

Leopardpaw winked at Hazelstar, and the leader kicked a bit at the inside of the log, kicking up some dust. When it cleared, Leopardpaw was standing outside the log.

"Behold!" she proclaimed, "Leoparda Milana appears to grant your secret wish!"

"Secret wish?" Weaselheart echoed.

"You seek cats Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur!" Leopardpaw said, "I will bring them to you, but first…you must believe in the magic of the hedge wizard!"

"I…I do, yes," Weaselheart stammered.

"And you must walk the Enchanted Trail," Leopardpaw added.

At that moment, someone sneezed. It was Hazelstar, who was still inside the now very dusty log.

"What's that?" Weaselheart asked.

"Um…" Leopardpaw said, "The apprentice hedge wizard, yes! Now, come, the Enchanted Trail waits!"

Meanwhile, not far away, Echokit and Bigstorm were waiting.

"Remember, Echokit," Bigstorm cautioned his daughter, "If anything goes wrong, run."

"I know," Echokit squeaked, "Daddy, when's Brightkit coming home? She's been gone a long time."

"Um…we'll talk about that later," Bigstorm mumbled. "Into the bushes now, and remember, the stranger you act, the better."

The FlameClan deputy bounded away just as Weaselheart and Leopardpaw came around the bend.

"First part of the spell starts here!" Leopardpaw said, "You must conjure up the mad kit! Say magic words: Steppa Leppa Dillicus!"

"It sounds a bit silly," Weaselheart said, "But, I suppose… Steppa Leppa Dillicus!"

Right one cue, Echokit jumped out of the bushes, and began dancing around, spouting apparent nonsense.

"Slug-A-Moon, Slug-A-Moon, oh grant this faithful kitten's boon!" she squeaked, trying not to giggle.

"What's she doing?" Weaselheart asked, staring at the apparently insane kit.

"I sing to moon for my freshkill of slugs!" Echokit announced.

"But it's the middle of the day!" Weaselheart said.

"Best time to sing to moon, she not busy shining," Echokit said in a matter-of-fact tone. Then the kit danced away, still singing her strange little song.

"The spell's very good so far," Leopardpaw said, "Now, we have to find the happy swimming cat!"

"Cats don't swim unless they have to," Weaselheart protested.

"Do you want to put a spell on Hazelstar or not?" Leopardpaw snapped, "Come on!"

After the two had gone, Bigstorm reappeared.

"So far so good. Well done, Echokit."

"Oh, Slug-A-Moon, Slug-A-Moon!" Echokit squeaked.

"Uh, that's enough then," Bigstorm laughed.

Not far away, Starpaw was peering anxiously into the river.

"I don't know about this, Fivefur," he squeaked.

"It will only be for a moment, and then I'll catch a mouse for lunch," the medicine cat reassured him. "It'll be fine."

"All right," Starpaw replied, "I trust you, Fivefur."

"Hurry!" Kehaar called, "Weaselheart and Leopardpaw coming!"

Starpaw glanced back at Fivefur, then dived into the water.

"The spell's getting strong!" Leopardpaw proclaimed, "I feel it!"

Weaselheart was not listening. He was staring at the river, where Starpaw was paddling about as if he had been born in water.

"But…but cats don't swim! There must be something wrong with him!"

"Nothing wrong with me," Starpaw assured him, careful to keep his bad eye turned away from Weaselheart, as it might identify him. "I always swim, it makes my fur grow long and shiny, silly cat."

"The spell's getting even better!" Leopardpaw told the very confused Weaselheart. "Now, we find StarClan's messenger!"

"StarClan?" Weaselheart echoed.

"Never mind," Leopardpaw said hurriedly, "He'll grant you your wish."

"I wish Woundwort was here to see this," Weaselheart said.

"Sorry," Leopardpaw said, "One wish per customer."

The two cats continued on, until they came to a place where there was a very strange creature. It was reddish colored, and appeared to have all manner of plants stuck around its ears. It was actually a very unhappy Hawkfang, who got right to the point, wanting to get this stuff off of him as soon as possible.

"You want Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur, right?" he asked. "Well, here! You got them!"

In answer to this speech, none other than the three cats in question came out of the bushes. But there was obviously something wrong with them. They were staring straight ahead, and speaking in completely toneless voices.

"Bloodstar is our master," they chorused.

Weaselheart laughed.

"It worked!" he squealed.

"Now," he said, addressing Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur, "You will follow me back to StoneClan."

"Bloodstar is our master. We serve him. Only him."

"That's no good!" Weaselheart grumbled, "Make them obey me!"

"Sorry, mate," Hawkfang said, "Best I can do."

"Then I'll go get Woundwort," Weaselheart decided, "Will they wait here?"

"Being under a spell and all, I imagine they will," Hawkfang replied.

"All right!" Weaselheart said. He turned to Leopardpaw.

"You're the most wonderful hedge wizard in the world! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I'll be back!"

As soon as he had gone, all the cats collapsed, laughing.

"Did you…did you see his face?" Bigstorm chuckled.

"I'm the best hedge wizard in the world!" Leopardpaw giggled.

Only Hazelstar remained calm, as usual.

"Right, let's cover up our tracks. There has to be absolutely no trace we were ever here. Leopardpaw, go get Starpaw and Echokit and bring them back here."

In StoneClan, the quiet of a normal day was broken by Weaselheart's loud entry.

"I've got them!" he squealed, "Where's Bloodstar? I've got them all now!"

Mossfall shook his head.

"Senior warriors are mad," he told Sparrowstrike, "All of them."

A few moments, later, Weaselheart had gathered Campionstripe, Bloodstar, and Mossfall, and was reassuring Bloodstar that all was safe.

"I promise you, Bloodstar, we don't need the army. I can give you Hazelstar, Bigstorm, and Fivefur myself!"

"Well, wouldn't that be something to see," Bloodstar said.

"And," Weaselheart added, turning triumphantly to Campionstripe, "They'll tell you that Campionstripe really is a traitor!"

"You're salivating, Weaselheart," Campionstripe sighed.

"And you won't tell me how you managed this?" Bloodstar asked.

"It's a bit hard to explain, sir," Weaselheart said. "I'd rather show you."

"Very well. But I'll be very displeased if this turns out to be a waste of my time," The dark leader growled.

"I promise you, sir, it won't be."

When Weaselheart and the other cats reached the log where Leopardpaw had first posed as Leoparda Milana, the coal-furred warrior stopped.

"She came out of the log," he explained.

"Who did?" Bloodstar asked.

"Leoparda Milana," Weaselheart said, "She looks like a cat, but she's really a hedge wizard."

He jumped over to the log, not noticing Bloodstar's displeased expression.

"Leoparda Milana!" he called. There was no answer.

"Hello?" Weaselheart asked. Still, there was no response.

"Er, she must still be waiting," he said, "Come on, sir, there's more to see!"

The black cat turned and bounded off, still calling for 'Leoparda Milana'.

"Do you have any idea what is going on, Mossfall?" Bloodstar growled.

"Haven't the foggiest, sir," Mossfall replied.

Bloodstar stalked off after Weaselheart, leaving Mossfall and Campionstripe alone.

"Seems Weaselheart's gone a bit odd, sir," Mossfall commented.

"Mossfall," Campionstripe said wearily, "You're not supposed to call me sir."

This was a problem that had come up some time earlier, when Weaselheart had informed Mossfall that since Campionstripe was no longer the StoneClan deputy, he was no longer to be referred to as sir, a mandate which Mossfall hated, and thus refused to regard.

"I don't want you getting into any trouble on my account," Campionstripe continued.

"Leave that for me to worry about, sir," Mossfall said with a reckless smile, as the two cats continued on after Weaselheart and Bloodstar.

At the place where Echokit had been, Campionstripe and Mossfall found Weaselheart shouting apparent nonsense while Bloodstar looked on.

"Steppa Leppa Dillicus!" Weaselheart yelled.

"Weaselheart, explain yourself!" Bloodstar growled.

"Oh, um, it must sound odd, sir," Weaselheart said.

"It does!" Bloodstar thundered.

"But, you see, sir, it's the magic words that summon the singing kit. She was completely insane. Perhaps I'm saying it wrong. Steppa Leppa Dillicus! No, that's it. Oh, well. Never mind, sir. I just thought you might like to see the crazy kit. Quite a sight, really."

"I can imagine," Bloodstar growled.

"Well, come along, sir, it's not far now!" Weaselheart cried, bounding along.

"Mossfall, has Weaselheart been displaying any other signs of unusual behavior lately?" Bloodstar asked.

"No more than usual, sir."

A similar scene was repeated at the place where Starpaw had swam around in the river, and when they reached where Weaselheart had left Hazelstar and the others, the coal-colored cat was thoroughly out of sorts.

"They were right here!" he screeched, "All three of them!"

"Mossfall, check the area for tracks," Bloodstar said impatiently.

The grey tom pretended to look around, but he didn't try very hard. He had already seen one of Fivefur's paw-prints, and he thought he could guess what the FlameClan cats were up to this time. Clever trick…if it worked.

"Nothing, sir," he said, turning back to Bloodstar.

"But they were all here," Weaselheart protested, "The messenger cat, all red with ivy round his ears, and Hazelstar, and Fivefur, and Bigstorm!"

"Of course they were, "Bloodstar said, sighing.

"But they were! They told me Campionstripe is a traitor!"

"And did they tell you cows could jump over the moon?" Bloodstar cried, "Or Twolegs can spout wings and fly? Did they tell you rabbits have wars amongst themselves?"

"No, sir!" Weaselheart screeched, "It was all here, really! You've got to believe me!"

Bloodstar turned to Mossfall, his patience thoroughly gone.

"Weaselheart is relieved of his command. Escort him back to StoneClan."

Mossfall smiled.

"Come along, Weaselheart," he said, "Before the toadstool fairies get you."

As Mossfall attempted to drag Weaselheart away, the black tom began raving in a most insane manner. When the sounds had faded somewhat, Bloodstar turned to Campionstripe.

"He's obviously mad," Bloodstar said, "And it seems you have suffered as a result, Campionstripe. I should not have listened to Weaselheart's wild accusations. You have always stood by me, and I believe you always will. I reappoint you StoneClan deputy, with my apologies."

"I will always do my duty to StoneClan, sir," Campionstripe said.

"I believe you will."

A few days later, Campionstripe went to his meeting with Hazelstar, and found Rosebrier waiting there too. The she-cat was obviously expecting kits, and he knew they were Blackblaze's. He couldn't help wishing they were his.

"Campionstripe," Hazelstar said with a smile, "It's good to see you out and about again."

"I don't know what you did to drive Weaselheart mad," Campionstripe said, "But thank you for freeing me."

"We've come to take you to FlameClan," Rosebrier said, "You deserve a home with us."

"I can't go, Rosebrier," Campionstripe said, "You need me where I am."

He knew, though, that that wasn't the only reason he couldn't go. He knew Fivefur's secret…and living in the same Clan with Rosebrier, watching her with kits that were not his…he couldn't do that. Not yet.

"Then let us at least tell you where it is," Hazelstar persisted.

"No, I don't want to know," Campionstripe said, "If I don't know, I can never tell."

"Oh, please, let us do something to repay you!" Rosebrier mewed.

"Stay happy. Stay free. Don't let Bloodstar win. Do that for me," Campionstripe said, turning to go.

"I don't understand," Rosebrier said when he had gone. "Why is he staying in that horrible place?"

"He can't leave," Hazelstar said, "Bloodstar is his leader. He's loyal to him."

"But he's betraying him!"

"And that…" Hazelstar said sadly, "Is his tragedy."

Yeah...not the best thing I ever did, but cats couldn't get a hedgehog and a moorhen, so...