Chapter Twenty-Seven: Recovery

Fivefur came awake to see none other than Silverjay bending over him.

"What are you doing here?" Fivefur screeched.

"I went to get him," Hawkfang said.

"You would have died without him," Poppywing contributed.

"Where's Hazelstar?" Fivefur asked.

"Right here," his brother said, pushing through the group of cats to Fivefur's side.

The FlameClan leader turned to the others.

"Would you allow us a few minutes alone?"

Silverjay nodded, and ushered the other cats out.

"Fivefur..." Hazelstar started, "I...I'm so proud of you. You defeated that...that thing, all by yourself."

"Hawkfang helped," Fivefur whispered, "I wouldn't have come home without him."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, all that time ago. It was just...what happened to Nightfur..."

"It's all right," Fivefur said, "It didn't really bother me anyways."

"It must have," Hazelstar persisted, "I'm so sorry about that, and I'm sorry I wasn't here for you now. I promise you, Fivefur, I will never leave you again."

The brown tom did not reply, and Hazelstar discovered upon looking closely at his brother that he had fallen asleep.

"Sleep well, Fivefur."


Meanwhile, Bigstorm was having a deep conversation of his own. Upon leaving Hazelstar and Hawkfang, he had gone off looking for something to do, and had soon stumbled upon one cat who did not want to see him, but whom he very much wanted to see. Shiningfur was lying in a patch of sunlight, and, even though he didn't relish the idea of getting clawed, he went to join her.

When the pretty she-cat noticed him, she stood quickly, as if to leave, but Bigstorm blacked her path.

"Shiningfur...what's wrong with you? Why are you so angry with me?"

The peach-furred warrior blinked.

"Do you always start conversations this way?" she mewed coolly, as if she was speaking to a complete stranger.

"Now, Shiningfur, you know I don't. Come on...what did I do?"

"You keep on trying to protect me!" Shiningfur hissed, "I'm not a helpless lump of fur like Clover! I took care of myself in StoneClan, I can surely do it here without your help!"

"I...I'm sorry," Bigstorm said penitently, "I just don't want anyone to hurt you."

"No one will," Shiningfur promised, "You hardly let anyone near me."

"So you're not angry?"

"How can I be angry when I even glance at your eyes?" Shiningfur whispered, "They're begging me to love you."

"Not just the eyes, that," Bigstorm mumbled.

Shiningfur smiled, and he smiled back.

And just for once, Bigstorm could not find any fault with the world.

He simply lay there in the warm sunlight, with Shiningfur's soft pelt brushing his own...

"Bigstorm!"

The grey warrior's eyes snapped open, and he saw Hazelstar standing a few feet away.

"Do you want me?" he asked, hoping his friend didn't.

"Yes, yes, I do!" Hazelstar said, "I need to talk to you."

Bigstorm scrambled reluctantly to his feet, and marched over to his leader. A quick glance behind him showed Shiningfur slipping through the bushes out of the camp.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"You told me Bluepaw saved Fivefur?"

"Yes. As I said, Fivefur wouldn't have lived without his help."

"He deserves to be made a warrior," Hazelstar said, "Both for his conduct yesterday, and for helping Hollythorn get here."

Bigstorm nodded.

"I agree."

"Then it will be done. There's something else I need to speak with the Clan about."

Hazelstar raced across to the Highrock and leaped to it's top. At his call, the Clan quickly assembled. Even Poppywing came slowly out of the medicine den to sit beside Breezeleaf. Silverjay stayed inside, where he could keep an eye on Fivefur and not appear like a spy.

"Cats of FlameClan," Hazelstar said, "Blackblaze and Rosebrier have no doubt told you of the result of our quest to find BrightClan. As BrightClan no longer exists, except in the hearts of a few cats, there remain only three Clans of this forest. Now, Bluepaw, come forward."

Bluepaw padded forward, blinking in confusion. Hazelstar smiled reassuringly at the young tom.

"I, Hazelstar, leader of FlameClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. Bluepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Bluepaw looked as if he was about to start bouncing up and down with happiness.

"I do!"

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bluepaw, from this moment you will be known as Blueflash. StarClan honors your courage and quick thinking, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FlameClan."

"Blueflash! Blueflash!" the warriors cheered.

Leopardpaw and Swiftfoot raced over to their friend.

"You're finally a warrior!" Leopardpaw squealed, "I wish I'd been up there with you!"

"Me too," Blueflash said, "The warriors den won't be much fun without you."

"Hey, what am I?" Swiftfoot asked.

"A pink cloud with rainbow flowers, and green sky above!" Blueflash joked, "It'll be great to be in the same den again, Swiftfoot! It would just be funner if all three of us were together."

"If you're finished?" Hazelstar said, "I have one more thing I need to speak to the Clan about."

The three young cats immediately fell into an embarrassed silence.

"Thank you," Hazelstar said, "Now, as I'm sure you all know, there's been a bit of a problem concerning Fivefur. It's been settled now, but I think something ought to be said. You all should know that he can't control his visions, and it isn't fair to blame him for it. Don't yell at him. He feels bad enough already, since he's currently rather convinced that every catastrophe is his fault. Speaking of which...Swiftfoot, I need to speak to you in my den. The rest of you are dismissed."

Swiftfoot padded slowly into Hazelstar's den. The young warrior couldn't imagine what was going on, but he had a feeling that he was in trouble.

"You wanted to see me, Hazelstar?" he asked.

"Yes," the red-fawn tom said, "We need to have a talk about Fivefur."

"Fivefur? I haven't seen Fivefur since he was injured."

"It's not about what's happened recently. It's about the journey."

Swiftfoot lowered his head.

"He told you?"

"Not exactly. But I know now. Why would you do that?"

Swiftfoot's blue eyes opened wide with astonishment.

"Why would I do it? If your best friend had been killed, wouldn't you look for someone to blame? He's the obvious choice, that is one thing Hawkfang's right about! I'm not saying he is to blame, but when you're looking for someone to blame, the prophetic medicine cat is the obvious choice."

"I see," Hazelstar said calmly, "You're dismissed, Swiftfoot."

Swiftfoot glared at him for a moment, then turned and stalked out. The quiet grey warrior could not believe his bad luck. After all this time, just when things were going well, Hazelstar just had to go and ruin it all.


Swiftfoot...now when did you get anger issues buddy? You were the one sane cat in this Clan... Anywho, three guesses what awesome person gives more advice for this chapter concerning Fivefur...I think I'm way too open to ideas, but Fivers11...you are a genius! :)