Chapter 36: Better Plans
"...And so Tallstar thanked us, and we came home."
Tigerclaw had just finished summarizing to Bluestar about what had happened at the WindClan camp, where they had helped WindClan drive off the RiverClan and ShadowClan warriors.
Bluestar nodded approvingly. "Good. Thank you Tigerclaw. Now go get some sleep, some prey for yourself, and get some herbs on that shoulder. You deserve it."
"Right." Stepping out of the leader's den, he saw that the sun had set, and night had fallen, making the air even colder without the warmth of the sun.
Yellowfang was tidying up the herbs while Cinderpaw patted some herbs onto Fireheart's flank. He was the last cat there, and Tigerclaw saw Greystripe slip into the warrior's den.
Tigerclaw padded over. "Ah yes, Tigerclaw." Yellowfang's voice muffled by the herbs she was carrying. "Here at last."
"Yellowfang," Cinderpaw meowed, "Does Fireheart need more marigold or is he okay?"
Tigerclaw stopped listening to their chatter. Darkstripe had told Longtail about Fireheart's betrayal, and he had been shocked and disgusted, agreeing with Darkstripe's comments about how kittypets were like poison to the clan.
A few more cats thinking like like that, and it will be all I need...
"So Tigerclaw, can you show me anywhere you got hurt?"
The deputy looked down to see the grey, crippled apprentice limping up to him. A strange feeling... Guilt and shame, seemed to squeeze his heart.
"The biggest scratch is on my shoulder." He muttered gruffly. "And are you sure you'll be putting the right herbs on me? You aren't a medicine cat."
Cinderpaw began chewing up some sort of green plant, a leaf sticking out of her mouth. Words muffled around the herbs she was crushing in her jaws, she replied, "Mff, I pickef up shome stuff while I was with Yelloffanf." Spitting the herbs out, she proceeded to pat them gently onto his wound.
"I get her to check though, just in case, so don't worry!" She purred cheerfully. "I'm not going to feed you deathberries."
Tigerclaw gave a noncommittal grunt. The crippled apprentice's spirit made an odd pang of regret shake him inside.
Soon, Cinderpaw had treated all his injuries and Yellowfang had given her approval. Tigerclaw stood up,"Thanks." He meowed cooly to the two. Stifling a yawn, he padded away, hearing Yellowfang praising the apprentice behind him.
Ducking under the branches of the warrior's den, he avoiding stepping on any cat as he headed for his nest in the middle of the throng of sleeping bodies.
Curling up, he rested his thick tail over his nose. It was warm in the centre of cats, unlike the bitter cold outside, and closing his eyes, drifted off to sleep.
• • •
"Hello, my dear, dear apprentice."
Tigerclaw opened his eyes. He was in the Place of No Stars, with Thistleclaw right in front of him.
"Thistleclaw." He greeted coldly. "You've been visiting Snowfur lately?"
The Dark Forest cat bristled. "She means nothing to me." He hissed.
"Sure." Tigerclaw snorted. Thistleclaw narrowed his eyes. "You've been in a battle lately?"
"It's not your business if I have or haven't."
"How did you get that scratch? You probably were too slow, weren't you? Not fast enough?" Thistleclaw jeered. "They'll be calling you a snail soon enough."
Tigerclaw unsheathed his claws. "Then what would you be called," he spat, "seeing as you died at the paws of two mere RiverClan cats?"
"Are you doubting my fighting skill?" Thistleclaw growled.
The ThunderClan deputy knew his former mentor was trying to get him back for the taunt about Snowfur. Well he's not going to succeed.
"Maybe I am." Tigerclaw turned away indifferently, though he was prepared for Thistleclaw to spring at him at any moment.
Sure enough, heartbeats later, Tigerclaw heard Thistleclaw brush against the dead leaves as he moved towards him, about to pounce.
Wait... Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes in concentration. Wait...
Now!
Tigerclaw whipped around and met him head on, claws out. Thistleclaw screeched in pain as he swiped at his face.
"You!" Thistleclaw dug his claws into Tigerclaw's fur, but his former apprentice kicked hard and sent him flying.
Tigerclaw leaped again and fastened his teeth into Thistleclaw's neck mercilessly. The grey tom thrashed, but was unable to throw him off.
"Well, well, this does look like fun."
Tigerclaw released Thistleclaw. Who—?
Mapleshade's faded shape stepped behind a large pine tree. Thistleclaw let out a hacking cough, blood dripping from his mouth. "What are you doing here? He rasped.
"Am I not allowed to walk in the forest I was condemned to be in?" Mapleshade countered smoothly. "And Thistleclaw..."
"What!" The grey and white cat spat angrily.
"Beaten by your apprentice eh?" The she-cat sneered. Thistleclaw lashed his tail. "No, you just interrupted, didn't you? I would've torn him to shreds if you haven't—"
"Well you certainly weren't tearing him to shreds before. Quite the opposite, really."
They were acting like Tigerclaw wasn't even there. Thistleclaw probably got a lot of hate from the Dark Forest cats for being with Snowfur.
"—And Tigerclaw,"
The deputy didn't turn around but listened more closely when Mapleshade mentioned his name.
"You're waking up. I'll be glad to watch another one of your little squabbles, so do invite me next time."
I'll invite you to get your fur torn apart.
Tigerclaw saw the forest swim before his eyes, before it disappeared.
• • •
Two days had passed since the battle at the WindClan camp. Tigerclaw had just sent out two border patrols and a hunting patrol out when he heard some cat padding up behind him.
"Hello, Bluestar." He greeted. Bluestar nodded in acknowledgement. "Hello. The gathering is tonight," she added briskly, "and I'd like you to go and tell around half of the cats who are going to the gathering. I'll inform the rest."
Tigerclaw flicked his tail in understanding. "Who do you need me to speak to?"
Bluestar gave a quick survey of the camp, before listing, "Longtail and his apprentice, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Fireheart, and Greystripe."
The tabby deputy dipped his head. Fireheart! A little traitor that kittypet is. Much too attached to other clans— I saw him take pity on that RiverClan warrior!
"I'll go tell them now." He promised, before heading off to the warrior's den. He had sent Fireheart on the hunting patrol, but he was pretty sure the other cats were still in camp.
Sure enough, Longtail, Dustpelt, and Sandstorm were there. "Dustpelt, Sandstorm." He prodded the two warriors with a paw.
Sandstorm raised her head sleepily. "Yes Tigerclaw?"
"Bluestar had chosen you and Dustpelt to go to the gathering. You can tell him when he wakes up."
The she-cat yawned. "Alright."
He turned to Longtail, telling him that he was to go to the gathering and to tell his apprentice he was going to the gathering as well before exiting the den.
Once he had pushed out of the warm den into the chilly air, he saw Fireheart and the rest of the hunting patrol back, depositing their prey on the freshkill pile.
There's the kittypet. "Fireheart!"
The ginger tom turned to look at him, before stepping lightly through the snow, bowing his head respectfully, but Tigerclaw saw a flash of suspicion in his eyes.
"You don't need to go out hunting again tonight," Tigerclaw informed him in a growl."Bluestar has chosen you and Greystripe to go to the Gathering."
Tigerclaw felt a flash of disgust at the way his tail flicked in excitement. Why are you so happily excited to meet enemy cats?
"You had better eat now." He advised. "We leave at moonrise."
Tigerclaw whipped around to go and tell Bluestar he had told every cat that they were to go to the gathering.
RiverClan and ShadowClan better watch their tails. They have a lot of explaining to do about that battle—
An image of Fireheart releasing an unscathed RiverClan she-cat materialized in his head. He stopped.
Turning his head, he narrowed his amber eyes to slits. "Just make sure you remember which Clan you belong to at the Gathering." He hissed.
"What makes you say that?" Fireheart retorted hotly. "Do you think I would be disloyal to my own Clan?"
Lies, all lies you filthy kittypet! "I saw you in the last battle." Tigerclaw spat menacingly. "I saw you let that RiverClan warrior escape."
The flame coloured tom flinched. You know what I've said is true.
Fireheart's gaze hardened and he snapped, "If you think I'm disloyal, tell Bluestar."
Bluestar isn't the cat that needs to know that. Most of the clan is all I need. "I don't need to bother Bluestar." Tigerclaw growled, unsheathing his claws. "I can deal with a kittypet like you."
Does he know about Redtail? He wondered yet again. A faint trace of fear crept over him.
Fireheart and Tigerclaw glared at each other for a moment longer, before the latter swung around and stalked off.
Traitorous kittypet. Not even laying a claw on an enemy warrior. He padded towards Bluestar's den to tell the leader he had finished informing all of the cats that were to go to the gathering.
He spotted Darkstripe and Longtail as he padded past. My two supporters. I must discuss more of Fireheart's traitorous acts with them, to reinforce their hatred of that kittypet. If they spread that to the rest of the clan... That's all I need... I've done it with Ravenpaw and he ended up dead, so I can easily do it to the kittypet.
• • •
"I can't believe that no cat even saw that filthy kittypet letting her go." Darkstripe muttered.
Tigerclaw growled in agreement while Longtail nodded. The deputy entered the warrior's den, making sure to glare harshly at Fireheart, who was laying together with Greystripe.
Glancing back, he smirked as Darkstripe and Longtail did the same. Remembering how he easily spread rumours about his dead apprentice, he sat down in his nest in the centre of the bush.
"I've seen that kittypet almost always be very soft with enemies." Tigerclaw growled softly, making sure that the ginger tom couldn't hear. "It's like he wants the other clans to still be battle-fit to hurt ThunderClan more."
Longtail lashed his tail. "That traitor!" He hissed. "We must defend our territory, it's part of the warrior code!"
He still sticks closely to the warrior code... I mustn't imply going against it near Longtail.
"Exactly. What clan cat goes against the code?" Tigerclaw's tone was sharp with scorn. "We only want loyal cats."
Darkstripe flicked his tail, but didn't say anything. Tigerclaw knew he wasn't as close to the code as Longtail was. That will be very useful. But I shouldn't confide my plans to him.
To be honest with himself, he didn't have a plan. But I will. And it will work.
"What are you staring at, kittypet?"
Tigerclaw turned his head to see Longtail hissing at Fireheart, who had his head twisted around to look at the them. "ThunderClan only wants loyal cats." Longtail then shifted to turn his back on the ginger tom.
"And who gave you the right to question our loyalty?" Fireheart leaped to his paws.
Longtail ignored him, but Tigerclaw stiffened, but quickly relaxed, not wanting Darkstripe or Longtail to know what he had noticed.
Longtail was just taunting about Fireheart's loyalty alone. Why did he say "our loyalty?" Who is the other cat?... His gaze drifted towards Greystripe, who was now murmuring something to his friend.
Of course. Greystripe. He went after that cat Fireheart had let go— what's so special about that cat?
• • •
Tigerclaw sat beside his leader, waiting for her to give the signal to join the other three clans at the gathering.
Before she did however, Whitestorm padded near and whisper, "Bluestar, what are you going to say about Brokentail? Will you tell the other Clans that we're sheltering him?"
We shouldn't have sheltered him at all! We should show no mercy on our enemies. But Tigerclaw sat silent to hear Bluestar's answer first.
"I will say nothing. It doesn't concern the other Clans. Brokentail is ThunderClan's responsibility now." The she-cat murmured.
It was your choice! As a leader, you should never have doubts! It clouds your judgment and makes you weak. "Brave words. Or are we ashamed to admit what we've done?" Tigerclaw couldn't keep the accusation out of his voice, despite knowing that he needed Bluestar's trust.
"ThunderClan has no need to be ashamed for showing mercy." Bluestar meowed cooly. If there is one thing you should be ashamed of is showing mercy! "But I see no reason to go looking for trouble."
Raising her voice so the whole clan could hear, she announced,"Listen. No cat is to talk about the attack by the rogue cats, or mention Brokentail. These are matters for our Clan alone."
Mews if agreement rippled throughout the cats. Then flicking her tail, she lead the cats down into the clearing, Tigerclaw following close behind, leaving huge paw prints in the snow.
Seeing the RiverClan cats reminded him of Fireheart and Greystripe's strange merciful actions toward one of the RiverClan warriors. He halted, giving them a suspicious stare. Fireheart and he locked gazes for a heartbeat. You know I'm watching you kittypet.
The ginger warrior quickly turned to his side where Greystripe had been but looked around when he found that he wasn't there. Tigerclaw had seen him slip away among the throng of cats. Looking for you RiverClan friend perhaps? What are they doing?
Padding away, Tigerclaw suddenly bumped into Onewhisker. Oh great. I don't need a conversation with a WindClan weakling.
"Greetings, Onewhisker." He meowed. Onewhisker dipped his head, a respectful gesture from a warrior to a deputy. "Thank you so much for helping us win the battle." He meowed gratefully. "I saw you fight off a good many of the cats."
Tigerclaw nodded, and he couldn't help fluffing out his chest a little bit in pride at his comment. "Of course, no problem." Though he continued his light conversation, his mind wandered elsewhere.
Why do Greystripe and Fireheart seem to have close ties with RiverClan? What are they doing? Mm...
A thought struck him. What if they're trying to find out more evidence that I killed Redtail? No cat saw me kill Redtail except that stupid apprentice— he flexed his claws— but we were battling RiverClan and they would know that Oakheart wasn't killed by Redtail...
They must not know! No cat must know! I'll just need to get rid of them— Fireheart especially, the nosy kittypet. He never should've stuck his fat pelt into this forest!
• • •
Tigerclaw was the second to step back into the camp, right before Bluestar. The gathering had ended, though the moon still floated high in the dark sky among the stars.
Now that they were home, Tigerclaw cast a look around the camp to find Fireheart and Greystripe. Maybe I can find out what they want with that warrior.
But to his surprise, they weren't there. He swept his gaze two more times, before he came to the conclusion they were indeed gone.
Sandstorm had spotted him looking around. "Tigerclaw," she meowed, padding up. "Are you looking for Greystripe and Fireheart?"
Tigerclaw flicked his tail. "Yes." He growled. "Do you know where they are? What kind of trouble did they get themselves in now?"
The new warrior glanced over her shoulder, motioning with her head to the vague direction of where the WindClan camp would be. "They said they were going the long way back home. Fireheart told some cat from WindClan said there were rabbits in our territory, and they wanted to go hunt for them."
Hunting rabbits eh? Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes. "Well then. They should be back soon. I'll keep one eye out for them..."
Sandstorm blinked. "Oh— well, they shouldn't take too long, should they?"
Tigerclaw simply grunted and sent her away with a wave of his tail. Knowing that she was dismissed, Sandstorm left him.
He took and ate a scrawny vole from the freshkill pile. Still no sign of the two cats.
I'll take have some rest before going out to keep watch for them. Hunting rabbits— Tigerclaw snorted. What a lame excuse. They're up to something.
• • •
Tigerclaw opened his eyes. In the back of his mind, he was surprised he hadn't woken up in the Dark Forest. He was waking up there less and less now...
He looked around the den, and saw two empty nests beside Dustpelt and Sandstorm.
Creeping silently out, he took a cautious step into the snow. It was still a little dark with more purple in the sky than dark blue. He could tell that the sun would soon be rising over the horizon. The air was crisp and frosty.
Why are they taking so long to get home? What could possibly take this long? Tigerclaw walked over to the centre of the clearing, ready to wait. I'll wait as long as I have to if I get to report that kittypet to Bluestar. That fabulous ginger tom isn't going to get away this time.
Crouching down into a more comfortable position, Tigerclaw fluffed out his pelt against the cold. His stomach growled, wanting to eat, but he didn't give in. Remaining silent and still, watching the camp entrance with narrowed eyes, aware of the sky growing paler.
Finally, just when the sun peeked over the horizon, there was a rustle from the gorse tunnel, and Fireheart padded into the camp, closely followed by Greystripe.
The weary warrior stopped dead as he saw Tigerclaw, and Greystripe bumped into Fireheart, meowing indignantly.
Now what have you done, Fireheart? Triumph coursed through him, and raising stiffly to his paws, Tigerclaw snarled, "Maybe you'd like to tell me where you've been? And why it took you so long to get back from the Gathering?"
The deputy could almost see Fireheart's mind whirling in panic. I'm not giving you time to think, I want my answer now! "Well?"
The ginger tom raised his head a little higher in defiance. "We thought we'd hunt. The Clan needs fresh-kill."
So where's your prey? Tigerclaw was about to ask the question aloud, but as if Greystripe had heard his thoughts he meowed anxiously, "But we couldn't find anything."
Couldn't find anything? The deputy padded closer, and he caught the faint whiff of mouse. What's this?
"Was the prey all curled up in their nests, eh?" Tigerclaw growled softly. He stepped even closer so that he was nose to nose with Fireheart.
The unmistakeable smell of prey was on his muzzle, and on Greystripe's as well when Tigerclaw sniffed him as well. "So how is it the pair of you smell of mouse?" He hissed.
The two friends exchanged a fearful glance, eyes wide.
Prey is scarce, and your usual fat kittypet meals are gone, kittypet. Did you feel hungry? You missed having a fat belly to rest on? Tigerclaw mocked maliciously inside his head, almost saying the words aloud.
"Bluestar should hear about this." Tigerclaw turned around, half to head to the leader's den, half to hide his smile, full of blazing triumph. "Follow me."
When Tigerclaw was near enough, he could see through the lichen that Bluestar was still curled up, asleep. Not bothering to give her a proper wake up call, he pushed his way into the den.
The leader raised her head, blue eyes perplexed. "What is it, Tigerclaw?"
Why do you sound so puzzled? I suppose you never imagined I would have to bring these to in for punishment? Anger flared up inside him.
"These two brave warriors have been out hunting." Tigerclaw's voice dripped with scorn. "They're full-fed, but they haven't brought home a single piece of fresh-kill for the Clan."
Siting up, Bluestar turned her sharp and surprised gaze onto the two warriors behind her deputy. "Is this true?"
Fireheart looked at his paws and Greystripe mumbled, "We weren't on a hunting patrol."
That's no excuse! There's no worming your way out of this one kittypet!
"We ate the first prey we caught, to keep our strength up." Fireheart meowed quietly. "And then we couldn't find anything else. We meant to bring back fresh-kill, but our luck was out."
'Our luck was out'. Yeah right! You shouldn't have eaten anything, even if it was to 'keep your strength up'! Tigerclaw snorted.
"Even so, with prey so scarce, every cat should think of the Clan before himself, and share what they have." Bluestar's voice was icy calm. "I'm disappointed in you both."
"I'm sorry Bluestar." Fireheart apologized.
Hmph. 'Sorry' isn't going to solve this. You need a real punishment!
"'Sorry' fills no bellies." Bluestar repeated what he was thinking. "You must understand that the needs of the Clan come first, especially in leaf-bare."
Tigerclaw flexed his claws. Are you going to give him a proper punishment yet?
"Until next sunrise, you'll hunt for the Clan, not for yourselves." Bluestar went on. "When the rest of the Clan have eaten, then you can take food for yourself."
Her voice softened unexpectedly, eyes gentle. "You both look exhausted. Go and sleep now. But I shall expect to see you out hunting before sunhigh."
Tigerclaw's amber eyes widened in fury. Is that it? You're just sending them off to hunt for a day and get some extra sleep? What kind of leader are you?!
He had missed Fireheart's reply, and when he zoned back to reality, he and his friend were slipping out of the den.
"Are you sure you shouldn't give them a more strict punishment then that?" Tigerclaw challenged Bluestar, anger edging his voice.
The leader met his glare with a calm look, and replied evenly, "they don't need strict punishment. I trust them, they are good warriors. I will not punish good warriors too harshly, though I do not deny their mistakes."
Mistakes? Some leader you are! Tigerclaw nodded stiffly, before padding out of the den. The sooner I'm leader, the sooner this clan will be better disciplined, clean of unpunished, stupid kittypets and their soft ways.
He spotted Greystripe and Fireheart just ahead of them, turning to head towards the warrior's den. The dark grey tom's voice was full of relief, "I thought she'd have our tails off for sure!"
"Then you should think yourselves lucky." Tigerclaw growled to them. Fireheart and his friend quickly whipped around to face him.
"If I were Clan leader, I'd have punished you properly." He snarled, glaring specifically at the ginger tom, who bristled, opening his mouth to make a retort.
Greystripe pushed him roughly with his shoulder and hissed, warning him not to say anything.
Yeah. You don't want me as your enemy. Too bad I already hate you. "That's right, kittypet." He sneered as Fireheart shot him a glare from narrowed green eyes. "Slink back to your nest."
Pushing Fireheart roughly out of the way, he headed to the warrior's den. "Bluestar may trust you, but I don't." Shooting him a look from narrowed eyes, he added, "I saw you at the WindClan battle, don't forget."
Without another word, he slipped under the branches of the warrior's den to get the sleep he had missed while waiting for Fireheart and Greystripe, leaving the two warriors alone in the clearing.
• • •
Tigerclaw was leading his hunting patrol across the snowy ThunderClan territory to return back to camp. Spotting a skinny blackbird in a nearby birch tree, he flicked his tail for the patrol to wait.
With a mighty leap, he snagged the bird into his outstretched claws, killing it.
Straightening up he found Dustpelt staring at him with a faint trace of awe on his face. "Let's go." Tigerclaw meowed around his prey.
"Wow, that was a great jump." Dustpelt commented admiringly. Tigerclaw suppressed a smile, and flicked his ear in thanks.
"No wonder you're such a great fighter if you can jump like that..." Dustpelt murmured. "You must be able to pounce on an enemy several fox-lengths away."
Tigerclaw stopped listening to the warrior's mumbles, though he couldn't help feeling satisfaction and pride coursing through his fur.
They were just passing by the Twolegplace when a Tigerclaw scented a faint scent of strange cats.
He was about to halt and tell the patrol to follow him to investigate, when Tigerclaw realized the scent smelled almost like Brokentail's rouges. What are they doing here?
He stopped to set his prey down, tasting the air.
"What's wrong?" Darkstripe asked.
Brokentail's rouges were strong fighters, strong enough to almost power over a clan— twice. Tigerclaw's mind churned, thinking feverishly. I need that power, I need those cats to command to do my will...
"It's nothing, I thought a smelled a strange cat, but it's just a kittypet." Tigerclaw lied. Picking up the bird again, he continued on.
"Kittypets." Dustpelt spat. "Like we need more of those fat lumps in our territory, never mind in our camp." Clearly he hadn't intended to say the words aloud, and his eyes widened in surprise. "I— I mean, nothing against Fireheart..." But there was an edge to his voice when he said the ginger tom's name.
Oh really... The patrol lapsed into silence, the only sound coming from the soft crunch of snow underneath their paws and the occasional chirps of the unseen birds overhead. Sneaking a sideways look at Dustpelt, Tigerclaw mused, it seems that I've found another supporter of mine.
They finally reached the camp, he and his patrol set down the freshkill they had caught for the clan, before Tigerclaw dismissed them.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting." Bluestar called.
Tigerclaw padded to gather under the Highrock with his clanmates. Thornkit and Brightkit trotted forward, each doing their best to look calm and mature. However hard Brightkit tried however, her waving tail showed her excitement.
Apprentice ceremony. Tigerclaw suddenly bristled as the powerful reek of fox flooded over him. He leaped to his paws, but at the same time heard Sandstorm's voice. "Fireheart! Where have you been? You smell like a fox that's been dead for a moon!"
Fireheart had just sat down beside the tan furred she-cat. "Sorry." He muttered. "It was an accident."
"Well, stay away from me till it wears off!" Sandstorm's voice, unlike when she was an apprentice speaking to Fireheart, was full of laughter as she edged away from him.
Yes, such a funny joke. Tigerclaw thought sarcastically. "And clean yourself up before you come into the den." He spat. Fireheart turned his head to look at the deputy behind him. "I'm not going to sleep with that stink in my nose!"
The ginger tom dipped his head, obviously embarrassed.
The apprentice ceremony began, but Tigerclaw wasn't listening very closely. What could Fireheart have possibly been doing to pick up that stink? I'm surprised he caught any prey at all with that smell on him. It's so strong that scent would cover up anything, if his kittypet stench didn't already.
Cover up anything?
Was he trying to mask his scent?... Tigerclaw looked sharply at Fireheart. What was he doing when he went, 'hunting alone'?
"Brightpaw, Thornpaw, Brightpaw, Thornpaw!"
The naming ceremony was already almost over. The tabby warrior quickly joined in with the rest of the clan to call out the two new apprentice's names, before the clan drifted off in different directions, with some cats returning to their dens, going to the freshkill pile, or approaching the new apprentices to congratulate them.
But Tigerclaw's mind was once again Brokentail's rouges. It's time for ThunderClan to have a new leader. I've waited long enough. Redtail, Lionheart, and now me— I won't fail, unlike those pathetic deputies. Redtail died at my claws without even a decent fight, and Lionheart was so weak that he died in battle. I am cleverer and stronger, and I will be the one to kill Bluestar, however many times it takes, until I am leader.
• • •
Tigerclaw wrapped his tail around him, letting the fur of the cats around him bring warmth to his cold pelt.
I need a place to plan this out. I can't do it in the waking world... He tried to imagine the Place of No Stars, with it's tall trunks and strange glowing fungus. I hope I'll be able to get there, even if I haven't visited in consecutive nights.
Dark ferns, dead leaves, and bushes that rustled ominously. Shadows that flickered oddly, disappearing if you pounced. A wide, endless dark sky with no trace of the moon or stars. With rough paths that led nowhere, paths that never ended where you could walk and walk...
Tigerclaw found himself padding forward in the Dark Forest. He halted. I've made it.
He continued walking. He knew this place well enough to know that if he kept padding on, he would soon reach a sandy, flat ground. That'll be great place to sketch out things and plan.
Soon reaching the clearing, he sat down.
The Twolegplace has plenty of rouges and loners. He drew a rough circle in the sand with a claw. That's also where some of Brokentail's followers fled. If I can round them up...
How can I convince them?...
I can allow them to stay in the forest with me, where there is good food and the honour of being a warrior. There must only be scraps of food in the Twolegplace, with all it's monster scaring away prey it'll be easy to lure them.
I can't trust any of them to kill Bluestar. I must do that personally. But there's also that kittypet— he unsheathed his claws.— he must be dealt with. I cannot let him disrupt any future plans.
Tigerclaw etched lines and circles on the sandy ground, pushing rocks and twigs to represent clans or other cats.
I will visit the Twolegplace and ask cats to join me...
He drew another line.
If any of them kills Fireheart...
He pushed another twig forward.
...they well be granted the highest honour, of being my deputy.
I can tell the followers of Brokentail that he will be honoured. Brokentail will agree to my plan if I tell him that too. But I can deal with him when I become leader. A blind cat will be useless in battle. He will be strong enough to fight the cat guarding him though, and that will be good enough...
Tigerclaw went through his plan again and again, noticing flaws and fixing them, until he was satisfied. He scuffled the sand until it was smooth again, flicking the pebbles and twigs away until they were scattered around, and no cat would've known what he had been doing here.
No cat will be able to break through this plan. There is no way. Soon, leadership will be in my paws. ThunderClan will be mine to command!
School is approaching soon, and updates might not be as frequent! I'll do my best to keep updating regularly!