Thirteen
The camp was already abuzz when the Gathering patrol came bursting in.
"Yellowfang, you miserable excuse of a rogue! Get out here!" Tigerclaw roared when he wrenched himself through the gorse tunnel ahead of the others. Firepaw hoped the deputy lost half his fur from that. It'd be more than he deserved.
When the ginger tom finally fought his way through the gorse tunnel he found several warriors circling three living newcomers and five ghosts. Of the living, Yellowfang was only patching up one.
"I don't understand…" The cream molly of the living whispered. "We asked for sanctuary! You said we could stay at least the night!"
"And you can." Bluestar assured the three of them. "We've received some disturbing news from an unreliable source that we wished to confirm for ourselves. Nothing else is happening." Her voice hardened on the last sentence and she glared at the cats surrounding the newcomers.
"When did they get here?"
"Not too long before you all did." Breezefoot called from the freshkill pile. "What's going on? With the way you all came storming in, I thought there was an attack!"
"Depends." Willowpelt growled as she stalked across the camp, checking each den she passed.
"On what?!"
"Brokenstar said that his medicine cat went rogue and was responsible for the deaths of multiple kits from ShadowClan."
"He's lying!" The cream molly screeched suddenly. "That wretched tyrant, that absolute brute!" She howled despite the two other cats trying to keep her quiet. "Yellowfang tried to save them." She announced. "He was working them to death. He always found some way to cover it up! When my first litter died, he said a fox got them! A fox! While he was with them?! He should have died then! He should have protected those kits with his life but he didn't! And there was no fox scent! He killed my babies!" The queen threw back her head and wailed the last part, pouring every bit of anguish into her voice and snarling for all the stars in the sky to hear.
"Dawncloud, you must stop! These cats have no defense against Brokenstar and if he finds out we're here, he'll kill them all for taking us in and then he'll kill us too!" The dark grey tom snapped.
"Do not bring down the wrath of StarClan by letting him drive us to further ruin!" The pitch-black tom insisted.
"It's not StarClan's wrath being brought down." Thrushpelt deadpanned. "Believe that, if nothing else."
"I do believe," Redtail growled. "that we have the cause of our barrier."
"The menace, the evil that dripped off that Starsforsaken cat! How was he ever able to gain nine lives when he's… Like That?!"
Firepaw forced himself to focus on the living. It sounded like Yellowfang wasn't in trouble and Bluestar was willing to host the ShadowClan outcasts. It also sounded like the ghosts among them were confused about a number of things, Yellowfang's status as an outcast among them. At least he learned the names of the other living ShadowClan cats: Ashfur and Nightpelt.
"Cats of ThunderClan, it is a very good thing indeed that we've been adjusting our camp for the coming troubles! It is clear that ShadowClan's new leader has no respect for his Clanmates and no honor to his name! He appears to have cast out or killed off those he cannot get to fight for him. And now, it seems that he is a killer of kits as well!" Bluestar roared.
Outraged howls filled the night and Firepaw was surprised to hear the three newcomers among them. Especially since two of them had hushed the third for fear of spiritual retribution. Most cats called for the new ShadowClan leader's blood to stain their paws and Bluestar seemed conflicted now.
"I hesitated to aid Yellowfang at first because the ShadowClan tyrant has the same nine lives I was gifted with! To kill him once would not even loosen his hold on ShadowClan, and I cannot risk my Clanmates' lives for what would normally be a hopeless cause."
The cats below her yowled in protest.
"We can take it!" Breezefoot snarled.
"We are not afraid!" Mousefur added. "We are not weak!"
"It's not about being weak!" Bluestar insisted. "He has nine lives! That's eight chances to return and wreak havoc on ShadowClan and likely the whole forest! We have to take this into consideration before we go haring into other Clans' affairs!"
"We're already in the middle of ShadowClan's affairs!" Lionheart announced.
"This might be the answer we're looking for." Spottedleaf pointed out delicately.
"What? Speak up, Spottedleaf. What are we looking for?"
"The reason that Firepaw joined us in the first place. This might be the answer. A leader has most definitely had interaction with StarClan but they don't approve of what he's doing. As a medicine cat, I am code-bound to speak for StarClan and help those in need. My fellow medicine cat needs my help."
"We have to think this through."
"And we will. It's not… against any code we have to host another Clan's medicine cat as we are doing for Yellowfang. I'm sure Sleetstep will agree that he needs help with such a massive Clan, especially with all his new arrivals."
"Yes… " Bluestar offered nervously, tail twitching and fur prickling. "I suppose if we send you in to scope out the situation. Or Ravenpaw-."
"I don't want Ravenpaw anywhere near ShadowClan." Spottedleaf insisted. "He doesn't have enough experience to transfer to another Clan."
"And you think he's fully capable of handling anything that comes up in this one?" Tigerclaw drawled. "When he couldn't unsheathe his claws if you asked him to?"
"He does when I ask him to, yes." Spottedleaf sneered.
"Oh, he's not going to take that lying down." Redtail snickered.
"Who would?" Thrushpelt scoffed. "But he better not try anything."
"ShadowClan has a full medicine cat already, so wouldn't sending the apprentice to assist make more sense?"
"I would agree if this were a different situation. Yellowfang has said before and now Dawncloud confirms that kits are being trained roughly and far younger than they should. Ravenpaw's status as a medicine cat might not protect him if Brokenstar is already doing this to his own cats."
"Fair enough." Tigerclaw conceded. "Wouldn't want anything dreadful happening to the medicine cat, of course."
Adderfang growled lowly and crouched as if he were ready to leap into battle. His growl was taken up by the ShadowClan cats.
"If you send one of the few cats learning to heal directly into harm's way, you are less than half a cat." Nightpelt growled sharply, catching and keeping Tigerclaw's burning amber gaze.
"Send Firepaw!" Darkstripe called out.
"What?" Bluestar said flatly. The word was more of a demand than a question and colored with disbelief.
"He went with them to RiverClan and he's got enough warrior training to back him up if Brokenstar thinks to try and make him fight."
"He could barely hold his own against Longtail." Tigerclaw drawled boredly.
"It wouldn't work." Ashfur snapped. "Even if Firepaw has the skills of both realms, Brokenstar would take one look at his throat and finish whatever this Longtail cat tried to start. He doesn't keep the weak and injured. Only the strongest warriors can serve the noble leader of ShadowClan." Ashfur sneered, lip curled in disgust.
"I have heard all your arguments and I agree with Spottedleaf that it would be too dangerous to send Ravenpaw to be ShadowClan's assistant healer. I will think on this for the night and return with an answer no later than sunhigh. No cat is to act out toward ShadowClan in any way until a decision has been made. We do not need to give Brokenstar a reason to attack us."
Cats responded in the positive and Bluestar dismissed the meeting.
"I would speak with Lionheart, the medicine cats, and our guests. In my den, if it is not too much trouble. We can stay out here if it is."
The cats Bluestar called gathered under Highrock and shuffled into the den. It was something of a tight fit but every cat managed to squeeze themselves in.
"First of all, I must extend my apologies to Ravenpaw and Firepaw for dragging them in the middle of that meeting. Neither of you will be sent anywhere by yourselves and if you are, a cat will warn you beforehand. You are free to check with me if you doubt their word or even if you don't."
"Yes, Bluestar." Ravenpaw said. "Thank you."
"Now, what do you all think of what was said tonight? We should start with Lionheart and go around the den."
"I do not believe that ShadowClan would allow for outside help to be given, even if the medicine cats extend their paws first. Furthermore, one reason neither Ravenpaw nor Firepaw would be suitable as an assistant medicine cat is that we would be sending that cat for inside information as well as to aid Sleetstep. It would be unwise to send a child to do an adult's job."
"I know what my job is." Spottedleaf broke in despite being further from Lionheart. "It is to offer all cats healing, advise a leader on matters of StarClan, and train a cat to take my place. I would be violating at least two of those objectives if I let either of the cats in my care be involved in this."
"Well said." Yellowfang murmured from beside Lionheart. "You all have a very good idea as to why I would reject the idea of sending either apprentice. Furthermore, Brokenstar has not been kind to injured cats. Firepaw would not fare well no matter how much Sleetstep would help."
"'Unkind' is the least of it." Nightpelt scowled. "I can't believe those two said such vile things. Clearly neither of them has ever had a kit or mentored an apprentice."
"Tigerclaw mentored Darkstripe and Darkstripe mentored a cat called Longtail, both to completion. He was also Ravenpaw's mentor for a time until he found his calling as a medicine cat." Lionheart corrected with a grimace.
"You mean those two were given kittens to train?!" Dawncloud scoffed. "I'd wager they're just as cold with their apprentices as Brokenstar or one of his guards. How could he even think of involving children in such a task?! He's practically said to send them to slaughter!"
"Neither cat thought their answer had such implications." Bluestar said. "But we are not sending apprentices to ShadowClan. I'm debating the wisdom of sending anyone."
Yellowfang ground her teeth and her fur prickled uneasily.
"Spottedleaf and I share many of the same skills. If you would be willing, I could train Ravenpaw and keep up with Firepaw while Spottedleaf assists Sleetstep."
Bluestar's breath came out in a rushed puff of air. Spottedleaf mirrored her surprise.
"You do my Clan service just by volunteering." Spottedleaf murmured gratefully. "I am sure Ravenpaw would learn much from you and I will do my best to emulate your standard of care in ShadowClan."
"You do my Clan service by lending a paw when asked." Yellowfang murmured.
"Would it work?" Bluestar asked the ShadowClan cats. "I asked you three here because I need to know what I am sending my medicine cat into. What can you tell me about the condition of your Clan?"
"This is not for the ears of a youngster, apprentice or otherwise." Ashfur insisted.
"Is that your only condition?"
"If you have some wet moss available, we'd appreciate it. Ashfur, here, has been holding out but we haven't had much in the way of a proper meal since we were exiled." Nightpelt said.
"Of course, of course. Ravenpaw, Firepaw, if you would be willing to accommodate our guests and then go straight to your nests afterward. I'll tell you both personally if any part of this requires your presence."
Firepaw and Ravenpaw nodded.
"Yes, Bluestar." Ravenpaw said.
"You did well today. I know Tigerclaw and Darkstripe riled you up and got under your skin, but thank you for behaving as befits a true warrior."
Firepaw suppressed a full-body shiver as he recalled why Dawncloud protested sending him to ShadowClan. He got to his paws with a nod and pushed his face into Bluestar's pelt.
"You did well, both of you." She repeated.
Firepaw's breath hitched and he nodded into her fur before letting Ravenpaw lead him out of the den and to the fresh-kill pile.
"They can't hurt us now." Ravenpaw said firmly. "Spottedleaf keeps too close an eye on us and you know she'll have Yellowfang do the same. And Bluestar needs you. Even Tigerclaw and Darkstripe understand the importance of StarClan. They won't dare interfere with matters of the Stars no matter how much they laugh behind our backs. You're safe here, Firepaw. We're safe here."