Chapter 9
I would've thought I'd gotten more reviews by now; I mean what do I have to do to get more reviews?!
Ever since Darkstripe took Tawnykit to visit Tigerstar and Bramblekit, Fireheart had been doing his best to avoid Goldenflower around the Thunderclan camp.
He had been worried that Tawnykit had told her that Bramblekit was still alive. He knew she deserved to know that her son was still alive, as she had been very upset for the past moon and a half thinking that he was dead, but he was worried she'd get cross with him, accusing that he made it up that Bramblekit had died.
Things were quite different that night, Bluestar had decided she wanted to attend the gathering. Fireheart was surprised, she hadn't attended the gatherings since Tigerstar was exposed.
Fireheart was quiet the whole walk to the gathering. He was worried that Bluestar wouldn't be mentally stable to attend and that she'd make a scene.
But rather than trying to reason with her and have her jump all over him, he agreed to let her go. She had already felt he wasn't trustworthy to lead the clan after his friend Graystripe had rejoined Thunderclan.
As Thunderclan arrived at the fourtrees, he noticed Tigerstar and the Riverclan leader Leopardstar were together watching apprentices from their respective clans play fighting. He felt very uneasy due to how close they were and the fact that Leopardstar didn't like Thunderclan very much due to the recent territory battle.
The leaders and deputies all gathered on the highstones. Tallstar the leader of Windclan's announcement was short and to the point.
Then Tigerstar went next. He said that the training in Shadowclan was improving, and a new litter of kits had been born.
"Shadowclan is growing strong again," he declared. "We are ready to take a full part of life in the forest." He paused for a minute. "I have a request to make," he continued. Cats went silent as he took a breath.
"I've been keeping this a secret these past couple moons," he said. "But I've decided that it's time to tell. As you know from the fire on Thunderclan territory during middleleaf, my son Bramblekit was stuck in a tree during the fire and I saved him. The past two moons I've been raising him in Shadowclan. My clan has kept it secret, but tonight I felt it was the right time to tell you all."
Bluestar glared at Tigerstar when he mentioned that he was on Thunderclan territory when he was banned from it. But she kept her fury inside and stayed calm. Cats from Thunderclan were surprised. Bramblekit, the kit who had been lost in the fire was still alive!
But there was also confusion from not just Thunderclan, but all the other clans. Even Shadowclan had also been confused when Tigerstar brought Bramblekit to them. Why had he kept Bramblekit in Shadowclan for the past moons instead of bringing him back? While they had gotten used to having him around, they had also wondered that.
"I know Thunderclan has done a good job raising Tawnykit," went on Tigerstar. "But I feel it's time for her to join Shadowclan." He turned to face Bluestar. "Bluestar," he said. "I ask you to give me Tawnykit."
Yowls of protest from the Thunderclan cats filled the clearing.
"Absolutely not Tigerstar," said Bluestar firmly. "She's a Thunderclan cat, she always will belong to us!"
"In Thunderclan?" challenged Tigerstar. "My kits belong to me, Bramblekit's grown use to living in Shadowclan, so I think Tawnykit will too. Perhaps you've forgotten that my father who was once our leader abandoned us when I was a kit? I'm not going to let the same thing happen to them."
Bluestar had a feeling that she never thought she'd feel for Tigerstar. Sympathy. But she kept an authoritive look on her face. She had a feeling there was more to the fact he wanted both his kits then to just spend time with them.
"I understand your concerns," she said. "But she will receive the best possible training in Thunderclan."
Tigerstar turned to face the audience of cats again.
"Thunderclan claims that my daughter will be well cared for," he said. "But Thunderclan has a poor record for looking after their young. One kit got carried off by a hawk, and one apprentice gets savaged to death and another almost dies when they go out without a warrior, not to mention my son would've died in that fire if I hadn't ventured on to the territory and saved him. Does any cat wonder why I'm concerned about my daughter?"
Gasps of horror went around the cats. Fireheart wondered how Tigerstar could've gotten all the news of the things that have went around in Thunderclan. He then realized that Darkstripe must've been telling him those things.
"It's not so difficult Bluestar," said Tigerstar smoothly. "Thunderclan has given up kits before."
Bluestar seemed shaken by his words. Her words stuttered a bit.
"I'll give you my answer at the next gathering" she said.
"Very well," said Tigerstar surprising the Thunderclan cats, especially Fireheart. "I'll wait another moon. But no more."
Fireheart was surprised by that. But Tigerstar always acted civil at gatherings.
…
When Fireheart returned to the camp after the gathering, he saw that Goldenflower was there. He knew she wanted to speak to him.
"Fireheart," she said. "I know you've been trying to avoid me. Tawnykit told me that Bramblekit's still alive." There was a look of hope in her eyes. "Is it true?" she asked.
Fireheart took a deep breath. "Yes." He answered.
Goldenflower felt relieved, but there was confusion inside her too. "Why did he keep it secret for so long?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Fireheart.
"I know you tried to save him yourself," said Goldenflower. "I know you wouldn't leave a kit to die on purpose."
Fireheart felt relieved that Goldenflower wasn't mad at him. But he had a feeling he knew the full reason why Tigerstar was keeping Bramblekit in Shadowclan.
He wants to raise Bramblekit to hate Thunderclan he thought to himself. But he decided not to tell anyone else.
Author's note; Chapter 9 is complete. It's nice that Goldenflower isn't mad at Fireheart or believes he lied to her that Bramblekit was dead. Now Thunderclan knows he's still alive and Tigerstar is raising him in Shadowclan.
