A/N: This is an idea that I have had for some time but haven't had the chance to do it. However, I decided to give it a go after being hit by a good dose of self given nostalgia. This story links in with Defenders Of Avalar which will be shown in a later chapter of that story.
Warrior Cats and Spyro belong to their respective owners. Enjoy!
I only own my OC's and the plot.
"Traitor!" the ginger tom yowled. He flung himself at the dark tabby, slashing at his eyes. The tabby reared back, forced to release his grip on the she-cat's throat. The tom felt his claws rip through the dark cat's ear, spraying blood into the air.
The she-cat scrambled to the side of the den, looking half stunned. The tom could not tell how badly hurt she was. Pain lanced through him as the tabby gashed his side with a blow from his powerful hind paws. His paws skidded in the sand and he lost his balance, hitting the ground with the tabby on top of him.
The tabby's eyes blazed rothley into his. "Mousedung!" he hissed. "I'll flay you Fireheart! I've waited a long time for this!" Fireheart summoned every scrap of skill and strength he possessed. He knew the tabby could kill him, but in spite of that he felt strangely free. The lies and need for deceit were over. The secrets - both Bluestar's and Tigerclaw's - were all out in the open. There was only the clean danger of battle.
He aimed a blow at Tigerclaw's throat, but the deputy swung his head to one side and Fireheart's claws scraped harmlessly through thick tabby fur. But the blow had loosened Tigerclaw's grip on him. Fireheart rolled away, narrowly avoiding a killing blow to his neck. "Kittypet!" Tigerclaw taunted, flexing his haunches to pounce again. "Come and find out how a real warrior fights!"
He threw himself at Fireheart, but at the last moment Fireheart darted aside. As Tigerclaw tried to turn in the narrow den, he slipped on a splash of blood and he crashed awkwardly on to one side. At once Fireheart saw his chance. He barreled forward claws ready to slice open a gash in Tigerclaw's belly.
But the deputy saw him and kicked out with his back legs sending Fireheart crashing to the ground in the centre of the den. Fireheart was on his paws in an instant, an action also done by Tigerclaw. They now stood face to face in the centre of the den, scratched, bleeding, snarling, and far from finished. "You've ruined everything Fireheart!" Tigerclaw drew back his lips in a furious snarl. "I'll tear you apart!" Bluestar gasped from where she was in both shock and horror.
The two cats faced each other, claws out ready to spring, waiting for the other to move first. One thing was clear to both of them. Only one of them was getting out of this alive. Tigerclaw let out a loud caterwaul and made to lunge forward to strike at Fireheart. But he had not moved a step forward before the ground beneath their paws shook violently like it had been struck by a mighty blow.
A crack suddenly appeared in the ground, forming a black line in the sand covered floor of the den. Fireheart watched in horror as the crack grew wider and wider before it burst open emitting an ominous white light from it's unknown depths. Suddenly the ground fell out from under him and he just barely had enough time to dig his claws into the side of the rock to keep himself from falling.
He heard a loud yowl and didn't need to look to know that Tigerclaw was also hanging onto the opposite edge with all his strength. At that moment, a shadow fell across the entrance to the den and, through the roaring of the crack opening and the blood pounding in his ears, Fireheart heard hoarse, ragged breathing. He managed to turn his head, expecting to see one of the invaders, but it was Greystripe.
Dismay and relief flooded over him at the sight of his friend. He was bleeding heavily from his flank, and blood bubbled from his mouth as he stammered, "Bluestar, we-" He broke off, staring at the scene before him. Bluestar lying bleeding in one corner, the large crack in the floor of her den, and his best friend and Tigerclaw clinging for their lives on the steep rock faces of the cliff the crack had formed.
From the look in his eyes, Fireheart could tell he was remembering Whiteclaw's death from earlier that Leaf Bare, which the grey tom blamed himself for even though it hadn't directly been his fault in the first place. He stood stock still. But only for a second. "Fireheart!" he yowled, as he scrambled forwards to the edge of the cliff in an attempt to rescue his friend.
It was then that a sprinkle of small stones fell onto Fireheart's nose. He looked frantically up, and saw that the stone beneath his claws was beginning to give way. Greystripe was trying desperately to reach down and grab a hold of the ginger tom's scruff in an attempt to pull him up and out of danger. Trying to help the grey tom, Fireheart used his back paws to push himself further up the rock face to allow his friend an easier chance to help him.
"Hang on Fireheart! I've nearly got you!" Greystripe was near inches from the ginger tom. But just when it looked like he would be pulled from danger, a loud roar from the crack echoed through the den making Fireheart's claws lose grip and he slid back down. A loud yowl from outside got their attention. Once more the sound of ragged breath filled the den and Sandstorm entered, panting as she spoke. "Greystripe, what's going on? Where's Bluestar? We need her-" like said grey tom she too broke off at the sight that met her eyes.
She sprang forward to the grey tom's side, her pale green eyes wild as she also tried to reach down to help Fireheart back up. Suddenly a massive shape landed on the ginger tom's back, and he let out a yowl of pain. Tigerclaw had somehow jumped across from his position on the other side and had dug his claws in Fireheart's shoulder's. He leaned forward and hissed, "If I am going to die, you're coming with me!" which was loud enough for all three cats to hear.
Fireheart looked up at his friends, and saw the mixed expressions in their eyes. There was no way they could pull both him and the dark tabby up without help. He felt his strength fading fast and he knew that his grip on the stone wall was weakening also.
He knew what he had to do.
Looking up at his friends, he struggled to get his words out. "Greystripe," he meowed. Hearing his old friend's voice roused the grey tom, and he looked up his yellow eyes burning into his. "Yes, Fireheart?" Fireheart took a deep breath before continuing, "Look after Cloudpaw for me, make sure he becomes a warrior, and, be there for Cinderpelt." Greystripe's eyes widened as this sentence reached his ears, "Fireheart you can't! We can help you!" he yowled with Sandstorm nodding in confirmation.
Another roar echoed through the den and the ginger tom noticed his claws were on the verge of giving out. He looked at them. "You can't save me," he meowed. "Look after ThunderClan for me." Greystripe looked like he was going to protest but didn't instead only giving a silent nod. Sandstorm lowered her head and simply spoke, "Fireheart," he voice was barely a whisper but he could hear her.
He turned his gaze to look at her. "I love you." Those words rang in his ears for a brief moment before he replied, "I love you too, Sandstorm." Then the ground shook and he felt his claws cut through thin air. He was falling. Tigerclaw let out a loud yowl. As they fell, Fireheart caught one last glance of the two cats watching them before he closed his eyes as a black tide engulfed him.
The crack closed with a snap and a bang. The white light snuffed out instantly, as if it had never been there at all. Greystripe was staring at the place where it had been. Sandstorm was beside him, her eyes closed, her body vibrating with grief. He was gone. Fireheart was really gone. Gone forever.
There was nothing left to do now. Greystripe turned his head to look at Bluestar. She was staring at where the crack had been which Fireheart and Tigerclaw had fallen through. She looked smaller. Seeing her deputy betray her and her former apprentice presumably die in front of her was probably more than she could handle. Greystripe was silent for a few moments before the sounds of the battle brought him back to the present.
He shook himself as if he had just climbed out of deep water. "We're losing the fight," he meowed. "There are too many of them. Bluestar, we need your help." The leader looked at him but did not reply. Greystripe and Sandstorm could see that her eyes were still dull and unseeing, as if the discovery about Tigerclaw's treachery and his and Fireheart's deaths had bruised her beyond repair.
She began muttering to herself. Quiet at first, but soon loud enough for the two cats to hear. "So much death. What can we do against such reckless hate?" Greystripe and Sandstorm looked at each before the grey tom spoke up. "Charge out and see. Charge out and meet them," he said. Bluestar raised her eyes at these words. A light of determination flickered in her eyes which were rapidly clearing. "For death and glory?" she asked. Greystripe nodded. "For the clan. For Fireheart."
His leader looked down at her paws and then rose to her full height. Her voice came to their ears only now it was more like the Bluestar they knew. "Yes. Yes! The cats of ThunderClan shall see their leader lead them once more into battle!" "Yes!" Sandstorm yowled in excitement. Bluestar stepped forward until she was in front of Greystripe. "Let this be the hour when we draw claws together."
Greystripe nodded in agreement as did Sandstorm and the three turned towards the entrance of the den, where they could see the shapes of fighting cats through the curtain of lichen, in a V formation. Bluestar at the front, Greystripe on the right and Sandstorm on the left.
Their leader took a deep breath. Then she spoke. "Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath! Now for ruin! And a new dawn!" her voice rose to a loud yowl as Greystipe felt his claws slide out of his paws. He glanced over at Sandstorm. The pale ginger she-cat's face was set in a look of grim determination. Then, Bluestar's yowl rang out loud and long, greatly enhanced by the enclosing rock walls of the den. "FOR THUNDERCLAN!"
Bluestar led the charge out of her den into the clearing, slashing away at the rogues as they went. Without pausing, they stormed into the centre of the camp and Greystripe brought his claws down on any of the invading cats that happened to get in the way. In the midst of battle the camp seemed to be filled with rogues, as if all the ThunderClan warriors had been driven out.
Greystripe caught glimpses of familiar shapes here and there - Longtail squirming underneath a huge tabby tom; Patchpelt scrabbling just out of the reach of a skinny grey outlaw, whirling around to rake his nose with outstretched claws before he hurled himself at the rogues belly and Thornpaw was now helping Willowpelt hold the entrance to the nursery. The grey tom fought to collect his strength. The early stages of the battle had exhausted him and his wounds burned like fire. He did not know how long he could keep on.
He rolled over instinctively as a ginger she-cat tried to drive her claws into his back. Then he heard a yowl and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a lithe blue-grey body racing across the clearing. Bluestar! was his first astonished thought, wondering how she had moved so quickly. Then he realised that the warrior he had seen was not Bluestar. It was Mistyfoot!
With a massive effort Greystripe tore free of the ginger cat and scrambled to his paws. RiverClan warriors were pouring out of the tunnel. Leopardfur, Stonefur, Blackclaw... After them came Whitestorm and the rest of his patrol. They were strong and full of energy, and they fell on the invaders with claws outstretched and tails lashing in fury. Terrified by the sudden arrival of reinforcements, the rogue cats scattered. The ginger she-cat fled with a shocked howl.
Others followed her. Greystripe staggered a few paces in pursuit, hissing and spitting to speed them on their way, but there was no need. Surprised when they thought their victory was certain and leaderless now that Tigerclaw was disposed of, the rogues had no fight left in them. Within a few heartbeats, they were gone. The only enemy remaining was Brokentail, bleeding badly from his head and shoulders. The blind cat scrabbled on the ground, mewling faintly like a sick kit.
The RiverClan cats were gathering together with murmurs of concern as Greystripe limped towards them. While he wanted to avoid them he knew he had to face his fear or he never would. "Thank you," he meowed. "I've never been so glad to see any cat in my life." "I recognised some of the old ShadowClan warriors," Leopardfur told him gravely. "The ones who left with Brokenstar."
"Yes." Greystripe didn't want to say anything about Tigerclaw's involvement, not yet at least. "How did you know we needed help?" he asked, puzzled though he had an inkling as to the real reason they were here. "We didn't," replied Mistyfoot. "We came to talk to Bluestar about-" "Not now," Leopardfur interrupted, though Greystripe guessed that Mistyfoot had been going to say, "about the kits."
He felt his heart ache though he knew it was going to come to this eventually. "ThunderClan needs time to recover." She dipped her head graciously toward Greystripe. "We are glad to have helped. Tell your leader we will return soon." "Yes, I will," Greystripe promised, inwardly dreading the moment. " And thanks again." He watched the RiverClan cats leave, then looked around, feeling his shoulders sag with tiredness. The clearing was littered with blood and Yellowfang and Cinderpaw were beginning to examine the injured cats.
Though Greystripe hadn't noticed them in the fighting, they both bore the marks of the enemy. He took a deep breath. It was time to deal with the aftermath, but he did not know if he could summon the strength. His wounds throbbed with pain, and every muscle in his body shrieked a protest with each step. As he limped toward Bluestar, a voice sounded out from behind him.
"Greystripe! What happened?" He turned to see Brackenfur, newly returned at the head of Sandstorm's hunting patrol, with Cloudpaw panting along just behind him. He was staring around the clearing as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The grey tom shook his head wearily. "Brokentail's outlaws," he grunted." Again?" Cloudpaw spat with disgust with what little breath he could muster.
"Maybe Bluestar will think twice about sheltering Brokentail now." "It's more complicated than that," replied Greystripe feeling unable to explain all that had happened in his leader's den. Out of everything that had occured, what disturbed Greystripe the most was how Bluestar was going to explain what had happened as she stood numbly in the centre of the clearing, watching as Yellowfang examined Brokentail and then began half pushing, half dragging him toward her den.
The former ShadowClan leader was barely conscious, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. She obviously still cares for him, Greystripe thought sadly to himself. Even after all this, she can't forget he was dear to her. Last of all, Duspelt limped forward and sank down on his side in the shade of the den. Cinderpelt hurried over to him and began to inspect his wounds with an anxious frown. Bluestar raised her head and looked around at her followers.
"Come here, all of you," she rasped, beckoning with a flick of her tail. While the rest of the Clan were gathering, Greystripe padded over to Cinderpaw. "Can you give anything for her wounds?" he asked. "Something to ease the pain?" He knew his leader had looked undefeatable when she regained her spirit, but now he found he could not bear the sight of the once-great warrior looking like death was breathing down her ear. Cindepelt looked up from her examination of him.
To Greystripe's relief, she didn't challenge his request for her to treat their injured leader before himself. "Sure," she meowed. "I'll fetch something for you as well Greystripe." She limped away in the direction of Yellowfang's den. The rest of the Clan cats had taken their places by the time she returned. Greystripe could see them looking at one another, uneasily wondering what all this might mean.
Cinderpaw limped over with a wad of herbs in her mouth. She dropped some of them beside Bluestar,and gave the rest to Graystripe. The leader sniffed the leaves quietly and then began to chew them. When she had finished she raised her head and began to speak. "I present you with Tigerclaw's failed attempt at murder, now deceased. He-" A chorus of worried murmurs interrupted her.
The Clan cats were looking at each other in shock and dismay. Greystripe could see they did not understand what was happening. "A murderer?" Darkstripe echoed. "Tigerclaw's your deputy. What has he done?" "I'll tell you." Bluestar's voice sounded more even now, but Greystripe could see the effort it was costing her. "Just now, in my den, Tigerclaw attacked me. He would have killed me if Fireheart hadn't arrived in time."
The sounds of protest and disbelief swelled even louder. From the back of the crowd, an elder let out an eerie wailing. Darkstripe got to his paws. He was one of Tigerclaw's strongest supporters, Greystripe knew, but even he was looking uncertain. "There must be some mistake," he blustered. Bluestar raised her chin in defiance, resolution shining in her blue eyes. "Do you think I can't tell when a cat tries to murder me?" she enquired dryly. "But Tigerclaw-"
Greystripe sprang up. "Tigerclaw is a traitor to the Clan!" he spat. "He brought the rogue cats here today." Darkstripe rounded on him. "He'd never have done that. Prove it, mongrel!" Greystripe glanced at Bluestar. She nodded and beckoned him forward. "Greystripe, tell the Clan what you know. Everything." Greystripe padded slowly over to her side.
Now that the moment for revealing everything had come, he felt strangely reluctant. It was as though he were pulling down the Highrock, and nothing would ever be the same again. "Cats of ThunderClan," he began. His voice squeaked like that of a kit's, and he paused to control it. "Cats of ThunderClan, do you remember when Redtail died? Tigerclaw told you that Oakheart killed him, but he was lying. It was Tigerclaw who killed Redtail!"
"How do you know?" That was Longtail, with the usual sneer on his face. "You weren't at the battle." "I know because Fireheart and I talked to someone who was," Greystripe replied steadily. "Ravenpaw told me." "Oh, very useful!" growled Darkstripe. "Ravenpaw's dead. You can tell us he said anything, and nobody can prove you wrong." The grey tom hesitated.
He had, under Fireheart's orders, kept the truth about Ravenpaw's escape a secret to protect him from Tigerclaw, but now that Tigerclaw was gone, there could be no more danger. And he needed to reveal everything. "Ravenpaw isn't dead," he explained quietly. "We took him away after Tigerclaw tried to kill him for knowing too much, at least, that's what Fireheart told me." More uproar followed, as each cat yowled their questions and protests. While Greystripe waited for them to settle down again, he glanced at Bluestar.
As Cinderpaw's herbs did their healing work, the blue grey she-cat had begun to recover some of her strength. She sat up straighter now and sat staring out over the crowd with eyes like stones, as if she were challenging any cat to try and disagree with what had been said. Greystripe figured Fireheart must have already told her the news about Ravenpaw which must have shocked her, but she did not show it by a single twitch of her whiskers.
When the turmoil showed no sign of dying down, Whitestorm got to his paws and raised his voice. "Quiet! Quiet! Let Greystripe speak!" Silence followed. Greystripe dipped his head in thanks to the older warrior. "Ravenpaw told me that Oakheart died when rocks fell on him. Redtail fled from the rockfall, and ran straight into Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw pounced on him and killed him."
"And yes it's true," Graystripe added, wincing in pain as Cinderpaw started pressing herbs to his wounds. "I was there when Ravenpaw told Fireheart all this." He paused to let the information sink in. "And he's spoken to cats from RiverClan," Greystripe continued. "They tell the same story, that Oakheart died in a rockfall." The grey tom expected more noise then, but it never came. An eerie hush had fallen on the Clan.
Cats were staring at one another as if they could find a reason for these terrible revelations in the faces of their friends."Tigerclaw expected to be made deputy then," Greystripe went on. "But Bluestar chose Lionheart instead. Then Lionheart died fighting ShadowClan, and at last Tigerclaw achieved his ambition. But being deputy wasn't enough for him. I... I now know that he even laid a trap for Bluestar beside the Thunderpath when she was sick, but now, Cinderpaw was caught in it instead. It was meant to look like an accident."
Casting his gaze at Cinderpaw as he spoke, he was in time to see her eyes widen and her jaws open in a gasp of surprise. Bluestar too looked astonished as did Darkstripe who had been in the area at the time. "Fireheart told me his suspicions," she murmured. Her voice shook. "I didn't- I couldn't- believe him. I trusted Tigerclaw." She bowed her head. "I was wrong." "But how could he expect to be made leader if he killed you?" asked Mousefur. "The Clan would never have supported him."
"I think that's why he planned this attack the way he did," Greystripe ventured. "I guess he meant us to think that one of the outlaws killed Bluestar. After all-" Greystripe's voice grew hard "-who would expect Tigerclaw, the loyal deputy, to lay a claw on his leader?" He fell silent. His whole body was quivering and he felt as limp as a newborn kit. Another long period of silence fell.
Nobody could speak.
"Bluestar," Whitestorm suddenly spoke up. "Where is Tigerclaw?" "And where's Fireheart?" Cloudpaw put in. "The last I saw of him was when he sent me to get Sandstorm's patrol." "He ran into me as I was heading back from resetting the border marker," Sandstorm explained. "I told him to get my patrol and I hurried back." Greystripe felt his heart sink. How was he ever going to explain what had happened in Bluestar's den?
"It's... complicated," he finally replied. Luckily Bluestar spoke for him. "Fireheart was confronting Tigerclaw in my den when something I never would have believed happened. In fact I would be saying I would have been seeing things were it not for the fact Greystripe and Sandstorm saw it as well," she paused. "As I said, they were confronting each other when a roar came through my den and the next thing I saw was the floor itself open up before me. Fireheart and Tigerclaw both fell down barely managing to cling onto the sides."
"She's right," said Greystripe, finally finding his voice. "I went in to look for her and saw exactly what she described. I tried to pull Fireheart up and nearly succeeded, but another roar came and he slid back down. Sandstorm came in shortly after and we both tried to help him. Then Tigerclaw somehow jumped across and landed on his back and..." Greystripe trailed off, not wanting to finish.
Despite the grief in her eyes Sandstorm took over. "We knew that we couldn't pull the both of them up by ourselves. So Fireheart... Fireheart... he... he..." Her voice cracked and she sank down onto her belly, her eyes filling to the brim with grief. "He told us to take care of Cinderpelt and Cloudpaw, that he loved Sandstorm before he... he let go," finished Greystripe.
A horrified silence fell upon the clearing.
Nobody could even speak after what they had heard. It seemed too ridiculous to believe, but nobody denied it. The fact that neither Fireheart nor Tigerclaw were there only confirmed it. Not even the ginger tom's tormentors, Darkstripe, Longtail and Dustpelt, said a word.
Finally Bluestar spoke. "We will hold vigil for Fireheart tonight. Whether he is dead or not we do not know, but we do know that he went above and beyond the Warrior Code today and has for a long time. We all know." The emphasis on the word all was clear in her voice. Greystripe shook himself as all around him talk was beginning to break out again, as cats mewed urgently to one another about the startling events. "Who'll be the deputy now?" he heard Runningwind ask.
"I think Greystripe should be deputy," Cloudpaw declared, moving to stand beside him. "He'd do a great job, and it's what Fireheart would probably want." "Greystripe?" Darkstripe's eyes narrowed. "A would-be traitor." "At least he's still loyal unlike you!" Cloudpaw bristled in front of the much bigger warrior. Greystripe was about to haul himself to his paws and intervene when Whitestorm pushed in between Darkstripe and the young apprentice.
"That's enough," he growled. "Bluestar will tell us who she chooses before moonhigh. That's the tradition." Greystripe let his shoulders relax as Cloudpaw scampered off to join the other apprentices. He could see that his newly appointed charge did realize the seriousness of what had happened, but was trying not to show it. The older warriors, the ones who had known Tigerclaw well, were looking at one another as if their world had just come to an end.
"Well now, Greystripe." Greystripe looked up as Brackenfur walked over to join his friend and Cinderpaw. "Would you want to be deputy?" There was pain in his eyes, and blood still trickled from his mouth, yet he looked more alive than Greystripe had seen him since his encounter with the badger, as if the battle and the exposing of Tigerclaw's villainy had taken his mind off his grief for a moment yet he couldn't prevent a faint prickle of excitement from creeping along his spine.
Deputy of ThunderClan! Then he realized how hard a job it would be, to pull these shattered cats together and mold them into a Clan again. "No," he told Brackenfur. "And Bluestar would never choose me." He got up, shaking his head as if to put these thoughts out of his mind. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Are those wounds very bad?" "He'll be fine," meowed Cinderpaw.
"But his tongue was scratched, and it's still bleeding. I don't know what to do for a scratched tongue. Greystripe, would you fetch Yellowfang for me?" "Sure." The last Greystripe had seen of Yellowfang, she had been dragging Brokentail into her den; she had not reappeared for the condemnation of Tigerclaw. He padded across the clearing and into the fern tunnel.
As he pushed through the soft green fronds, he heard Yellowfang's voice. Something about it - perhaps its gentleness, so unusual for Yellowfang - made him stay in the shelter of the arching ferns for a moment. "Lie still, Brokentail. You have lost a life," Yellowfang was murmuring. "You're going to be fine." "What do you mean?" snarled Brokentail, his voice weak from loss of blood.
"If I've got another life left, why do my wounds still hurt?" "StarClan have healed the wound that killed you," Yellowfang explained, still in the same soft murmur that sent prickles along Greystripe's spine. "The others need the skill of a medicine cat." "Then what are you waiting for, you scrawny old pest?" hissed Brokentail. "Get on with it. Give me something for this pain."
"All right, I will." Yellowfang's voice suddenly turned icy cold, and a ripple of fear coursed throughFireheart. " Here. Eat these berries, and the pain will go away for good."Fireheart peered out of the ferns to see Yellowfang dabbing something with her paw. Carefully, deliberately, she rolled three bright red berries in front of the wounded Brokentail, guiding his paw until he could touch them.
Suddenly Greystripe was transported back to a sunny day in green leaf. He was an apprentice, staring at a small, dark-leaved bush that bore scarlet berries, and Lionheart was saying, "The berries are so poisonous we call them deathberries. Even one could kill you." He drew breath to call out a warning, but Brokentail was already chewing the berries. Yellowfang stood watching him with a face like stone.
"You and my Clan cast me out and I came here," she hissed into his ear. "I was a prisoner, just like you. But ThunderClan treated me well, and at last they trusted me enough to be their medicine cat. You could have earned their trust, too. But now - will any cat trust you ever again?" Brokentail let out a contemptuous hiss. "Do you think I care?" Yellowfang crouched even closer to him, her eyes gleaming.
"I know you care for nothing, your Clan, nor your honor, nor your own kin.""I have no kin." Brokentail spat out the words."Wrong. Your kin has been closer to you than you ever dreamed. I'm your mother, Brokentail." The blind warrior made a curious rasping noise in his throat, like a terrible attempt at laughter. "Spiders have spun webs in your brain, old one. Medicine cats never have kits." "That's why I had to give you up," Yellowfang told him, seasons of bitterness dripping from each word.
"But I never stopped caring... never. When you were a young warrior, I was so proud of you." Her voice dropped to a low snarl. "And then you murdered Raggedstar. Your own father. You killed kits of our Clan,and made me take the blame. You would have destroyed our Clan completely. So now it is time to put an end to all this treachery." "An end? What do you mean, you old..." Brokentail tried to rise to his paws, but his legs gave way and he fell heavily onto his side.
His voice rose to a thin screech that chilled Greystripe to the bone. "What have you done? I can't... can't feel my paws. Can't breathe..." "I fed you deathberries." Yellowfang's eyes were mere slits as she gazed at him. "I know this is your last life, Brokentail. Medicine cats always know. Now no cat will ever be hurt again because of you." Brokentail's jaws parted in a cry of shock and fear. Greystripe thought he could hear regret there, too, but the blind warrior was unable to put words to it.
His limbs thrashed and his paws scrabbled in the dust; his chest heaved as he fought for air. Unable to go on watching, Greystripe backed away and crouched at the other end of the fern tunnel, shivering, until the sounds of Brokentail's last struggle died away. Then, mindful of Cinderpaw's request, he forced himself to go back, making sure that Yellowfang could hear him pushing his way through the bracken. Brokentail lay motionless in the center of the small clearing. The old medicine cat crouched beside him, her nose pressed to his side.
As Greystripe padded up, she raised her head. Her eyes were filled with pain and she looked older and frailer than ever. But Greystripe knew how strong she was, that the sorrow she felt for Brokentail would not destroy her. "I did everything I could, but he died," he could not tell the medicine cat that he knew she was lying. He would never tell any cat what he had just seen and heard. Trying to keep his voice steady, he meowed, "Cinderpaw sent me to ask you what to do for a scratched tongue."
Yellowfang struggled to her paws as if she too could feel the numbing touch of deathberries. "Tell her I'm coming," she rasped. "I just need to fetch the right herb." Still unsteady, she staggered over to her den. She did not turn once to look back at Brokentail's unmoving body. Greystripe couldn't blame her.
Given the day's events Greystripe thought he would be unable to sleep, but he was so exhausted that as soon as he curled up in his nest he sank at once into deep unconsciousness. He was thankful that his dreams were blank and unbroken. Noises pulled him from his slumber, and he yawned loudly as he took in the dim light of the den. His wounds from the battle still stung, and as he got up his limbs protested stiffly, but he could feel his strength was returning.
Still, it was hard to control his shivering. It was then he realized that the chill he felt was not just because of fear. The den, usually warm from sleeping bodies, was cold and empty. Outside he could hear the murmuring of many cats. When he pushed his way out to join them, he saw that nearly all the Clan was already assembled in the clearing, with the blue-black light of night just rising above the trees. Sandstorm made her way through a group of cats to meet him, Cloudpaw beside her.
"How are you holding up, Greystripe?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. "Much better," Greystripe said to the pale ginger she-cat. He certainly felt as much, that long sleep had done him good. "How's Bluestar?" he asked. "I don't know," Sandstorm replied. "Whitestorm's been in to see her and so has Yellowfang but they don't seem to have made any progress. We must have a deputy."
She began to lash her tail from side to side in agitation. "I guess she's still shocked about Tigerclaw," Greystripe pointed out. "But she's the leader of this Clan," retorted Cloudpaw. "She can't just simply curl up in her den and forget about the rest of us." Greystripe knew they were both right, but he could not stifle a pang of sympathy for Bluestar. He knew how much she had depended on Tigerclaw, loyally defending him against Fireheart's accusations.
She had chosen him to be her deputy, and had trusted him to help her lead the Clan. She must be shattered to realize that she had been wrong all along, and that never again would she be able to count on Tigerclaw's strength and fighting skills. "She won't forget-" he began, and broke off as Bluestar came out of her den, stumbling now and then due to her still healing wounds. She looked old and weary beyond her years, but she still climbed up onto the Highrock to look down on her Clan.
"Cats of ThunderClan," she said, her voice raspy but strong sounded out over the anxious mutterings. "Listen for I have made my choice on who will be the new deputy." Every cat was already turning toward her, and the clearing fell chillingly silent. "I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice." Bluestar paused again, before staring down at her paws for so long that Greystripe wondered if she had forgotten what she was going to say.
Perhaps she had not even decided yet who the new deputy should or two cats had begun to whisper uneasily, but as Bluestar raised her head again they stopped. "The new deputy, in honor of Fireheart's brave actions this day, will be Greystripe," she announced clearly. As soon as she had spoken she rose to her full height, as if daring anyone to challenge her decision.
Of course it wasn't really needed. As soon as they heard her the whole Clan froze. Greystripe felt as though he'd just had a bunch of cold water poured over his head. He was to be deputy? He wanted to call Bluestar back and tell her there must be some mistake. He was barely a warrior! Then he heard Cloudpaw's shrill voice raised gleefully. " I knew it! Greystripes's going to be the new deputy!"