Warrior Cats: Fire And Ice
Summary
Fireheart is a full warrior of ThunderClan now and training his first apprentice, Cinderpaw. But instead of becoming easier, his life grows more complicated than ever as he deals with betrayal and a horrific accident. How will Fireheart deal with it all on his own? Or is he really alone?
The Gathering And WindClan
"We're almost there, C'mon. The other Clans will be waiting." Bluestar meowed, and the other cats nodded and continued walking to Fourtrees.
"Now's my chance, Bluestar, may I talk to you?" Fireheart meowed, and the blue-gray molly nodded her head.
"Sure, take the lead Tigerclaw." Bluestar meowed, and the dark brown warrior nodded, leading the other warriors to Fourtrees.
"What is it Fireheart?" Bluestar asked, staring with concerned eyes at her former apprentice.
"Uhh, well. I'm not quite sure how to say this." Fireheart said, shifting his paws nervously.
"Speak." Bluestar meowed, and Fireheart took a deep breath to prepare himself.
"Ravenpaw's not dead, Graystripe and I took him to WindClan's hunting grounds. I-I think he may have joined Barley." Fireheart explained, and Bluestar looked relieved.
"I am glad to hear that Ravenpaw is still alive, I hope he is happier living with Barley then he was in the forest." Bluestar replied, with a soft smile on her face.
"But-but he was born into ThunderClan." Fireheart exclaimed, not understanding Bluestar's meaning.
"That doesn't necessarily mean he was sooted to Clan life, after all, you aren't Clan born and yet you've become a fine warrior. Ravenpaw may find his true path elsewhere." Bluestar gently explained, and Fireheart just sighed softly.
"But he didn't leave ThunderClan cause he wanted to, it was impossible for him to stay." Fireheart meowed, and it was Bluestar's turn to look confused.
"Impossible? What do you mean?" She asked, blinking and tilting her head in confusion.
"Ravenpaw knew a secret about Tigerclaw, I-I think Tigerclaw was planning to kill him or else turn the Clan against him." Fireheart meowed, and Bluestar blinked again.
"Why would you think that? What was this secret that Ravenpaw knew?" Bluestar asked, staring directly at Firseheart.
"That Tigerclaw killed Redtail in the battle with RiverClan." Fireheart explained, and Bluestar frowned at his statement.
"A warrior would NEVER kill another of his Clan, even you should know that. You've lived with us long enough." Bluestar meowed, her tail swishing from side to side, as she stared at Fireheart again.
"Tigerclaw reported that it was RiverClan's deputy, Oakheart, who killed Redtail, Ravenpaw must be mistaken. Did he actually see Tigerclaw kill Redtail?" Bluestar asked, and Fireheart sighed softly and replied after a short pause.
"He said he did." Fireheart meowed, and Bluestar gave a long, drawn-out sigh before she spoke up once more.
"You know that be saying this, you are questioning Redtail's homer. This would mean he was the cat responsible for Oakheart's death. One depuity would NEVER kill another in battle, not if it can possibility be avoided. And Redtail was the most honorable warrior I have ever known." Bluestar meowed, frowning slightly as she curled her tail around her paws.
"I can not account for Redtail's actions, I only know that Ravenpaw truly believes Tigerclaw was responsible for Redtail's death." Fireheart explained, raising his gaze to stare at the night sky as he spoke.
"We all I know that Ravenpaw had a vivid imagination, he was badly injured in the battle and and he left before the fighting was over. Can you be sure he didn't fill in the parts he'd missed?" Bluestar asked, and Fireheart was about to open his mouth to speak, but Tigerclaw suddenly appeared in the clearing.
"Their waiting for you at the border." Tigerclaw informed Bluestar, who merely nodded her head.
"Tell them I'll be there in a moment." Bluestar says, and Tigerclaw nodded.
"Very well Bluestar." Tigerclaw replied, walking back towards the borders of Fourtrees.
"Should we bring Ravenpaw back to the Clan?" Fireheart asked, and Bluestar shook her head.
"He's probably happier where he is now, we will let the Clan carry on believing he is dead. Tigerclaw is a great warrior, but he is very proud. It'll be easer for him to accept that his apprentice died in battle, rather then that he ran away. And it will be better for Ravenpaw too." Bluestar says, and Fireheart nods his head.
"Because Tigerclaw might go looking for him?" Fireheart asks, and Bluestar shook her head.
"No, Tigerclaw may be ambitious but he is not a murder, Ravenpaw will be better remembered as a dead hero then a live coward." Bluestar meowed, and with that, the two ThunderClan cats made their way to Fourtrees, where the other Clan's were waiting.
"Hay look, the ShadowClan cats are looking stronger then I thought they would, after all Brokenstar did leave them half starved." Graystripe remarked, as he stared at the ShadowClan cats.
"You're right." Fireheart replied, glancing over at the ShadowClan cats, then he glanced back to Graystripe.
"Mind you, we did most of their fighting for them." Graystripe said, flicking his tail at the ShadowClan cats.
"The ShadowClan cats fought as hard as we did to chase out Brokenstar, you should honor their determination to recover. Pay attention now, the leaders are about to speak." Whitestorm meowed, and Fireheart and Graystripe nodded and turned to listen to the Clan leaders.
'Is Nightpelt leader of ShadowClan now?' Fireheart wondered to himself as he stared up at the older ShadowClan cat.
"ThunderClan brings to this gathering our new medicine cat, Yellowfang. We also bring two newly named warriors, Fireheart and Graystripe." Bluestar meowed, getting the attention of the other Clan cats.
"I, Nightpelt have taken over the leadership of ShadowClan. Our former Leader, Brokenstar, broke the Warrior Code and we were forced to chase him out." Nightpelt explained to the watching cats as murmurs broke out from the crowd of gathered cats.
"The spirits of our ancestors have spoken to Runningnose, and chosen me as leader. I have not yet traveled to Mothermouth to receive StarClan's gift of nine lives, but I will make this journey tomorrow night when the moon is still full. After my Vigel at the Moonstone, I shall be known as Nightstar." Nightpelt meowed, and Bluestar nods her head.
"Where is Brokenstar now?" Sandpaw asked, speaking up for the first time.
"Yeah, where exactly is he?" Longtail chimed in, flicking his tail from side to side.
"I think, we can assume that he has left the forest, with the other vanished warriors. He know's that it will be dangerous for him to try to return." Nightpelt told the gathered cats, and Crookedstar was the next to begin speaking.
"Let's hope that Brokenstar has the Sense to leave the forest for good, his greed for territory threatened us all. While Brokenstar was ShadowClan's leader, I allowed him to hunt in our river. But now ShadowClan has a new leader, and this agreement can no longer stand, the pray in our river belongs to RiverClan alone." Crookedstar meowed, flicking his tail as he stared at Nightpelt.
"ShadowClan has the same needs as it did under Brokenstar, we have many mouths to feed Crookedstar. You made an agreement with the whole of ShadowClan." Nightpelt meowed, lashing his tail as he glared at the RiverClan leader.
"ShadowClan has suffered many losses recently, with fewer mouths to feed Nightpelt, do you really need RiverClan's fish?" Bluestar inquired, tilting her head to the side as she stared at Nightpelt.
"You have just driven out your leader and several of your strongest warriors, Brokenstar went against the Warrior Code when he forced RiverClan to share the river. You have not yet Received your nine lives from StarClan, Nightpelt. Are you so sure you you make those demands?" Bluestar continued, now the ThunderClan leader was staring at both Nightpelt and Crookedstar.
"I... Uhh..." Nightpelt trailed off, not knowing how to respond to Bluestar's statement.
"We all know ShadowClan has suffered much these past few moons. ThunderClan has agreed to leave you in peace until you have had time to recover. I'm sure that Crookedstar will agree to show you the same respect." Bluestar meowed, nodding to to both Nightpelt and Crookedstar. Nightpelt sighed softly as he stared at Crookedstar.
"But only as long as ShadowClan is not putting there scent on our territory." Crookedstar meowed, giving a glair in Nightpelt's direction.
"You won't scent us Crookedstar, Bluestar is right, we don't need your fish. After all, we have the uplands to hunt in now that WindClan has left their territory." Nightpelt meowed, and Crookedstar nodded in agreement.
"That's true, this will mean extra pray for all of us." Crookedstar meowed, and Bluestar was the next to speak up.
"No! WindClan must return." Bluestar hissed, clenching her claws against the tree branch that she stood upon.
"Why?" Crookedstar asked, tilting his head in confusion as he stared up at Bluestar.
"If we share WindClan's hunting grounds, it will mean more food for all of our kits." Nightpelt meowed, staring up at Bluestar, who shook her head at both of them.
"The forest needs four Clans, just as we have four trees and four seasons. StarClan has given us FOUR Clans. We must find WindClan as soon as possible and bring them home." Bluestar reminded them, lashing her tail and giving a pointed glair at both Nightpelt and Crookedstar.
"Your argument is week, Bluestar. Do we really need four seasons? Wouldn't you rather go without Leaf-bear and the cold and hunger it brings?" Crookedstar meowed, staring at Bluestar who held back a frustrated sigh.
"StarClan gave us Leaf-bear to let the earth recover and prepare for Newleaf, this forest and the uplands have supported four Clans for generations. It is not up to us to challenge StarClan." Bluestar meowed, giving a frustrated sigh as she stared at Crookedstar.
"Why should we go hungry for the sake of a Clan that can't even defend it's territory?" Leopardfur hissed, lashing her tail.
"Hold your Tongue Leopardfur. Bluestar is right, WindClan must return." Tigerclaw snapped, glaring at the RiverClan deputy.
"Crookedstar, RiverClan's hunting grounds are known for there richness, you have the river and all the fish it contains. Why do you need extra party? And Nightpelt, it was Brokenstar who drove WindClan from their home, that is why ThunderClan helped you chase him out. So they could come home." Bluestar meowed, and Nightpelt sighed but he nodded his head in agreement with Bluestar's statement.
"Very Well, Bluestar. We will allow WindClan to return." Nightpelt meowed, sighijg softly as he stared at the ThunderClan leader.
"So it is agreed, WindClan will be found and brought home. Until then, no Clan should hunt on their territory, meeting dismissed. C'mon ThunderClan, it's time we returned to camp." Bluestar meowed, and the ThunderClan cats began to head back in the direction of their camp.
"Until WindClan's back, there's no reason we should let all the pray go to waist." Crookedstar meowed, looking at Nightpelt who nodded in agreement.
"I'm with you there, I'm willing to split the territory fifty-fifty with you. If ThunderClan's to proud, it's there loss." Nightpelt meowed, and Crookedstar nodded to Nightpelt.
"Are ShadowClan and RiverClan allying? How can they side with RiverClan after all we did to drive out Brokenstar.' Fireheart thought to himself, with a confused frown forming in his face. He then turned and followed the rest of is Clanmates back to camp.
"What's the news?" Dustpaw asked, once the other ThunderClan cats had returned.
"Was ShadowClan there?" Willowpelt asked, flicking her tail and staring at Bluestar.
"Yes, they were. There was much tension between the Clan's tonight, and possibly a new allegiance between Crookedstar and Nightpelt." Bluestar inform them, sighing softly and curling her tail across her front paws.
"What are they talking about? I thought Nightpelt agreed with Bluesrar?" Graystripe whispered to Fireheart, who just flicked his ears.
"Nightpelt?" Question an old white she-cat with one visible eye.
"He has been named ShadowClan's new leader." Bluestar explained.
"But his name, hasn't he been accepted by StarClan yet?" The old she-cat asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"He plans to travel to the Moonstone tomorrow night." Tigerclaw answered the she-cat's question.
"No leader can speak for their Clan at a gathering without StarClan's approval first." The old she-cat meowed, tilting her head in confusion.
"He has the support of ShadowClan, One-eye. We cannot ignore what he said tonight, at the gathering I suggested we find WindClan and bring them home. But, Crookedstar and Nightpelt don't want them to return."
"They're highly unlikely to join forces though, they almost had it out for tonight for hunting rights in the river." Graystripe chimed in, staring at his Clanmates.
"Didn't you see the looks they were swapping by the end of the meeting? Thery're both desperate to get their paws on WindClan territory." Fireheart pointed out, flicking his ears and twitching his tail.
"But, why?" Dustpaw asked, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"I suspect ShadowClan is not as week as we thought they'd be. And Nightpelt seems to have more ambition then any cat expected." Whitestorm explained, and the other cats looked to one another.
"But why does RiverClan want to hunt in WindClan's hunting grounds? They have always grown fat on the fish from their Precious river. The uplands are a long way to go for a few wind-blown rabbits." Willowpelt remarks, twitching her tail back and forth.
"At the gathering, some of the RiverClan elders spoke of Twolegs taking over part of the river." A black tom with amber eyes spoke up, from beside Sandpaw.
"That's right, they say Twolegs have been living in shelters beside the river, disturbing the fish. The RiverClan cats had to hide bushes, and watch them with empty stomaches." Sandpaw explained, and Bluestar was the next to speak.
"For now we be careful to nothing that may bring ShadowClan and RiverClan closer together. Go and rest now, Runningwind and Dustpaw, you will take the dawn patrol." Bluestar meowed, and Dustpaw nodded to the ThunderClan leader.
"Tyws Bluestar." Dustpaw meowed, and with those final words, the other ThunderClan cats headed into their dens to sleep for the night.
"Fireheart, wake up." Graystripe meowed, an Fireheart slowly sat up.
"Why? We not on patrol." Fireheart meowed, blinking in confusion as he stared at Graystripe.
"Bluestar wants to see us in her den, now." Graystripe meowed, and Fireheart nodded and the two warriors quickly scrambled out of the warriors den to go meet with Bluestar.
"You two! Took you you long enough! Bluestr's waiting inside." Tigerclaw meowed, flicking his tail back and forth in annoyance.
"Sorry Tigerclaw." Fireheart meowed, apologizing to the older warrior, who jut flicked his tail. Fireheart sighed softly as he entered Bluestar's den with Graystripe following close behind.
"Fireheart, Graystripe, I have an important mission for you." Bluestar meowed, staring at the two cats in front of her.
"A mission?" Fireheart meowed, blinking in surprise as Bluestar continued speaking.
"I want you to find WindClan and bring them back to their territory." Bluestar explained, and Tigerclaw was the next to speak.
"Before you get to excited, bare in mind this could be very dangerous. We don't know where WindClan has gone, so you will have to follow what is left of their scent. Probably into hostel territory." Tigerclaw meowed gruffly, and Fireheart and Graystripe both nodded.
"But you've been through WindClan territory, when you traveled with me to the Moonstone. Their scent will be familiar to you, as will the Twoleg territory beyond the uplands." Bluestar meowed, flicking her tail and staring at both Fireheart and Graystripe.
"Will it just be us?" Firehear asked, and Tigerclaw was the one who answered.
"Our other warriors are needed here, Leaf-bare is coming. And we need to gather as much Fresh-kill as possible, many pray scares moons lie ahead." Tigerclaw meowed, and Bluestar spoke up next.
"Tigerclaw will help you prepare for the journey, you must leave as soon as possible. Good luck." Bluestar meowed urgently, and Fireheart and Graystripe nodded again.
"We'll find them, we won't let you down Bluestar." Graystripe meowed, and with those final words, the two warriors left Bluestar's den.
"Do you remember how to get to WindClan territory?" Tigerclaw asked them, and Graystripe nodded.
"Oh yess, Tigercla. We were just there." Graystripe meowed, and Fireheart gave him a pointed look.
"A few moons ago." Fireheart meowed, and Graystripe gave Fireheart a pointed look.
"And you recall WindClan's scent?" Tigerclaw inquired, and Graystripe nodded again.
"Uh-huh, we're good to go." Graystripe meowed, and Tigerclaw nodded.
"You will need herbs for strength and too keep your hunger away, fetch them from Yellowfang before you leave. And don't forget that Nightpelt is planing to travel to the Moonstone tonight, keep well out of his way." Tigerclaw meowed, and Fireheart and Graystripe both nodded.
"Yes, Tigerclaw." Fireheart meowed, nodding to the older warrior.
"He'll never know we're out there." Graystripe meowed confidently and Tigerclaw nodded and flicked his tail.
"As I would expect, now go." Tigerclaw ordered, and the two younger warriors nodded.
"He could've wished us good luck." Graystripe complained, and Fireheart just shook his head.
"He probably thinks we don't need it." Fireheart muttered dryly, and Graystripe gave a soft sigh.
'Tigerclaw seems to be treating us with as much respect as he would any warrior, is possible that he isn't the trailer Ravenpaw thought?' Fireheart wondered, as he followed after Graystripe to fetch the traveling herbs they needed.
"Yellowfang, we've come for traveling herbs." Graystripe called, and the old dark gray she-cat pattered our of the medicine den.
"Where are you going?" Yellowfang inquired, tilting her head in curiosity as she stared at Fireheart and Graystripe.
"We've gotta find WindClan and bring them home." Fireheart told her, and Yellowfang's eyes shined with pride.
"Your first warrior mission, congratulations. I will fetch the herbs you will need." Yellowfang meowed, and headed back into the medicine den to fetch the traveling herbs.
Yellowfang emerged from the medicine den with the he herbs clutched in her jaws, she laughed quietly as she set them in front of the two cats.
"Ha! Enjoy." Yellowfang snickered, noticing the discussed looks on both of their faces.
Ugh! Just as bad as last time." Graystripe meowed, licking the top of his mouth to get rid of the bitter taste.
"Uh-huh." Fireheart meowed, nodding in agreement as he licked the top of his mouth to get rid of the bitter taste.
"C'mon, let's get going Fireheart. Bye Yellowfang." Graystripe meowed as he ran on ahead.
"Wait for me!" Fireheart called, as he ran after his friend.
"Good bye, and good luck youngsters." Yellowfang called, as she watched them go with an amused smile on her face.
"Oh, sorry." Fireheart meowed, as he backed away from Sandpaw, who just blinked and stared at him.
"I hear you two are going on a mission." Whitestorm meowed, and Fireheart nodded.
"Yep." Fireheart meowed, and Whitestorm spoke up again after a few moments of silane.
"Then may you have StarClan's protection." Whitestorm meowed, and Fireheart and Graystripe nodded their thanks.
"What for? Are you off to catch voles?" Sandpaw asked, tilting her head in confusion as she stared at Whitestorm.
"Their going on a special mission to save WindClan." Runningwind whispered into Sandpaw's era.
"What? No fair!" Sandpaw complained as she lashed her tail back and forth in annoyance.