Chapter 33

BushClan/Tumbleheart

The frosted forest was full of yowls and screams that echoed around her. Sharp teeth snapping just a hairs breadth from her tail as she whirled around. Her heart pounded against her ribcage as she reared onto her hind legs. Her green eyes wide as sharp golden amber eyes glared with hatred and hunger. The fox's lips were peeled back as they lashed a forelimb to bat her away with outstretched claws. Hissing, she took the blow, slamming into the ground heavily as she gasped for air. The fox pounced, it's jaws ripping into her flesh as she clawed feebly. Her strength was waning as fear bubbled up through her.

The cries of battle soon began to fade as a darkness that rivaled underground caverns took over her vision. Her paws slowly going still as her flanks heaved. Fear filled her, death was coming and she knew it. A roaring battle cry sounded much closer. Snapping her back into reality as a silver tabby tom slammed into the fox. Amber eyes glinting in the starlight as the young tom raked his claws through the fox's fur. She wasn't quite sure how old they were, but she knew they were much younger than herself. Yet, she quickly went into action, fighting with all her might along side them. A familiar scent wafted off of them, reminding her of FearClan.

Tumbleheart watched in awe as the young tom fought before a pair of young she-cats joined in. They looked ferocious, a brownish-gray tabby she-cat dug her claws into the fox. Golden amber eyes began to widen with fear and surprise as they turned away, running and tripping through a throng of cats and foxes with the young cats following. A familiar scent slipped by her as an older she-cat raced through after them, pale green eyes flashing for only a moment. Her flanks heaving, she struggled to pull herself to her paws. Unfamiliar soft fur wreathed around her, gentle jaws took hold of her scruff. Slowly, she was lifted from the earth, hanging as limply as a newborn kit.

Her vision was hazy as she breathed heavily through parted lips, a mist of her breath clouding around her muzzle as she felt her back paws brush the ground, her tail dragging through the icy snow. Lurching steps slowly brought her to a safe place cleared of snow and covered with leaves from bushes. Slowly she was laid down, her wounds exposed as she tried to escape the shock her body was going through. Tiny black seeds were placed near her, a soft whisper breathing to her in a warm and gentle tone. "Swallow this." The voice ordered and she obeyed without much question. Large, yet dainty paws worked swiftly along her flank.

Leaves crunched, round strange-smelling berries were rolled over to her head. Her eyes struggled to focus, they looked somewhat crumpled and wrinkled as she sniffed them. Pain flared, causing her to gasp as paws pressed down onto her before another order to eat came to her ears. Darkness encroached upon her, her eyes unfocused as they looked over the clearing, trying to see as any light she had been able to see slowly winked out. Nosing the ground, she ate the berries when she found them. They were sour and bitter on her tongue, but she swallowed what she managed to eat. Before she knew it darkness was all she knew for a very long time.

.

When Tumbleheart next woke, it was silent and cats were carrying her wounded body to camp. Her green eyes blinked blearily as she felt the tips of her paws touch the frosty ground. She felt a little stronger even as she looked over the shoulder of a Clan-mate. Whatever had happened felt like a dream. FearClan-cats coming to her rescue, she wasn't sure it truly happened. All she knew was the pounding in her heart, the way it pounded in her ears as she realized she had no idea where Rubypaw or Crowpaw were. Fear slowly fell over her as she lifted her head more and more. That was when the familiar and comforting scent reached her nose. The powerful and strong shoulders she could feel moving just a whisker from her own shoulders.

Rubypaw was carrying her, panting as he followed Crowpaw further ahead. Her fur felt sticky with both blood and some herbal salve that was a sign of what felt like a dark dream was actually real. Something pulled her to safety and took care of her. Soon the camp came into view, the barrier having large enough holes for them to pass through without a leaf brushing against her pelt. Her mind slowly racing at the horrific thought of many cats lying dead or missing. Slowly, flanks heaving, Rubypaw came to a stop and lowered himself so she could get off.

"Tumbleheart, your awake?" Crowpaw asked, seeming to be more relaxed now, "I was worried you might never wake up again."

Tumbleheart slowly got off, wincing at the pain she felt as she answered with a flick of her tail. "Well, I'm still here. I guess StarClan isn't ready to take me yet."

Rubypaw nodded, "You were breathing, but barely."

"I'm fine." she promised, limping slightly. "Did we chase out the foxes?"

Her father nodded, his pale green eyes gleaming in the dawn's light. "We did, all of us. Some FearClan-cats came and helped. One of them was injured badly, but Icepaw and Poppyclaw saw to him."

"Jasmine took the BloodClan Fragment-cats with them to make sure the injured tom survived." her apprentice explained, his green-yellow eyes flicking over her as she stretched carefully.

"I thought it was just a strange dream I had. I wish I could have seen them off." she whispered, starting to walk into the devastated camp. "I have so much to thank them for."

"Perhaps, but Maggot disappeared in the fight and one of our Clan." Crowpaw informed her. "I didn't know it was going to be this hard, let alone so terrifying."

"Battles against FearClan are like that." She admitted, worry trickling into her like the first fat drops of rain. She honestly hoped her father, a former kittypet, wouldn't leave her when she so desperately wanted him to stay. It was selfish of her, but it was hard to let go of the kin she had discovered so recently.

His pale green eyes gleamed, as though satisfied despite the scratches and bruises he may have now. "Then I will just have to learn from Morningstar even faster. I have to become better at fighting to really feel the same as Leaftail did."

Warmth spread through Tumbleheart, emotion tightening her throat and chest. Her father truly wanted to learn why her mother remained loyal and put himself in those paw-steps when he was too hurt and afraid to before. She nodded breifly, seeing the way his green eyes softened when they met her own.

"Especially to make sure my strong daughter makes her mother proud." Crowpaw added, his mew soft with a father's affection, "I know you must have many times over, but I will make sure you will have a long life to do so and always be by your side. That is my promise to you and Leaftail."

"Thank you." Tumbleheart whispered, blinking warmly. "I would never ask anything more or less of you. Even just trying to live with the Clan is enough for me."

Rubypaw nodded, "It's hard enough to adjust to, but I guess it is a life that is never meant to be easy."

"Never, but we have managed and that is always enough for us to live another day." she admitted, looking around the camp as the sun climbed higher and higher. "Looks like we will have a lot to clean up and fix."

"Yes, but the time when things will be growing is upon us." Rubypaw pointed out with a soft sigh. The clearing was full of debris, twigs, thorns, and leaves cluttered the ground. Splatters of blood stained the frosty ground, frozen earth gouged during the scuffle and even around the medicine burrow. Clearly things had gotten out of control at some point; the foxes having tried to battle their way through before somehow being bested by BushClan.

However it may have happened, it was over now and that was all that mattered. The injured were laid where leaves had been gathered for them to rest and heal while Icepaw worked her way through the warriors. Her blind pale indigo eyes glinting in the sunlight like they had the stars inside them. Her paws and pelt steaked with dried blood, even her usually pink nose was stained red. The young she-cat padding from patient to patient. Assessing injuries with her well-trained senses and letting warriors go to help rebuild the camp.

"Let's go join the line up." Rubypaw suggested, "It would be best, especially to make sure your injuries aren't as bad."

Tumbleheart nodded slowly, unsure if her wound would be able to handle the wait. "Let's hurry to join then." She had a feeling she was going to be confined to resting until her injury was healed enough to be able to help safely. Carefully and slowly, she limped over with Rubypaw and Crowpaw flanking her should she need help. Luckily, she didn't need it until they reached the line. Her father helped her lay down while Rubypaw waited impatiently.

She began to doze off before the medicine cat apprentice approached them. Her head lowered so she can pick her way carefully before lifting her head like the proud medicine cat she was bound to become soon enough. Her soft indigo eyes flicking to and fro as her whiskers trembled with each expert sniff. Her pupils were wide as though belonging to an innocent kit on a full moon night. At last, she nodded, letting Rubypaw and Crowpaw pass her inspection.

"You both probably feel worse then it looks. Some rest will help you, but let Poppyclaw look over your scratches to make sure none aren't too deep. I'm sure some oak leaf will be just fine in protecting you both from any infections." Icepaw advised, her mew warm with relief.

"Will do." Rubypaw promised.

Her father nodded as well, dipping his head slightly. "Please take good care of Tumbleheart though."

"The most I will have to do is probably redress her wounds." Icepaw pointed out, her nose twitching as she turned her blind gaze upon her. "Although, I have no idea how in the old forest you got them tended to."

Tumbleheart blinked, feeling just as mystified. "I honestly don't know myself. Something carried me like a kit and just tended to them. They even fed me some strange berries. They were dark in color, I couldn't quite make them out, but they gave it to me and ordered me to eat it."

Icepaw tipped her head to one side with soft trill of confusion. "How odd, perhaps it was a healer of the foxes? I know that medicine cats heal any cat no matter where they are from. So it can be possible that the foxes have their own rules and beliefs. It would be hard to say completely, but whomever they were, they were clearly looking out for you for some reason."

She could only wonder what it would mean to have something that wasn't a cat look out for her. Let alone having knowledge to use herbs and even tend to her as though she were one of their own kits. Looking down to her paws, she could only wonder how lucky she had been and just how and why she was rescued the way she was. Regardless, she sent her thank to StarClan for allowing her to be seen to somehow.

"You can rest right here," Icepaw suddenly spoke, "Twilightsky, Foxgaze, and Jaggedcloud had been injured pretty bad. Jaggedcloud is closer to a healthy warrior like Crowpaw and Rubypaw are. Not to mention Turtlepaw and Flamepaw are in excellent condition as well."

"And Morningstar?" Tumbleheart asked, her heart starting to pound at the thought of their beloved leader getting a horrible wound that killed him.

"He's fine. He isn't terribly injured, so we should be able to have fresh prey before we know it." Icepaw murmured, sounding confident as she began to pad away carefully, leaving Tumbleheart to hear the young she-cat mew to herself. "I know Bubblekit is ready to go back to the nursery, he is very lively these days and Pigeonstream is close behind him. The greencough is leaving our camp at last."

.

As the sun climbed, Tumbleheart rested, watching over the camp as Bubblekit was sent back to the nursery, where his mother, Minteye, and his litter-mates were waiting for him. It looked like a happy reunion where they chased each other as the apprentices finished cleaning the clearing. She had kept an eye to make sure no thorn was left out for a kit to trod on. Rubypaw and Crowpaw were giving it their all to clean up before they could hunt. Flamepaw and Turtlepaw were carefully arranging the debris and even sacrificing a tail or a paw to sweep up the thorns and twigs.

At last, as sun-high approached Morningstar appeared. The pale cream tom battered, bruised, but his golden eyes full of the shining light of the sun as he approached the small hill in the middle of the clearing. His powerful shoulders rippling even with his slight limp. His tail held tall and high as he reached the center. The cats resting lifted their heads as he began to speak, his meow being carried over the shattered remains of their camp wall.

"Cats of BushClan, the time has come for new warriors to be made. It is a moon over due, but I believe the extra training has been well worth it. I have discussed with Twilightsky and Icepaw and I have agreed with them both. Flamepaw, step forward to the Meeting Hill."

On command, the russet tabby apprentice padded forward, his amber eyes glowing with pride as he strode forward. His half-tail kept low, but the tip was slightly curled towards the sky, a small glisten was within his eyes. She supposed, like herself, Flamepaw was wondering if his mother, Gingerstrike, was watching from StarClan.

"I, Morningstar, leader of BushClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in their turn." Morningstar's meow carried across the hushed clearing strongly, his golden eyes resting upon Flamepaw with a gentle gaze despite the stoic air around them. "Flamepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Flamepaw answered, his mew trembling slightly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Flamepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Flametuft. StarClan honors your resilience and courage, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BushClan."

With great care, their leader rested his head upon the newly made warrior's head, who returned the gesture with a lick of gratitude and respect upon Morningstar's shoulder. Morningstar lifted his head, allowing Flametuft to step back, his legs seeming to be trembling with the weight of the virtues he was noted for. Tumbleheart was positive it was how he had quickly learned to adapt to the loss of his tail and how he defended their Clan already. She felt proud of him, almost as though she was his litter-mate herself.

"Flametuft! Flametuft!" the Clan-cats began to call, energy fizzing back into the limbs and bodies around them.

Their leader closed his eyes, taking in the moment for a heartbeat before snapping his golden gaze open to silence his Clan-mates. He raised his voice, catching their attention once more. "There is one more apprentice we have to make a warrior. Jaggedcloud, are you certain Turtlepaw is ready?"

"More then ready." Jaggedcloud called back, her yellow eyes bright and eager for another ceremony to take place.

Morningstar nodded, looking to Turtlepaw, beckoning her forward with a flick of his tail. "Very well, come. It is time."

Swiftly the young fluffy she-cat padded over, slowing down in an instant to walk with a moment's pride. She nodded to the leader as she took her seat before him, her fluffy tail curled around her white forepaws. Taking the hint, the cream tom rose his gaze to the sky once more.

"I, Morningstar, leader of BushClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in their turn." He lowered his gaze, resting it upon the tortoiseshell and white she-cat before him. "Turtlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." she replied, her mew sounding strong despite how softly she had spoken.

Morningstar blinked warmly as he spoke up once more. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Turtlepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Turtlesplash. StarClan honors your dedication and compassion, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BushClan."

Their leader repeated the same piece of the ceremony as well as Turtlesplash following the tradition of licking his shoulder fur. They had two more warriors, cats who could hunt and hold vigil to keep them safe while Pigeonstream recovered from his ailment. Already newleaf was beginning to feel like peace was on the horizon. As the camp busied itself around her, she took note of how Poppyclaw was keeping watch for danger while the Clan itself recovered.

His expression was one in thought, his amber eyes gazing into the thin-tree forest silently. She could only imagine what was going on in their medicine cat's mind. Especially since the half-moon wouldn't be too far away. No warrior truly knew what a medicine cat would be doing at the Moonstone, but they did know it was a mysterious place that only the leader goes to receive their nine lives. Aside from that, they usually had the medicine cat consult with their ancestors as it would be safer since FearClan had no respect for them or their beliefs.

Yet, two warriors weren't going to keep them sustained. Even with Rubypaw and Crowpaw hunting with Morningstar, it left them vulnerable. Glancing to the nursery, she wondered if the queens would willingly leave their kits to stretch their legs to hunt along with the others. Would the elder's even still have their hunting skills? She was worried it wouldn't be of any use and their Clan would fall apart far too soon.

Author Note:

Finally, after working on and off for so long, I got this chapter finished! Huzzah!
It is a little over 3,000 words which was not what I was working for. xD I just wanted to finally make some warriors because BushClan is so freaking tiny! There was only five warriors and I needed to make it into seven so that there is some cats to take care of their injured Clan-mates.
I should have known better then to make their Clan so small, but I just figured with them constantly battling FearClan, they wouldn't have that many warriors. It really stretches them thin, but thank goodness, they have not only fresh blood, but new warriors on the way.

If Drizzlepaw had lived I probably would have named him Drizzleheart (if he was unharmed) or Drizzlespirit (if he was harmed and survived). So I think Drizzlespirit would be his official StarClan Warrior name in my AU. If he was never kidnapped in the first place Drizzlestep or Drizzlespeckle would be names I would consider for him.

Thank you all for reading, have a fantastic day/night. - Nightsky