The possibilities of what could happen when he entered Clan territory again spun in Fireheart's head. He had only been here the night prior but it had felt safer then, it had been safer. There was less to worry about; most cats were asleep at that time if they were not guarding the camp. They did not need to worry as much about patrols last night. Now, there would be patrols out, more than he was used to seeing when he had been a ThunderClan warrior. More cats than he was used to. He could run into one of them at any time.
If he did, where would he go? It wasn't like he could cross into ShadowClan or RiverClan territory, his only escape would be back into the Twolegplace or WindClan territory. WindClan was a hostile enemy as well, most of the cats there had been ready to tear his throat out the last time they had interacted. He didn't doubt their threats.
His mind went to Sandstorm. How was she fairing after last night? Had Tigerstar found out about their meeting? It made him nervous to think that the she-cat might have to face the consequences of their meeting alone. Although, Sandstorm was smart. She was a skilled cat and had she been followed, Sandstorm most likely would have been aware of it. He hoped that she would keep safe until their next meeting. He wasn't sure what he would do if something happened to the pale ginger she-cat.
Fireheart opened his mouth, letting the scent around him overcome his senses. He couldn't smell any fresh cat , that was good. The orange tom jumped into the small stretch of grass, landing neatly between the Twolegplace and where the forest started.
He eyed the thickets of brambles as he walked towards the forest line, watching for any sort of movement. Any moment he could stumble across a cat, someone could be watching him and he might not figure it out.
Once he had gotten to the closest tree, Fireheart jumped on to the trunk, digging his claws into its bark as he climbed into the branches. It would be easier to avoid the TigerClan cats from above rather than dealing with the forest floor. He, however, still needed a way to cover his scent.
The orange tom turned in the direction of the Thunderpath, leaping into the next tree. The Thunderpath would disguise his scent well enough, he could at least make it to Fourtrees before he had to get out of the trees and continue along it on the ground. If he got to WindClan territory, he could deal with them. It would be a lot better than dealing with TigerClan.
Fireheart moved as quietly and swiftly as he could through the trees. Leaving Tallpines behind him and entering the other part of ThunderClan territory. The disgusting scent of the Thunderpath hit him before he saw it, he stopped in his travel as he got close to the black stuff.
Fireheart looked out over the opening in the forest that had the Thunderpath, he watched as a dark blue monster roared down the path. As the creature moved quickly by, its piercing roar faded away. The sound of movement below him caught Fireheart's attention.
He froze, a tense feeling coming to his chest. How visible was he from below? What if whatever was beneath him looked up? Would he be spotted? Fireheart slowly looked at the ground below him. At the foot of the tree, was a rabbit.
Fireheart relaxed as he watched the creature obliviously rise onto its hind paws and run a forepaw over its face. This was the best thing it could have been, the ginger tom crouched on the branch he was on, watching the brown creature.
Fireheart felt his stomach groan and his mouth watered, he could smell its scent faintly through the stench of the Thunderpath and it reminded him that he hadn't eaten since he left the barn. He could catch the prey creature easily right now. Drop from the tree and land on the unaware animal, kill it swiftly. It would be quick enough where he could do it to the rabbit not making a noise, he could drag it back up into the tree to eat it undisturbed.
As Fireheart peered down at the creature, considering whether or not to risk catching it and how good it would be to sink his teeth into the rabbit, a movement from across the small clearing below him caught his attention. A dark shape moved rapidly across the clearing towards the rabbit.
The rabbit barely had any time to react as the shape came over it. It let out a screech as the cat pinned it to the forest floor, biting the back of its neck quickly. Fireheart stared down at the cat below him, holding his breath. His heart beat rapidly against his chest as he realized who the cat below him was.
Tigerstar raised his head, the dead creature dangling in his jaws. The feeling of dread formed in Fireheart's chest as he watched the tabby below him. His legs trembled as his vision was beginning to blur. Fireheart took deep breaths as he steadied himself, he couldn't do this right over the tabby tom. Fear filled his mind. What happened if the TigerClan leader looked up? If he smelled Fireheart? The Thunderpath seemed to be doing a decent enough job as it was concealing both cats' scents. Tigerstar did not indicate being aware of Fireheart. He was fine, he was safe for now.
If he had gone for the rabbit like he considered, he would have leaped into Tigerstar's paws, literally. He had no sense that the other cat had been there. How long had he been there? Fireheart dug his claws into the branch below him, taking a deep breath to steady himself, this was fine. He could move on without the TigerClan leader noticing him.
Fireheart felt a flash of anger as he looked back to the cat below him, this cat was the reason so many others were dead. Redtail, Bluestar, Stonefur, and most recently, Cinderpelt. He tore the bark in the branch below him with his claws angrily. This was the cat that tormented and humiliated him for so many moons, turned ThunderClan against Fireheart and convinced them that he had committed Tigerstar's crimes.
An idea occurred to the ginger tom, he gazed around the small clearing, looking for any sign of a patrol. There were no other cats present. It was just him and Tigerstar and Tigerstar did not know he was there. He could drop down on the dark tabby. The other cat had strength over Fireheart, but Fireheart had the advantage of surprise over Tigerstar. He could kill him.
No, Fireheart pushed away that thought almost as quickly as it occurred. If he killed the tabby like this, he would be no better than him. Anyway, it was not like it would matter. Tigerstar would come back to life, it was highly unlikely that the TigerClan cat had lost any of his lives and even if he had lost one, Fireheart would only be taking another.
If he killed Tigerstar, if Fireheart made sure to take each of his lives, he would be exactly what the ThunderClan cats thought of him; the cat who killed their leader in cold blood. He did not want to be seen as a cold-blooded killer. It was one thing to kill in battle, another to kill in an ambush. Killing Tigerstar like this would bring him to the same level as the tabby tom.
He watched as Tigerstar dragged the rabbit out of the clearing. From his vantage point, Fireheart could still see the other cat. He wasn't heading in the direction of ThunderClan camp, nor was he headed in the direction of the new TigerClan camp. This piqued Fireheart's curiosity, where could the tom be headed?
Fireheart glanced at the Thunderpath. If he left the scent of the terrible thing behind, his scent might be picked up on. He looked back to Tigerstar, he was moving further away. He couldn't let him get away.
Fireheart moved as quietly as he could through the trees after the TigerClan leader, a few times he brushed against some leaves and would freeze. Waiting to see the tabby's reaction. Only once did he respond to it, sweeping the area around him with his amber gaze. Fireheart moved quickly further up into the tree; he heaved a sigh of relief as he wasn't spotted.
Tigerstar moved on, heading to Snakerocks. Why would the tom come here of all places? This puzzled Fireheart as he watched the Clan leader move among the rocks. If Tigerstar wanted to eat the rabbit, he could have it anywhere but Snakerocks, there was no reason to be here. Tigerstar disappeared behind a few rocks.
If Fireheart wanted to continue to follow him, he would need to get out of the trees. He hesitated a moment before backing off the branch and down the tree. The orange tom moved forward cautiously as he followed the path the TigerClan leader had taken, careful to watch out for the snakes this pile of rocks was known for and not to knock any rocks in his route.
As he continued, the scent of dog overcame Fireheart. Fear shot through the orange tom as he looked around for the source of the smell. What had happened to Swiftpaw and Brightheart flashed through his mind. He couldn't see any dogs, but their smell overpowered any other scent around him.
It took Fireheart a moment to find the TigerClan leader's scent again, it was faint, covered by the stench of dogs. As he continued to follow it, the dog scent grew stronger, fresher. He couldn't see the source of the scent and he had lost sight of Tigerstar. His pelt twitched nervously, what if Tigerstar had realized he was being followed? Was he leading Fireheart towards the dogs on purpose?
It took him a few moments before he spotted the tabby again, he had dragged the rabbit in front of a larger cave. Placing it down, Tigerstar turned and leaped up on a taller boulder. Fireheart moved quickly behind a stone he was near, Tigerstar would not be able to see him from his vantage point, but Fireheart could see the scene in front of him. He cautiously peered out towards the freshkill. What was Tigerstar doing, bringing the rabbit here? What purpose did it serve?
His questions were answered when a giant head came out of the cave, the ginger cat let out a startled gasp as he watched the creature. He could only see its front end but Fireheart could tell this was the largest dog he had ever seen. The black and brown creature stuck its brown muzzle out towards the rabbit, sniffing it before grabbing the rabbit and backing into the cave with its enormous black paws. Excited barking came from the cave. There must have been multiple of them! From the sound, at least three or four dogs were barking. Fear filled Fireheart as he realized, the lone dog he had seen was a threat, if the others were the same, what was inside seemed to be an unstoppable force.
Cinderpelt was wrong, Fireheart realized, the dogs that attacked Swiftpaw and Brightheart weren't being brought in by Twolegs. They were living on ThunderClan territory and the leader of TigerClan was feeding them. Why was he dong this? These dogs had killed one apprentice and maimed another. They could easily do it again, to warriors this time. To any cat. The dogs could find camp if they were so pleased. There had to be some sort of motivation behind what Tigerstar was doing.
Fireheart took a step back, dislodging a rock that had been beneath his paw. He felt as though his heart had stopped as he watched, terrified as it tumbled down the slope, dislodging more rocks in its path. He froze where he stood, turning his gaze slowly away from the rocks that had just fallen and towards the other cat.
Amber eyes were looking right at him, Fireheart could hear his heart pounding. His vision was blurring, the ginger tom forced himself to breathe deeply. Tigerstar gave no sign that he could see him behind the large rock, but the TigerClan leader was aware of his presence. Tigerstar raised his nose to the air, taking in the scent around him. All Fireheart could smell was dog, he hoped that was what the tabby was smelling as well. He watched as Tigerstar jumped off the boulder and started to walk towards the rock, his tail twitching interestedly as he moved closer. It was time to go.
Fireheart bolted, dislodging more stones as he shot out from behind the boulder and past the view of the TigerClan leader. It was the most direct way to get to Fourtrees, it was either pass the Clan leader or turn back to Twolegplace. This was the best means of escape. A furious yowl rang out from the tom behind him as Fireheart fled through the undergrowth.
He could hear Tigerstar crashing through the vegetation after him, his heartbeat quickened as he pushed himself further. He stumbled as he came out of the forest and over the steep incline that led into the hollow around Fourtrees. Fireheart heard another – much closer – furious shriek behind him as claws dug into his haunches. Fear shot through the orange tom; Tigerstar had managed to leap on to him. His hind legs buckled under the larger cats' weight, he crashed into the ground with a thud. The ginger cat forced himself up against the other cat's weight.
Fireheart turned to face the TigerClan leader, lashing at the cats' face with one unsheathed forepaw. The brown tabby spat at him, sinking his teeth into the orange tom's back. Fireheart needed to get away, he couldn't risk a real fight with Tigerstar. He forced his back legs to spring up against the enemy warrior's weight, pushing back against Tigerstar's chest with his haunches. Fireheart kicked out with unsheathed paws, hitting the other cat's underbelly.
Fireheart felt the grip on his back weaken as he heard a gasp of pain. This was his chance. He raced towards Fourtrees, past the oaks and the Great Rock. He could hear the angry screech of the TigerClan leader behind him. He needed to get out of TigerClan territory. WindClan territory would be safer, they were hostile towards Fireheart but they were better than Tigerstar. Anything was better than him.
With a newfound burst of energy, Fireheart charged across the border into the other Clan's territory. As he hurled himself up the hill Fireheart heard a few yowls, he turned to see what was going on. Fireheart slowed his climb into the moors as he saw what was going on at the border.
A WindClan patrol had appeared, they hadn't seen the ginger tom. Rather the cats' attention was on Tigerstar, who had stopped a few fox lengths inside the WindClan border. Tigerstar was going to continue to follow him into the other Clan's territory? This was all much too close, his heart was still beating against his chest in fear. He was almost caught by the TigerClan leader, Fireheart thanked StarClan for the patrol.
The dark tabby was talking to the WindClan patrol now. They were surrounding him, fur bristled as they formed a barrier between Tigerstar and the rest of WindClan territory. This was his chance, none of the WindClan warriors were paying attention to him. It wouldn't take long for Tigerstar to shift their attention to him. He needed to leave. Fireheart turned away from the patrol and Tigerstar, heading across the moors quickly towards the farm.