"You killed him! You killed him!" Fireheart felt the pressure that was holding him down lessen as Bramblepaw continued to snarl at his father, "You killed Gorsepaw!" The warrior forced himself free from the two TigerClan warriors hold. Blackfoot and Dustpelt seemed to hardly realize as they watched what was occurring. All the TigerClan warriors seemed to be frozen with shock.
Fireheart moved towards the two toms quickly, Tigerstar was staring up at his son, eyes wide. Bramblepaw's claws were unsheathed and dug into the other cat's pelt. He raised one unsheathed paw, his lip curled back as he hissed in his father's face.
Fear filled Fireheart, Tigerstar could easily kill this half-trained apprentice if it came to it. "Bramblepaw!" Fireheart moved quickly over to them, grabbing the apprentice by his scruff and hauling him off before placing himself between them. His mind raced. Why was Bramblepaw here? He was supposed to be back in camp. He must have snuck out after hearing what Cloudtail said. He felt a flash of anger as the apprentice began to move around him. Fireheart snarled, "Get back now!"
Fireheart's chest was growing tight. His vision blurring. He growled at Bramblepaw, "Why are you here? Get back to camp."
Fury lit up Bramblepaw's amber eyes. "I can fight! Let me fight! He killed Gorsepaw!"
"I know. We all know. Get out of here, you foolish kit!" Fireheart's head was beginning to feel full of fog again. Why hadn't he listened to Fireheart's order? He should have had someone watch Bramblepaw. "Go back to camp, now!"
"Bramblepaw?" Fireheart recognized Tawnypaw's voice. He turned to see the tortoiseshell apprentice moving towards them, green eyes round.
"Tawnypaw!" Bramblepaw moved away from Fireheart, towards his sister. The tension worsened in the warrior's chest.
"Bramblepaw, no. I'm so sorry, but you can't." The apprentice stopped in his tracks at his mentor's order, looking back at him. There was a feeling of guilt forming as Fireheart growled, "Go back to camp."
Bramblepaw looked ready to protest, when Tawnypaw spoke, her voice filled with disbelief. "We thought you were dead."
"You." Fireheart felt a twinge of fear as he heard the snarl from Tigerstar, "You stole my son! You crowfood eating lump of filth! I am going to make you suffer for this!" He looked back at the brown tom, a smoldering rage had lit up in his amber eyes as he stalked a few paces closer.
"I'm not the one that left his kit in a fire!" Fireheart spat back. He moved back towards Bramblepaw, pushing him further away from his father as he curled his tail protectively over the young toms' back. Tigerstar let out a hiss and his claws unsheathed. Fireheart glanced at the apprentice, "Bramblepaw get back to camp."
"No!" Tawnypaw exclaimed, "Bramblepaw come back to TigerClan with us! You don't have to listen to him! Come home."
"Yes," Tigerstar growled, "Come home with your sister and me." His gaze had left Fireheart, looking at his son instead. "I'll take care of this pile of fox dung and then we can bring you home." The tightness in Fireheart's chest grew, would Bramblepaw go with TigerClan? Tigerstar was right, he had stolen the apprentice. If he went with them, he would be reunited with his kin. He would be able to live out his life with them and leave this all behind. There would be no more hiding. No more running.
"You want me to go with you?" Fireheart could feel the apprentice shaking with fury. Bramblepaw swallowed stiffly, trying to control his anger before he growled, "You want me to go with you? After everything you've done? After you murdered Gorsepaw? I'd sooner die."
"After everything I've done?" Tigerstar spat, "You believe the lies this half-blind traitor has told you?"
Bramblepaw snarled, moving to go around Fireheart who quickly got in his way. "I just watched you kill him!"
"Because his Clan is siding with this pathetic excuse for a cat. His Clan needed to see that they need to make the right decision and his death will show them that." Fireheart felt Bramblepaw freeze at those words. He heard the apprentice let out a low growl, Fireheart pressed back against him, giving a warning hiss. Tigerstar's furious gaze shifted to Fireheart, "What have you done to my son?"
"I saved his life!"
"I'd rather he had died than follow you." Tigerstar took a step towards them both.
"This is your son!" Tigerstar could not be serious, could he? He had just found out that Bramblepaw was alive and he said that? Every bit of fear Fireheart had ever felt for this cat was gone. Now there was a burning rage.
"And you've corrupted him!" The tabby's hackles rose as he spat back.
Fireheart moved a step back. "Bramblepaw, go right now! I'll deal with this."
"But -"
Fireheart cut him off, snarling, "If you don't get back to camp this instant, StarClan help you." He kept his gaze on Tigerstar as he felt the apprentice move back from him. The blood in his ears was roaring as he let his claws unsheathe.
"You killed our leader," Tigerstar's eyes were glowing with rage as he spat, "You led a pack of dogs to WindClan, you turned my medicine cat against me, you tainted one of my warriors, you killed my deputy, and you turned my son away from me! I will destroy you!"
The large tabby launched himself at Fireheart with a screech, knocking him on to his side. Fireheart twisted, slashing at the other warrior's underbelly. Tigerstar spat, "I'm going to finish blinding you and claw you until there is no fur left on your body and then, and only then, am I going to kill you!"
Fireheart pushed the other cat up, moving out from under the larger tom and turning back to face him. There was a sudden clarity in his mind. The fog that would form was missing. Nothing mattered except what was happening right now. The cats around them did not matter. It was him and Tigerstar. That was it.
The tabby turned to face his opponent again, his lip was curled back as he threw himself at the other cat. Fireheart felt a pain in his shoulder as teeth sank in, claws followed on either side of him. He spat at the other warrior when he felt Tigerstar's teeth dig into his scruff.
He thrashed against the grip, swiping one forepaw out at the tom's leg. He dragged his claws down the leg as a paw was put to his head. He felt the prick of claws on the back of his skull. The teeth on his scruff disappeared as his head was slammed against the hardened ground beneath them. Fireheart saw white. Stunned by the blow, he remained still as Tigerstar dug his claws into his shoulder and flipped him onto his back.
He was looking into those amber eyes again, scorching with hatred. A paw was placed on his chest and another lifted into the air, long claws unsheathed. Tigerstar spat, "You are going to regret the day you were born, you blind pest!"
Fireheart started to struggle against the larger tom, spitting at him. He put his front paws against the other warriors' chest as he began to claw at Tigerstar's underbelly with his hind paws. The paw swung down and he moved his head to the side. Fireheart let out a screech of pain as the claws made contact with his face. It burned as the claws went across his eye and down across his muzzle. He snapped at the paw which was quickly jerked away from his teeth. Tigerstar let out a frustrated hiss.
Fireheart snarled, "Wrong eye."
Another hiss came from the TigerClan leader as he forced Fireheart's head to its other side. Fireheart saw that his teeth were borne as he raised his paw again. He growled, "Obey me and stay still!"
Fireheart willed himself to ignore the order, jerking his head as best he could against the paw on his face and kicking at his opponent's underbelly, claws raking across it with each blow. He could begin to feel the other cat's blood drip down his legs.
Tigerstar did not respond to this attack. How much of it was from the rage fueling the brown tabby or if it was the immense strength he had over Fireheart that kept him from moving away from the blows Fireheart delivered was unknown to him. This was a matter of life and death now. Any battle prior to this, it seemed Tigerstar had wanted Fireheart alive. Now he did not seem to care.
Fireheart's forepaws moved away from Tigerstar's chest; he dug his claws into the other cats' shoulders as the dark tabby made another slash for his face. Tigerstar let out a snarl, "kittypet!"
Fireheart pulled himself towards the other cat, causing the other tom to trip and fall towards him. The blow he tried to deliver hit the ground behind the smaller warrior. Fireheart turned his head as Tigerstar's blood-caked belly fur hit his own. Fireheart had no other choice; there was nothing else he could do. He opened his mouth and sank his teeth into the opposing warrior's throat.
He could feel the growl that Tigerstar produced as he tried to jerk away from the attack. Fireheart sank his teeth in further, not letting go of the hold he had on his throat. As the blood flow increased, the TigerClan leader's struggles became weaker.
Tigerstar collapsed slowly on top of Fireheart, gasping for air as he did. Fireheart forced him over, onto his back. He kept his jaw firmly shut around his throat, putting a paw on his opponent's chest as he laid the warrior down. The blood in Fireheart's ears was roaring.
Once he was certain there was no more struggle, Fireheart unlatched his jaw from Tigerstar's throat and lifted his head. He could feel the blood dripping from his muzzle and onto his chest as he stared down at the lifeless corpse beneath him. Tigerstar was dead but this did not feel like a victory. Fireheart had not truly won. This warrior that he had despised and feared for so many moons was now lifeless at his paws and yet it was not over. Fireheart felt numb.
For now, Tigerstar was dead. He would awaken soon thanks to the extra lives the leader had been gifted. Fireheart felt a flash of anger, why did StarClan have to give Tigerstar these? They knew what he was capable of and yet they made him leader. Why would they give him this power? It could have all been over if they had not.
And Fireheart would be in the same position he was already in, only this time it would have legitimacy. He would be the cat who murdered their leader.
He staggered away from the body, feeling lightheaded again as the tension in his chest returned. He could feel his legs shaking, the fear he had was returning. He felt sick, his stomach was churning terribly. The other toms scent filled his mouth and nose as well as the foul taste of his blood. Fireheart stopped in his stagger as he turned, crouching before he vomited.
Tigerstar would be furious once he awoke, Fireheart did not think he had it in him to fight him one more time. He did not think he could ever do that again. His vision began to blur as he forced himself to his paws, gazing at the cats which surrounded him. His gaze landed on golden fur. That had to be Leopardstar. He glared at her. Fireheart heard himself snarled, "Take him and leave. Right now!"
Silence answered him, every warrior seemed to be frozen. He could sense the horror from the surrounding warriors. Fireheart felt his fur bristle, he took a step towards Leopardstar. He roared, "Take him and leave!"
This jogged the warriors from their daze, the TigerClan cats began to move away from the others. He recognized that he had been talking to Leopardstar as she drew closer, followed by two warriors he could not make out. They padded hesitantly over to Tigerstar's body, shooting glances back at Fireheart.
Fireheart's gaze remained locked onto Leopardstar. "I did not kill her. He has done nothing but lie to you. Remember what I said."
Fireheart turned his attention to Gorsepaw before she could answer. Oh, Gorsepaw. I am so sorry. He limped over to the ginger and white body, licking the blood off his muzzle before lowering his head to the apprentice. He should have been able to stop this. Why had Tigerstar chosen the apprentice?
His eye was swollen shut and began to pulse as he stared blearily at the apprentice. The rage he had once felt was gone, replaced with an empty fear. He should have stopped this before it had even begun and now Tigerstar would be angrier than ever.
Tallstar's scent hit his nose. Fireheart turned to see the approaching cat. The WindClan leader came up on to his side and stopped, staring down at Gorsepaw. There were a few moments of silence between the two warriors before the older tom rasped.
"I told you to stay in camp."
"You told me to do what was necessary." Fireheart murmured, "You told me to protect your Clan." His ears went back, eye locked on Gorsepaw. He had promised Morningflower that he would bring her son back. A feeling of grief and guilt overcame him as he choked out, "I tried. I tried, but I failed. I couldn't save him." Fireheart touched his nose to the apprentice's pelt, "I am so sorry."
"His death is not on you." As Fireheart moved back from Gorsepaw, the leader touched his nose to the apprentices' pelt. His eyes closed.
Fireheart could hear more pawsteps, he turned to see it was Onewhisker. The brown warrior was wide-eyed as he stared at his apprentice. Fireheart moved away as he moved to Gorsepaw's side, touching his muzzle briefly to his friends' shoulder. When Onewhisker got to Gorsepaw, he pressed his muzzle against the young tom's side and murmured something Fireheart could not hear.
"We need to get back," Tallstar pulled his gaze away from the young tom. "We can grieve for him there, as a Clan." Onewhisker nodded, rising silently from his apprentice's side. There was a fire that had lit in the WindClan warriors' eyes, a burning rage towards the cat who had done this.
Fireheart asked hesitantly, "Can I help carry him?" He hoped Tallstar would agree. He had to bring Morningflower back her son. He had to and he had ruined it. He had failed to stop this meaningless death, but if nothing else he could carry Gorsepaw back.
"Do you think you can manage?" Tallstar asked, eying the ginger warrior. Fireheart nodded, the words he wanted to say trapped by his closed throat. He had to do this. After a moment's hesitation, Tallstar agreed.
The two warriors lifted up Gorsepaw between them, following Tallstar over to where the rest of the warriors were waiting. There was no more TigerClan left. They would be carrying a body back to camp as well, but it would be different. On the way back, Tigerstar will have come back to life. He would be furious, but he would survive. That was a lot more than Gorsepaw would ever get.
The tightness in Fireheart's chest increased as they went back to camp, he felt dizzy and each step was a struggle. What had occurred kept replaying in his mind and he kept having to blink to clear his vision.
When they had entered camp, a wail sounded.
Morningflower came rushing towards Onewhisker and Fireheart as they moved into the hollow. Her eyes were dull with grief as she moved with them towards the center of camp. The tortoiseshell she-cat murmured softly, "Oh Gorsepaw, Gorsepaw. My son, how could they do this?"
Another rush of guilt overcame Fireheart as they set down the apprentice, he should have done something more to stop this. He should have attacked Tigerstar. The apprentice would have gotten away, he could have fended off Tigerstar long enough for Gorsepaw to escape.
He watched as Morningflower crouched next to Gorsepaw, pressing her muzzle against his side. Onewhisker moved next to her, murmuring softly to her for a few moments before he pulled away, backing away from mother and son.
Fireheart limped forward steadily, he still felt dizzy. It was taking everything in him to keep his vision as clear as he could make it as well as the pressure in his chest seemed to be getting worse with each passing moment. He touched his nose to Morningflower's shoulder as he crouched next to her.
"Oh, Fireheart." Her voice was muffled, he could feel her press against him. "I never did thank you for saving my son."
Fireheart pressed back against her. "I am so sorry; I wish I could have done it again." He heard himself say, he should have been able to. He gave her ear a soothing lick and heard himself meow again. "He was growing into a great warrior."
As Fireheart pulled away from the grief-stricken Morningflower, he felt dizzier than ever. Everything was blurring and his chest was tighter than he could ever remember it being before. Barkface's scent hit his nose. He heard the medicine cats muffled meow, "Come over here, Fireheart. I need to have a look at that eye."
"What does it matter? I'm already blind." He heard his own voice respond. How was he speaking? He couldn't feel himself doing so.
"That doesn't mean it won't get infected, now sit still and let me have a look." Barkface's meow sounded far away as if he was speaking to Fireheart from across the clearing. He was sitting? When had he sat down?
"Fireheart, listen to him. Let him have a look at you." That was Sandstorm's voice, just as far away. Her scent hit his nose. Why couldn't he see her? Was she on his blind side? He wanted to see her.
"Sandstorm." Fireheart heard himself murmur.
Why was everything so blurry; he could hardly see what was happening. Was it even real? He spotted some dark brown splotch and it was as if his heart had plummeted.
Everything around him was suddenly clearer, he was no longer in WindClan camp. Barkface was gone. Sandstorm was gone. Every cat was gone. He was back in the ravine, back in ThunderClan camp. Fireheart looked rapidly around himself, fear taking hold. How had he gotten here? He locked eyes with familiar amber eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at them. No, no, no, no!
How had he gotten back here? He was going to have to fight again, wasn't he? He was tired. He did not want to fight. He couldn't win again. Even so, Fireheart felt his claws unsheathe and he heard an unfamiliar snarl.
"You."
