This is the second book of the Fire and Tiger Series. If you haven't read the first book, Secrets of the Past, make sure to check that one out before continuing with this. Have fun reading and let me know what you think! :)
Allegiances:
Skyclan:
Leader: Leafstar—brown-and-cream tabby she-cat with amber eyes. Apprentice, Hawkpaw
Deputy: Sparrowpelt—dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes
Medicine Cat(s): Echosong—silver tabby she-cat with green eyes. Apprentice, Tawnypaw
Warriors:
Cherrytail—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with blue eyes. Apprentice, Owlpaw
Waspwhisker—gray-and-white tom with blue eyes
Shrewtooth—skinny black tom with pale yellow eyes
Ebonyclaw—large black she-cat with green eyes (Daylight warrior)
Billystorm—ginger-and-white tom with leaf-green eyes (Daylight Warrior). Apprentice, Ashenpaw
Harveymoon—white tom with pale green eyes (Daylight Warrior)
Macgyver—black-and-white tom with yellow eyes. (Daylight Warrior)
Rockshade—black tom with blue eyes. Apprentice, Featherpaw
Tinycloud—small white she-cat with blue eyes
Sagenose—Pale gray tom with amber eyes. Apprentice, Rileypaw
Rabbitleap—Brown tom with blue eyes.
Nettlesplash—Pale brown tom with amber eyes. Apprentice, Firepaw
Plumwillow—Dark gray she-cat with green eyes
Brambleclaw—Large brown tabby tom with dark amber eyes.
Seedtail—Tan she-cat with darker spots, paws, and light amber eyes
Nightheart—Huge black tom with white paws and yellow eyes
Lakestream—Gray she-cat with a white belly and green eyes (Daylight warrior)
Harrybrook—Gray tom with dark amber eyes
Stormheart—Gray-and-ginger she-cat with amber eyes
Sandyclaw—Light brown tom with ginger legs and green eyes. Apprentice, Bellapaw
Birdwing—Black she-cat with blue eyes
Honeytail—Pale ginger she-cat with green eyes. Apprentice, Flightpaw
Juniperpelt—Cream tabby tom with yellow eyes
Hollyfrost—Black tom with gray paws and amber eyes (Daylight Warrior)
Apprentices:
Tawnypaw—Tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes (Medicine Cat Apprentice). 10 moons old
Featherpaw—Brown tabby she-cat with a white underbelly and blue eyes. 10 moons old
Hawkpaw—Brown tabby tom with white paws and dark amber eyes. 10 moons old
Firepaw—Light ginger tom with a white underbelly and blue eyes. 10 moons old
Bellapaw—Pale ginger she-cat with white stripes and green eyes. 8 moons old
Rileypaw—Pale gray tabby tom with blue eyes. 8 moons old
Flightpaw—Black she-cat with pale green eyes. 6 moons old
Owlpaw—Light brown tabby tom with green eyes. 6 moons old
Ashenpaw—Gray tabby she-cat with a darker belly and blue eyes. 6 moons old
Queens:
Clovertail—light brown she-cat with white belly and legs and green eyes (Adopted: Violetkit—Black-and-white she-cat with green eyes, Twigkit—Small gray she-cat with green eyes, Thrushkit—Light brown tabby tom with green eyes, Rustlekit—Dark gray tom with blue eyes. 4.5 moons old)
Mintfur—Gray tabby she-cat with green eyes (Nursing Nettlesplash's kits: Tadpolekit—Black she-cat with green eyes and stripes on her tail, Shadekit—Dark gray tom with green eyes and a lighter gray spot. 3.5 moons old)
Elders:
Fallowfern—Pale brown she-cat with blue eyes. Deaf
Brackenfall—Light brown tabby tom with green eyes
Tangle—ragged tabby tom loner with amber eyes
Patchfoot—black-and-white tom with green eyes
Petalnose—pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Cyanide:
Alpha: Kenzie—Unattractive ginger she-cat with brown paws and amber eyes
Beta: Darktail—White tom with black markings on his face, tail, and paws
The Council:
Forest—Scarred brown tom with leaf-green eyes (Hunter)
Moonlight—Silver-gray she-cat with green eyes (Fighter)
Root—Smoky gray she-cat with patches surrounding both ears, a smoky gray back and tail, and amber eyes* (Fighter)
Fighters:
Blacktop—Huge black tom with yellow eyes
Haven—Pretty pure white she-cat with amber eyes
Link—Brown tabby tom with a lighter belly and amber eyes
Smoke—Black she-cat with murky gray paws and amber eyes
Washington—Solid white tom with yellow eyes
Patch—White tom with a black spot on his lower back, as well as covering the top of his head and ears, has blue eyes*
Raindrop—Pure white she-cat with blue eyes *
Thorn—Gray and brown mottled tom with yellow-gold eyes and black streaks on his sides*
Ash—Gray mottled she-cat with blue-gray eyes and black flecks.*
Stone—Gray-tan mottled tom with cocoa brown eyes, notched ears, scarred shoulders and haunches*
Hunters:
Sycamore—Reddish-brown tabby tom with amber eyes*
Flash—Gray tabby tom with blue eyes *
America—Black-and-white parched tom with bright blue eyes
Poppy—Dark tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes*
Star—White-and-ginger she-cat with blue eyes
Ginny—Bright ginger she-cat with green eyes
Cry of the Wren (Wren)—Pale silver tabby she-cat with muted green eyes*
Firefly—Gray she-cat with ginger patches and dark green eyes*
Students:
Ripper—Black she-cat with white streaks and ice blue eyes (Fighter)
Leaflet—A brown tabby with a white tuft on his chest, and green/orange eyes* (Hunter)
Healer:
Dusk—Dusky gray and brown mottled tom with bright amber eyes*
Nursers:
Frost—lean creamy white she-cat with silver points, icy blue eyes, long plumy tail* (Mother of Thorn's kits: Flower—small fluffy peach and cream she-kit with tawny brown patches and yellow-gold eyes*, Striker—Lean gray and white tom-kit, black streaks on his sides and icy blue eyes*, Mouse—Tiny brown and gray she-kit with yellow-gold eyes*)
Pasha's Gang:
Pasha—Very dark, almost black tabby tom with green eyes
Hera—Light gray-and-white patched she-cat with blue eyes
Percy—Dark brown long-haired tom with yellow eyes
Annabeth—Light sandy-colored she-cat with blue-gray eyes
Dodge—Muscular dark brown tabby tom with green eyes
Skipper—Ginger-and-white tom with yellow eyes
Misha—Cream she-cat with darkened paws and blue eyes
Loners:
Ravenpaw—Jet black tom with a white dash, tail-tip and amber eyes
Barley—Black-and-white tom with blue eyes
Lily—Short furred brown she-cat with emerald eyes*
Harley—A gray-and-brown tabby tom with green eyes
The Four Clans:
Blackstar—Large white tom with jet-black paws and yellow eyes. Leader of Shadowclan.
Firestar—Ginger tabby tom with green eyes. Leader of Thunderclan
Ivypaw—Silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes. Apprentice of Thunderclan.
Breezepelt—Jet black tom with yellow eyes. Warrior of Windclan.
Tawnypelt—Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes. Warrior of Shadowclan.
Shrewfoot—Gray she-cat with black feet and light amber eyes. Warrior of Shadowclan.
Flametail—Dark ginger tom with bright blue eyes. Medicine Cat of Shadowclan.
Tigerheart—Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes. Warrior of Shadowclan.
Sootpaw—White tom with black paws, ears, and tail-tip, and green eyes. Apprentice of Shadowclan
* - Reader-submitted OCs. Thank you for your contributions! They've been a huge help!
Chapter 1:
"Tawnypaw, I need you to fetch some more juniper berries and ragwort, please."
The tortoiseshell she-cat looked up from where she'd been sorting some of the older herbs and nodded. Silently, she snagged two of the berries on a claw and picked up some of the Ragwort, passing them over to Echosong. Her mentor gave her a nod of thanks, then turned back to Ravenpaw, placing the herbs near his mouth.
"Ravenpaw," the silver she-cat murmured. "I have some more herbs for you. Can you eat them?"
The ailing tom's eyes opened slightly, and he gave a stiff nod. Tawnypaw turned away as her mentor helped him eat and turned back to her herbs, feeling frustrated that she could do nothing more than sort plants.
Half a moon had passed since the fire and battle with Cyanide, and hardly anything had happened since. It seemed the rogue group were licking their wounds and regrouping like Skyclan was, which was just as good, considering that a burnt forest meant very little food and a weakened clan. That included next to no new herbs, which resulted in Echosong having to rely on her own stores to care for the clan. They did have a lot, thanks to their large territory, but with a cold spell falling across the gorge, despite it being the middle of greenleaf, there was a deep-seated fear in the medicine den that they wouldn't have enough to see them through leaf-bare.
Ravenpaw was another issue. The old tom had been very kind to the clan, and Tawnypaw herself had grown quite fond of him in the three moons since he'd arrived, but he was quickly draining their supplies and just not getting better. Echosong could not see what was wrong with him, and in the end they'd resorted to simply treating his symptoms to try and prolong his life. Barley, Rileypaw, and Bellapaw were constant visitors to the den, and Tawnypaw liked to think that she had become very good friends with the three former loners as well.
"It's still pouring to no end out there! You medicine cats sure have it lucky."
Tawnypaw turned around to see Sagenose duck into the den with a soaked rabbit between his jaws, shaking out his fur near the entrance and spraying droplets all around him. Tawnypaw spared a look outside to see that the scenery hadn't changed since she'd woken, rain falling so hard outside that one could hardly see two fox-lengths ahead of them. Thunder rolled in the distance.
"Sagenose," Echosong looked up from where she'd been ministering to Ravenpaw. "I hope you haven't been out there more than necessary."
The pale gray warrior chuckled, but Tawnypaw could see the faint signs of frustration in the subtle flicking of his tail. Sagenose had been injured badly during the fire, most of his right flank having sustained burns. Besides Patchfoot (who'd dislocated his leg but had retired to elder's den the day after Hollyfrost had been made a warrior), he was the only warrior not back on active duty. His fur, short, stubby, and kitten-soft, had just started to grow back, and he still required a new poultice every day or so.
"Gladly," he responded. "Though I have to admit, the water feels nice in small doses. Has Flightpaw come in yet?"
Tawnypaw blinked at the mention of Sagenose's reclusive daughter. She'd been made an apprentice to Honeytail hardly eight sunrises ago, but other than that she'd heard nothing about the black she-cat.
"No," Echosong shook her head. "Why?"
"There was a big thorn in her nest," the father confessed. "Gave her a pretty nasty scratch last night. I told her to go see you."
"Featherpaw made the nests last," Tawnypaw hummed. "I can tell her to be more careful."
"Yes," Echosong shot an approving look at her apprentice, making Tawnypaw straighten with pride. "Could you go see where they are? Sparrowpelt would know for sure; he'll be in the leader's den with Leafstar."
Tawnypaw huffed softly at the thought of having to go out with the weather like this, but she nodded anyways.
"I brought a rabbit for the three of you, by the way," Sagenose put in, setting down the fresh-kill as he spoke. Tawnypaw's stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. "I'm sure there'll be some left over by the time you get back."
Now with the appropriate motivation, Tawnypaw sucked in a deep breath and dove into the torrential rain. The medicine cat den was nearer to the bottom of the ravine, and the rocks were slippery with water. The river, swelling past its banks but not yet to the point of flooding, roared and foamed with the rise of water.
Tawnypaw huffed to herself, bunched up her legs, and leapt to the next rock so she could reach the leader's den, higher up on the cliffside. What usually was a small jump that she'd performed dozens of times before became a laborious task as a gust of wind nearly knocked her off her feet once she'd landed. Blinking rain out of her eyes, the tortoiseshell made another jump to the next rock, paws splashing in a puddle as she landed. Tawnypaw shivered, but thankfully there were no more jumps to be made, and she quickly ducked into Leafstar's den, shaking some of the water out of her fur.
"—too dangerous to—" Sparrowpelt's voice cut off as he caught sight of his niece. "Ah, Tawnypaw! Does Echosong need anything?"
Tawnypaw looked over to see her leader and deputy sitting together next to Leafstar and Billystorm's dual nests, obviously having been deep in conversation. She quickly relayed her message from Echosong, not wanting to interrupt for too long.
"Hum," Sparrowpelt tilted his head, thinking. "Flightpaw is cleaning the nursery. I sent Featherpaw out with a hunting patrol over in the plains, I think. They should be back by sunhigh, but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes them longer in this weather."
"And people ask why I chose to be a medicine cat," Tawnypaw joked. Sparrowpelt's eyes twinkled, but it was Leafstar who answered.
"Don't go flaunting it, or I'll have a half-dozen apprentices begging to join your den. Now go find your friends," the dismissal was very friendly but clear. Tawnypaw nodded and left once again.
Stumbling through the rain. Tawnypaw leapt over to the nursery, which thankfully was only a couple fox-tails away. Ducking inside once again, her heart warmed as the warm scent of cats wafted up her nose.
"Ah, Tawnypaw!" Clovertail welcomed her, looking up from where she'd been telling Shadekit, Rustlekit, and Twigkit a story. "What brings you here?"
"Just Flightpaw," Tawnypaw smiled, catching sight of said she-cat in the corner, rolling up a soiled bed of moss with disgust rolling off of her. Owlpaw was working next to her, but seemed much more content with his role. "Echosong wants her for a bit, I'm afraid."
"Tawnypaw!" Violetkit exclaimed from where she'd been play-wrestling Tadpolekit. "Is the storm getting any better? It's pouring out there and I'm bored!"
"It's still raining like a waterfall out there, I'm afraid, Tawnypaw chuckled in reply. "I could hardly keep my footing. It's definitely not weather for kits to be playing in."
"That's not fair!" Rustlekit humpf'ed, pawing at the dusty ground.
"I'm gonna go crazy if I can't leave this place!" Tadpolekit added overdramatically, pouncing on Shadekit. Her brother squealed in defiance, and they soon began to squabble.
"Stop that, you two!" Mintfur scolded them, picking up Tadpolekit by the scruff of her neck and setting her down a tail-length or so away. "No roughhousing in the nursery."
Ignoring the whining of the younger kits, Tawnypaw turned to Flightpaw and Owlpaw.
"Sagenose told me you were supposed to come to the medicine den today," she said. Owlpaw blinked, looking up from his work. Flightpaw just scowled to herself and focused more on it. "He said you have a pretty nasty scratch from a thorn in your nest."
"It's nothing," the black she-cat muttered. Tawnypaw angled her head to take a better look at her, and glimpsed a dark streak of a partially healed wound on her left shoulder. It wasn't serious, but would need some comfrey or dock to prevent an infection. "Dad's just overreacting a bit." Tawnypaw sent her a deadpan look, which Flightpaw returned easily.
"Your wound could get infected, and you'll have to take time off training," she tried. This technique had worked when Echosong had used it on Featherpaw. Perhaps it would work on Flightpaw, too. "It'll only take a couple minutes, and we still have plenty of dock."
Flightpaw wavered, paw hovering from where she was rolling some moss into a ball.
"It's better to get it over with, Flightpaw," Mintfur put in, batting Tadpolekit away from where she was trying to sneak up on a sleeping Twigkit. "Trust me. I know from experience."
"I can finish the nursery," Owlpaw offered, ears perking up.
Flightpaw rolled her eyes. "Fine," she huffed, standing. "I'll get it looked at. Happy?"
"Very." Tawnypaw purred, brushing off the annoyed look Flightpaw shot her. "It's my job to be."
The two left the nursery after that, ducking back into the pouring rain, Flightpaw grumbling to herself as she did so. Tawnypaw raised her eyes to the stormy sky as they stumbled their way down to the medicine den. She was most definitely just as bad as Featherpaw.
A shape flashed in the corner of her eye, catching Tawnypaw's attention. Looking up, she glimpsed Hawkpaw on a small ledge overlooking the path she and Flightpaw were taking. The brown tabby had tucked himself under a small overhang, and was beckoning for Tawnypaw to meet him there.
Tawnypaw's stomach growled, and for a moment she considered just leaving him there because for Starclan's sake she was starving, but eventually sighed, resigned herself to eating stale, cold rabbit, and turned to Flightpaw.
"Hawkpaw needs me for a minute," she said, stopping just a fox-length or so away from the medicine den. "Echosong can give you your treatment. Could you tell her I'll be back in a minute?"
"Sure, whatever."
Not very reassured by the answer but knowing that was the best she was going to get, Tawnypaw jumped up to the ledge Hawkpaw had commandeered, nearly slipping and falling on a particularly slippery section of the rocky floor before reaching her littermate. Hawkpaw scooted over to allow her room under the overhang, and Tawnypaw shook herself out once she joined him, ignoring her brother's squawk of surprise and annoyance.
"What was that for?" he huffed, shaking himself to be rid of the droplets Tawnypaw had sprayed over him.
"I'm postponing eating a perfectly good rabbit for this," Tawnypaw huffed, shooting him a deadpan look. "I might as well be comfortable. Didn't you see how I nearly brained myself trying to get up here?"
"You were fine."
"Tell that to my soaking wet underbelly and wrenched claw. What did you want to talk about, anyways?"
Hawkpaw snorted, and Tawnypaw rolled her eyes, knowing the wrenched claw was an exaggeration but not really caring.
"Just… have you heard anything about what we're going to do about Cyanide? Or about my…" He paused, paws scratching at the ground. "Situation?"
Tawnypaw let out a long breath, feeling a little bit annoyed. She'd had to postpone eating for this? Ever since Hawkpaw had revealed his powers to Echosong, he was always trying to learn more about what they were doing, as if it was his responsibility to do so. And whenever he couldn't figure out what was going on, he went to Tawnypaw for answers, as if she wasn't just as left out of the loop as he was. So far, only Echosong, Leafstar, Sparrowpelt, and their parents knew about Hawkpaw's abnormal powers and her own prophetic dreams about them, and she was just as glad that they didn't talk about them all that much. Ever since Sharpclaw had died, it was nice trying to maintain some form of normality in her life.
"Leafstar's called our parents and Seedtail into her den a couple times, but that's probably because they know the most about Cyanide. Echosong and I are running low on horsetail and marigold, and Sparrowpelt had a mouse for breakfast. Anything else?"
"Very funny," Hawkpaw huffed. However, he flattened his ears, conveying a sense of frustration. "I can tell you're frustrated with me, you know. If you want me to stop, just say so."
"Telling you to stop won't make you stop," she shot back, partially regretting the words as they whipped through the rain much more harshly than she intended. "Look, I get wanting to know more. I do, too. But calm down for a bit; Cyanide isn't about to show up in the gorge and kill us all by sundown."
Hawkpaw looked like he wanted to say something, but then decided not to. Tawnypaw rolled her shoulders, preparing to jump down from the ledge. Outside, the rainfall had noticeably begun to lessen.
"If you really want to know what to do next, try that dream-walking thing of yours," she finally replied. "Now, I'm going to go eat."
Hawkpaw hummed, now visibly deep in thought. Her comment must have struck a chord with him. Shrugging to herself and reasoning he'd tell her if something of note happened, Tawnypaw leapt down to the medicine den, ready to eat a very welcome lunch.