Hello my dear readers, I hope that you are enjoying this fan-fiction so far. If not, well, I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that I don't really care about what you dislike. XD although not many complaints! I like all the good review's you give me! But there is one!
R) vixen?seriously?Vixen refers to a female fox,or a person(usually female) who is a liar,double-crosser,schemer and basically untrustworthy.
(You know who you are!) but yes, I know what Vixen means! It's a very common name, and I also 'Prefer' the name actually! (although not all of her name is what she is, but pretty dang close later on! And besides, her name will get changed when I post the side story for her at the end of 'Heart of Fire' series! She is important for later on in my series! Although she, herself, won't be in it much!) So please, no hating on a name! Vixen is cool!
Anyway, review and follow and favorite and all that! Also I love this new warriors fan-fic! (Although hasn't been updating in awhile!)
Fire Alone
By: xXxRavenXDameonxXx
0o0o0o
"Bluestar, it's been a quarter moon since we returned from the uplands." Fireheart carefully avoided mentioning the Moonstone. Even though they were alone in her den, Fireheart still felt uncomfortable mentioning their fruitless expedition.
"There's been no sign of WindClan in our territory, or ShadowClan." Bluestar narrowed her eyes disbelieving but Fireheart went on. "There are so many apprentices in training, and the woods are so full of prey, that it is hard to keep three warriors in camp all the time. I...I think two would be plenty.
"But what if we're attacked again?" Bluestar fretted.
"If WindClan really intended to harm ThunderClan," Fireheart pointed out, "Mudclaw wouldn't have let you leave the uplands…" alive, She finished silently, letting her woods trail away.
"Okay." Bluestar nodded, her eyes clouded with an unreadable emotion. "Only two warriors need to stay in camp."
"Thanks, Bluestar." This was going to make the task of organizing all the guards, hunting parties, and apprentice training much easier. "I'll go and sort out tomorrow's patrols." Fireheart dipped her head respectfully and left the den.
Outside the warriors were waiting for her. "Whitestorm, you lead the dawn patrol," Fireheart ordered. "Take Sandstorm and Cloudpaw with you. Brackenfur, Dustpelt, you'll guard the camp while I'm hunting with Fernpaw." She looked around at the remaining warriors, realizing how much more confident she felt about arranging the patrols. She'd had a lot more practice since Bluestar stayed in her den so much nowadays.
Pushing away the unsettling thought, Fireheart went on: "I'll leave it up to the rest of you whether you train your apprentice's or take them hunting, but I want the fresh-kill pile as full as it is today. We're getting used to eating well!" An amused purr ran through the group of warriors. "Darkstripe, you lead tomorrow's sunhigh patrol. Runningwind, you take sunset. You can choose who you take with you; just be sure to let them know so they can be ready in time."
Runningwind nodded, but Darkstripe's eyes glittered and he asked, "Who will be going to the Gathering tonight?"
"I don't know," Fireheart admitted, her sleek fur unruffled by the stale breeze.
Darkstripe narrowed his eyes. "Didn't Bluestar tell you, or hasn't she decided yet?"
"She hasn't discussed it with me," Fireheart answered. "She'll tell us when she's ready."
Darkstripe turned his head and stared into the shadowy trees. "She'd better tell us soon. The sun is starting to set."
"Then you should be eating," Fireheart told him. "You'll need your strength for the Gathering, if you're going." Darkstripe's tone made her uneasy, but she refused to let it ruffle her fur. She sat down and waited for the warriors to move away. Only when they had all gone did she turn back to Bluestar's den. She hadn't mentioned the Gathering, and she'd been too busy worrying about tomorrow's patrols to remember it.
"Ah, Fireheart." Bluestar met her as the leader was pushing her way out through the lichen. She looked as if she'd just finished washing, and her pelt glowed in the dusky light. Fireheart felt a jolt of relief that she seemed to be taking care of herself once more. "When you've eaten, call the warriors together for the Gathering."
"Er...who shall I call?" Fireheart asked.
Bluestar looked surprised. She listed the name's so easily-adding in both the new apprentices, Fernpaw and Ashpaw-that Fireheart wondered if perhaps the leader had already told her, and she'd forgotten.
"Yes, Bluestar," she answered. She dipped her head and padded across the clearing to the fresh-kill pile. A fat pigeon had been left on the heap. She decided to leave it for Bluestar. Perhaps this might tempt her to eat more than two mouthfuls. She picked up a vole, not feeling very hungry herself. She was too unsettled by Bluestar's shifting, patternless moods.
Fireheart carried her vole over towards the nursery, and settled outside the entrance. Her kits already settled inside, Goldenflower, staying behind had agreed to look after them once more. It comforted Fireheart somewhat to know that at least one cat was willingly wanting to look after her kits, although some looked at her kits with hints of fear and resentment, some of the elders being one of them. But loyal Clanmates like Goldenflower, Spottedleaf, Sandstorm, Cinderpelt, Brackenfur and mostly all of the apprentices seemed to get along just fine with them.
Fireheart loved her kits more than anything else in the Clan, looking over her shoulder she could make out Bramblekit's tabby fur and Squirrelkit's one white paw sticking up in the air. They were the her and Tigerclaw's kits, the good parts of both of them, although she had no doubt that they will mistakes in their lives. They would still be dedicated to their Clan and their kin.
When she'd finished her meal, Fireheart glanced around the clearing. The rest of the Clan was sharing tongues as night stretched out the shadows and brought a welcome coolness to the camp. The days had been so hot lately that Fireheart had found herself wishing more and more that she could swim like the RiverClan cats. She looked over at the apprentice's den, wondering if Swiftpaw had understood the scolding she had given him after she had caught him and Spottedkit out of camp the day they had meet Vixen. They hadn't spotted Vixen on their territory since.
Swiftpaw was sitting near the apprentice's den entrance, Thornpaw and Brightpaw sitting beside him. Cloudpaw was also crouched on the tree stump outside the entrance, play-fighting with Ashpaw, who was scrabbling at him from below. Fireheart was pleased to know they were not doing much harm.
She wondered if Graystripe would be at Fourtrees tonight. It seemed unlikely, as he had been in RiverClan barely a moon. But he had given them Silverstream's kits. The RiverClan leader, Crookedstar, must have been grateful-after all, Silverstream had been his daughter, so the kits were his kin. And even though it would confirm her friend's acceptance into another Clan, Fireheart found herself hoping that Graystripe would be granted the privilege of joining the Gathering.
Fireheart pushed herself to her paws and called the cats together for the ThunderClan patrol. As she ran through the list of names that Bluestar given her- "Mousefur, Runningwind, Sandstorm, Brackenfur, Cinderpelt, Brightpaw, Ashpaw, Fernpaw, Swiftpaw and Cloudpaw"-she realized with growing unease that Darkstripe, Longtail, and Dustpelt weren't among them. The three warriors had all been close allies of Tigerclaw, and Fireheart wondered if Bluestar had left them out deliberately. An uncomfortable shiver rippled through her fur s the three cats exchanged glances, then fixed their gazes on her. There was an unmistakable gleam of anger in Darkstripe's eyes. Unnerved, Fireheart turned away and joined the other cats to wait for Bluestar.
She was sharing tongues with Whitestorm outside her den, and only when the gathered warriors began kneading the ground with anticipation did she get up and cross the clearing.
"Whitestorm will be in charge of the camp while we're away," she announced.
"Bluestar," Mousefur addressed her leader cautiously. "What are you going to say about the way that WindClan stopped you from traveling to Highstones?" Fireheart's shoulders tensed. Mousefur clearly wanted to know if the ThunderClan cats should prepare themselves for hostility.
"I shall say nothing," Bluestar answered firmly. "WindClan knows that what they did was wrong. It's not worth risking their aggression by pointing it out in front of the other Clans."
The ThunderClan warriors greeted her response with reluctant nods, and Fireheart couldn't help wondering whether they saw weakness or wisdom in their leader's decision as they followed her through the gorse tunnel and out into the moonlit forest.
Dirt and pebbles showered down as the cats scrambled up the side of the ravine. The lack of rain had left the forest as dry as crushed bones, and the sun-scorched ground seemed to turn to dust beneath their paws. Once in the woods, Bluestar ran on ahead. Fireheart dropped to the rear of the group as the cats raced silently through the trees, ducking beneath brittle ferns and swerving past brambles.
Sandstorm measured her pace until she matched Fireheart stride for stride, clearing a fallen branch in a single fluid leap. As they landed, she turned to Fireheart and murmured, "Bluestar seems to be feeling well again."
"Yes," Fireheart agreed guardedly, concentrating on threading her body between some prickly bramble stalks.
Sandstorm went on, keeping her voice low so it didn't carry to the other cats. "But she seems distant. She dosen't seem to be as…" she hesitated, and Fireheart didn't try to fill the silence that followed. Her worst fears were being confirmed. The other ThunderClan cats were beginning to notice Bluestar was not herself.
"She's changed," Sandstorm finished.
Fireheart didn't look at the ginger she-cat. Instead she veered away to avoid a thick clump of nettles while Sandstorm leaped over them, springing up and through the stinging leaves to land on the forest floor beyond.
Fireheart ran faster to catch up. "Bluestar's still shaken," she said, panting. "Tigerclaw's treachery was a huge shock."
"I don't understand why she never suspected him."
"Did you ever suspect Tigerclaw?" countered Fireheart, feeling a bit of spit towards her friend for that comment.
"No," Sandstorm admitted. "No cat did. But the rest of the Clan has recovered from the shock, Bluestar still seems…" Again she seemed lost for words.
"She's leading us to the Gathering," Fireheart pointed out, ignoring the urge to say that not all of ThunderClan had gotten over Tigerclaw's treachery, Fireheart didn't think she could ever get over it.
"Yes, that's true," answered Sandstorm, brightening.
"She's still the same Bluestar," Fireheart assured her. "You'll see."
The two warriors quickened their pace. They leaped over a stream that had been too swollen to cross during the newleaf floods. Now it trickled along a stony bed, so dry that it was almost impossible to imagine the water had ever flowed higher.
The rest of the group was only just ahead of them by the time they neared Fourtrees. Fireheart led Sandstorm along their trail, the undergrowth still trembling where the cats had passed, as if they leaves shared the Clan's anticipation of the Gathering.
Bluestar had stopped at the head of the slope and was staring down into the valley. Fireheart could see lithe feline shapes slipping through the shadows, greeting each other with muted purrs. From the scents on the still air, she could tell that ThunderClan was the last to arrive. Fireheart watched Bluestar gaze at the Great Rock in the center of the clearing and saw a shudder ripple along her spine. She seemed to take a deep breath before plunging down the slope.
Fireheart raced after her with her Clanmates. She slowed as she reached the clearing and scanned the other cats for a glimpse of Graystripe. The RiverClan deputy, Leopardfur, was talking with a ShadowClan warrior Fireheart didn't recognize. Crookedstar, the RiverClan leader, sat with Stonefur, looking silently around the clearing. Fireheart scented another RiverClan cat close by, but when she turned, she saw it was an apprentice moving to greet Brightpaw. There was no sign or scent of Graystripe. Fireheart wasn't surprised, but her tail still drooped with disappointment.
A gray ShadowClan apprentice joined Brightpaw as well, as did Cloudpaw. With one ear Fireheart listened idly to their conversation.
"Has your Clan seen any more of the rogues? Nightstar's worried that they're still roaming the forest."
Fireheart frozen when she heard the ShadowClan cat's question. All of the Clans had been worried about the group of rogue cats that had been scented in their territories. What the other Clans didn't know was that ThunderClan's deputy and Fireheart's mate, Tigerclaw, had befriended these rogues and used them to attack his own camp. Fireheart gave Brightpaw a cautionary glance, warning her to keep silent, but there was no need...it was more for Cloudpaw anyway.
The white-and-ginger she-cat replied coolly, "We've not scented them in our territory for nearly a moon." Cloudpaw seemed to take a cue from her and kept silent himself for once.
Fireheart felt a jolt of relief as the RiverClan cat added, "Nor ours. They must have left the forest." Fireheart wished she could share the RiverClan cat's confidence, but her instincts to her that, if Tigerclaw were involved, the rogue cats would return one day.
Mudclaw, the WindClan warrior who had turned Fireheart and Bluestar away from Highstones, sat a foxlength away. Fireheart recognized the young WindClan warrior Onewhisker standing at Mudclaw's side. She had made friends with this small tabby on the journey back from exile, but she didn't dare approach him now. Mudclaw was eyeing her coldly, and Fireheart knew this was no place to continue the argument they'd begun on their way to the Moonstone.
But she couldn't resist flexing her claws, still angry at the memory, and was angered further when Mudclaw leaned sideways to whisper something into his companion's ears with a meaningful glance at Fireheart. To Fireheart's surprise Onewhisker blinked sympathetically at her along with something else in his eyes, then turned and walked away, leaving Mudclaw flicking his tail with annoyance. It looked as if there was at least one WindClan warrior who remembered the old debt of loyalty to ThunderClan. Fireheart couldn't stop her whiskers from twitching with satisfaction as she stalked past Mudclaw and headed toward Leopardfur and the ShadowClan warrior.
Her confidence evaporated when she approached the RiverClan deputy. Although they were equals now in hierarchy of their Clans, this she-cat had a fierce and commanding presence. Ever since ThunderClan and RiverClan cats had fought at the gorge and a RiverClan warrior, Whiteclaw, had fallen to his death, Fireheart felt her unforgiving hostility as sharp as thorns. But she needed to find out how Graystripe was doing. She nodded respectfully, and Leopardfur dipped her head in return.
The ShadowClan warrior sitting beside Leopardfur started to rasp a greeting, but broke off, coughing and spluttering. Fireheart noticed for the first time how ragged the warrior's pelt looked, as if he hadn't groomed himself for a moon. Leopardfur gave her paws a lick and wiped her face as the ShadowClan warrior stumbled into the shadows.
"Is he alright?" Fireheart asked, mildly concerned.
"Does he look all right?" retorted Leopardfur, her lip curling with distaste. "Cats shouldn't come to the Gathering riddled with disease."
"Shouldn't we do something?"
"Like what?" meowed Leopardfur. "ShadowClan has a medicine cat." She lowered her paw, her wet whiskers gleaming in the moonlight. Her eyes glittered with curiosity. "I hear you are ThunderClan's new deputy." Fireheart nodded, realizing that Graystripe must have shared this news with his new Clan. Leopardfur went on: "What happened to Tigerclaw? None of the other Clans seemed to know. Is he dead?"
Fireheart flicked her tail uncomfortably. She could imagine Leopardfur wasting no time in telling the other Clans that ThunderClan had replaced their distinguished deputy with his kittypet mate and nursing queen. "What happened to Tigerclaw is of no concern to RiverClan," she meowed, trying to match her cool tone. She wondered if Bluestar would say anything about her former deputy when she announced the news about Fireheart later on...for a selfish reason, Fireheart hoped that Bluestar would just let Tigerclaw have this one bit of dignity among the other Clans.
Leopardfur narrowed her eyes but didn't press the subject any further. "So," she meowed, "have you come to brag about your new title, or to find out about your old friend?"
Fireheart lifted her chin, surprised that she was giving her a clear opportunity to ask about Graystripe. "How is he?" she meowed, clearly begging to know how he was.
"He'll do." Leopardfur shrugged. "He'll never be a true RiverClan warrior, but at least he's getting used to the water, which is more than I expected." Fireheart had to hold in her claws at her dismissive tone. "His kits are strong and clever," Leopardfur went on. "They must favor their mother."
Fireheart was torn by that comment, it was a clear jab at Graystripe. But Fireheart felt proud of her adopted kits as well. Fireheart was struggling to hold back a sharp reply when Mousefur trotted up behind her.
"Hello, Leopardfur," she greeted the RiverClan deputy. "Stonefur tells me there are new kits in your camp, besides Graystripe's."
"Yes, there are," Leopardfur meowed. "StarClan has blessed our nursery this greenleaf."
"He also said Mistyfoot's kits are about to begin their training," meowed Mousefur. "You know, the ones Fireheart saved from the floods," she added, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Fireheart noticed Leopardfur stiffen, but her mind was on Mistyfoot and her brother, Stonefur. She glanced around the clearing and saw Bluestar sitting alone beneath the Great Rock. Did she know her son was here? Had she heard that Mistyfoot's kits were ready for their apprenticeship? When she turned her gaze back to Leopardfur and Mousefur, the RiverClan deputy was stalking away.
Mousefur shot a look of sympathy at Fireheart. "Don't worry. You'll find her less intimidating when you get used to her. The rest of RiverClan seems happy to see us. They would not have survived the floods so well without the help of ThunderClan, and we did let them have Silverstream's kits without a fight."
"Graystripe was never Leopardfur's favorite ThunderClan cat, though," Fireheart reminded her. "Not since Whiteclaw fell into the gorge."
"She should learn to forgive and forget. Graystripe has given RiverClan two fine, healthy kits." Mousefur flicked her tail and more softly she asked: "Did she ask you about Tigerclaw."
"Yes." Fireheart replied stiffly, the murmurs of Tigerclaw were everywhere tonight. And she was not used to the questioning, her own Clanmates wouldn't dare talk about him in front of Fireheart if they could help it...but now…it was just, overwhelming.
"Everyone's desperate to know what happened to him."
"And why a his nursing-queen-kittypet-mate has replaced him?" Fireheart added bitterly. Struggling to keep her sleek fur flat and refrain from yowling in frustration.
"That too," Mousefur glanced briefly at her. "Don't take it personally, Fireheart. It's unusual to have a deputy quiet like you, besides we'd be just as curious about a change of deputy in another Clan." Her attention wandered around the clearing for a moment before she observed. "Have you noticed how small ShadowClan's patrol is tonight?"
Fireheart nodded. "I've seen only a couple of ShadowClan warriors so far. One of them just had a nasty coughing fit."
"Really?" meowed Mousefur curiously.
"It is furball season," Fireheart pointed out.
"I suppose so."
A voice sounded from the Great Rock. Fireheart looked up and saw the RiverClan leader, Crookedstar, standing on top of the massive boulder, his thick pelt gleaming in the moonlight. Bluestar sat on one side and Tallstar, the WindClan leader, on the other. And on the far side, half hidden by the shadow of an oak tree, sat Nightstar.
Fireheart was shocked by the ShadowClan leader's appearance. The black tom looked even scrawnier than a WindClan cat, who were kept lean by the rabbits they chased on the moor. But Nightstar didn't just look thin. He held his head low, and his shoulders were hunched. For a moment Fireheart wondered if he was sick, but then she remembered that Nightstar had already been an elder when he'd taken on the leadership of ShadowClan. Perhaps it wasn't surprising if he looked frail. He may have been granted the nine lives of a leader, but not even StarClan could turn back time...or in Nightstar's case...Fireheart was certain not in Nightstar's case anyway. Not like herself, is what she reassured herself with. And for a moment, Fireheart wondered if someone else could have done what Fireheart has, gone back in time to change their destiny?
"Come on," Mousefur murmured, yanking Fireheart out of her confusing thoughts and followed the dusky brown she-cat to the front of the cats and sat down beside her, with Mistyfoot at her other flank.
Crookedstar meowed form the Great Rock, "Bluestar wishes to speak first." He bowed his head to the ThunderClan leader as she stepped forward and raised her voice, sounding as strong as it always had.
"You may already have heard from WindClan, but for those of you who have not, Brokentail is dead!" A satisfied murmur rippled through the crowd. Fireheart noticed Nightstar's ears and tail flicking restlessly. The ShadowClan leader seemed almost excited to know that his old enemy was dead.
"How did he die?" Nightstar rasped.
Bluestar didn't seem to hear him. "And ThunderClan has a new deputy," she went on.
"So it's true what RiverClan has been saying." The stunned mew of a WindClan warrior rose from the watching cats. "Something's happened to Tigerclaw!"
"Is he dead?" Mudclaw demanded to know. His words brought a barrage of concerned cries, and Fireheart couldn't help feeling a twinge of pride and guilt when she realized how much Tigerclaw had been respected by the other Clans. She watched Bluestar anxiously as the cats bombarded her with questions.
"Did he die of sickness?"
"Was it an accident?"
Fireheart felt her Clanmates stiffen around her. They all shared Brightpaw's unwillingness to reveal the truth about their former deputy's disloyalty.
Bluestar's authoritative yowl silenced the question's. "Tigerclaw's fate is ThunderClan's business and does not concern anyone else!"
The cats fell into a disgruntled murmuring, their curiosity clearly not satisfied. Fireheart couldn't help wondering if Bluestar should warn the other Clans that Tigerclaw was still alive-that there was a dangerous traitor roaming the forest, unfettered by the warrior code...no matter how painful Fireheart sees her mate like that.
But when Bluestar meowed again she made no mention of Tigerclaw. Instead she announced, "Our new deputy is Fireheart." Dozens of heads turned to look at Fireheart, and she felt hot under their questioning stares. The murmurings that began seemed to pound in her ears. She kneaded the ground and soundlessly urged the leaders to carry on with the Gathering, aware only of the sound of breathing and the rows upon rows of unblinking eyes.
"Congratulations on choosing another deputy, although an unexpected choice," Crookedstar meowed, his eyes flickering to Fireheart for a moment. Clearly curious like the others but nothing degrading in his voice. "RiverClan ourselves have been doing fine this greenleaf, we have plenty of prey and plenty of kits in the nursery. One of our queens, Silverstream had died in child bearing," The RiverClan leader looked subdued, and some cats called out in sympathy and one RiverClan queen let out a wail of grief. "But her kits survived, they are strong and will serve RiverClan well."
Fireheart was a little upset when no mention of Graystripe came up. But listened intently as Tallstar stepped forward. "It's good to hear that Brokentail is finally dead," The long tail leader meowed, his tone flat. "WindClan is growing strong and we are doing well in greenleaf as well, prey is plenty. I am sorry for the loss of Tigerclaw, but as I know his kits will live on." He didn't make it subtle as the WindClan leader turned his gaze on Fireheart. Some of the other cats meowed in agreement, she could even hear a couple of RiverClan cat's whisper directly behind her.
"I remember the last Gathering, how Tigerclaw said he was going to be a father. He looked so proud about it!"
"Me too, that's all he could talk about!"
Fireheart's shoulder's slumped, her ears flattening due to their talk. She only perked up when Mousefur nudged her gently on the shoulder, she couldn't afford to look weak right now. It didn't help that meows of agreement rose from the other Clan cats. Fireheart flickered her gaze around her own Clanmates, each looking uncertain at the others. Although Fireheart's friends eyes looked bright at the mention of Fireheart's kits.
"It is most unfortunate indeed," Nightstar rasped, coming to take Tallstar's place. His voice was harsh and so was his breathing. He seemed to shake as he moved and coughed between his sentences. "But life goes on, and he will be missed by all."
Not by all, Fireheart thought, already wanting to curl up in her nest in the nursery and stay there for a moon.
"ShadowClan is," He broke off with a nasty cough, and wizzed when it was over as he began talking about. "Recovering from past difficulties, but we're slowly regaining our strength."
Fireheart couldn't bring up a once of belief in the ShadowClan leaders statement. They looked as if they were run over by a monster, and were far from recovering then the leader was letting on. But the other Clan cats stayed quiet, listening to the raspy and withered meows of the ShadowClan cats that have arrived with Nightstar.
"Yes, ThunderClan thanks you for your supportive words." Bluestar droned out coolly, her gaze guarded as she scanned the cats below with indifference.
The meeting was just closing before the moon began to descend from the sky and become lighter. Fireheart was one of the first cats ready to leave, her sleek fur spiking up at all the apologies and pitting looks that were sent her way. Fernpaw and Cinderpelt came to flank her sides, while Sandstorm and Brackenfur took up her rear, shielding her from the stares and whispers of the other Clan cats.
Bluestar came to join them, taking the lead at a fast run. Fireheart had no trouble with the pace, wanting to put herself and the whispers of the Gathering as far behind her as possible. When they reached camp, Fireheart made straight for her nest in the nursery. When she entered her kits were sound asleep, with Goldenflower once again in Brindleface's discarded nest. It was almost like she had moved into the nursery! But Fireheart said nothing, just letting her sleep as she curled in her nest with her kits.
It was almost like Fireheart simply slept for a few mouse-heartbeats before mews of alarm and the pounding of paws in the clearing roused Fireheart from sleep. She blinked open her eyes drowsily, her kits peeking their eyes open in disgruntlement and complained at the noise.
A golden head appeared through the mouth of the nursery bramble's. It was Sandstorm, her pale green eyes gleaming with excitement. "We've captured two ShadowClan warriors!" she meowed breathlessly.
Fireheart leaped to her paws, instantly awake. "What? Where?"
"By the Owl Tree," Sandstorm explained, adding, "they were asleep!" Her voice betrayed her scorn at the ShadowClan cats carelessness.
"Have you told Bluestar?" Fireheart questioned, half aware that now all her kits were awake along with a drowsy Goldenflower who had spent the night.
"Dustpelt's telling her now." She ducked out of the nursery entrance and Fireheart sprang after her, with a glance and call over her shoulder at her kits before exiting: "Stay here with Goldenflower, and no complaining." she added on when the wails of protest were beginning to steer. Fireheart didn't look behind her to see if her kits listened or if Goldenflower heard and existed the nursery entrance.
Fireheart had slept fitfully after returning from the Gathering, shaken by the whispers and murmuer's that had greeted the announcement of her deputyship and the disappearance of Tigerclaw. Her dreams had been filled with unknown cats that recoiled from her as if she were an owl of ill omen flying through a forest of shadows, and at one point thought she saw the gleaming pale amber slits of narrowed cats eyes. She thought she had left her days as an outsider behind her, but the challenging stares from the other cats had warmed her that she was still not fully accepted into forest life. She just hoped they didn't find out about the broken naming ritual. That would only reinforce their uneasiness about a kittypet nursing queen replacing a respected Clanborn deputy.
Now she faced yet another challenge. How would she deal with enemy cats captured on ThunderClan territory? Fireheart found herself hoping that Bluestar would be in a calm enough mood to guide her.
The dawn patrol was gathered in a circle in the middle of the clearing. Fireheart pushed her way through them and saw two ShadowClan cats crouching on the hard earth, their tails bushed out and their ears flattened.
She recognized one of the warriors at once. It was Littlecloud, a brown tabby tom. They'd met at a Gathering when Littlecloud was no more than a kit. He had been forced into apprenticeship by Brokentail when he was only three moons old. He was fully grown now, but still small-frame, and he looked in a bad way. His haunches were bony, like featherless wings, and his eyes were sunk into his head. The other one wasn't much better off. These were hardly warriors to be afraid of, Fireheart thought with a twinge of unease.
She looked at Whitestorm, who had led the dawn patrol. "Did they put up a fight when you found them?"
"No," Whitestorm admitted, flicking his tail. "When we woke them up, they begged us to bring them here."
Fireheart felt confused. "Begged you?" she echoed. "Why would they do that?"
"Where are these ShadowClan warriors?" yowled Bluestar, pushing her way through the audience of cats, her face twisted in fear and rage. Fireheart felt her belly tense. "Is this another attack?" she hissed at the two wretched cats.
"Whitestorm found them on patrol," Fireheart explained quickly. "They were sleeping in ThunderClan territory."
"Sleeping?" snarled Bluestar, her ears flat against her head. "Well, have we been invaded or not?"
"These were the only warriors we found," meowed Whitestorm, who stood beside Fireheart.
"Are you sure?" demanded Bluestar. "It could be a trap."
As Fireheart looked at these two sorry creatures, her instincts told her that invasion was the last thing on their minds. But Bluestar had a point. It would be wise to make sure there were no other ShadowClan cats hiding in the woods, waiting for a signal to attack. She called to Mousefur and Cinderpelt. "You two, take a warrior each and an apprentice each. Start at the Thunderpath and work your way back to camp. I want every bit of the territory searched for signs of ShadowClan."
To Fireheart's relief the two warriors obeyed instantly. Dustpelt called Runningwind and Ashpaw, while Cinderpelt signaled Fernpaw and her brother Brackenfur, then the six cats raced out of the camp and into the forest.
Fireheart turned back to the trembling captives. "What are you doing in ThunderClan territory?" she asked. "Littlecloud, why are you here?" The tabby tom stared up at Fireheart with round, frightened eyes, and Fireheart felt a stab of sympathy. The cat looked as lost and helpless as he'd been at the first Gathering, when he was barely weaned kit.
"W-Whitethroat and I came here h-hoping you'd give us food and healing herbs," Littlecloud stammered at last. Hisses of disbelief rose from the ThunderClan cats, and Littlecloud shrank back, pressing his scrawny body against the earth.
Fireheart stared at the prisoner in amazement. SInce when did ShadowClan cats seek help from their bitterest enemy?
"Fireheart, wait." The soft voice of Spottedleaf sounded in Fireheart's ear, as did her sweet herbal scent. She was studying the two ShadowClan cats with concentrated narrowed eyes. "These cats are no threat to us. They are sick." She walked steadily forward to touch Littlecloud's forepaw gently with her nose. "His pad is warm," she remarked. "He has a fever."
Spottedleaf was about to check the other ShadowClan cat when Yellowfang forced her way through the throng of cats. "No, Spottedleaf!" she screeched. "Get away from them!"
Spottedleaf jerked her head away, blinking at the older medicine cat in surprise. "Why? These cats are sick. We must help them!" Spottedleaf's eyes darted around the assembled group of cats, glancing at Fireheart the longest before resting her eyes on Bluestar.
Every cat turned expectantly to Bluestar, but the ThunderClan leader just stared, huge-eyed, at the captives. Fireheart could see the old gray she-cat struggling with bewilderment and fear, her eyes clouded with confusion. She realized she had to distract the cats attention while the troubled leader gathered her thoughts.
"Why us? What made you come to our territory?" she asked the two prisoners again.
The other ShadowClan cat, Whitethroat, spoke this time. He was a black tom with paws and a chest that used to be white but were now stained with dust. "You helped ShadowClan before, when we drove out Brokentail," he explained quietly.
But ThunderClan also gave sanctuary to the ShadowClan leader, Fireheart thought with a ripple of unease. Had Whitethroat forgotten that? Then she realized that Brokentail had forced these cats into their apprenticeships when they were barely old enough to leave their mother's sides. Banishing their cruel leader must have come as such a relief that what had happened to him afterward paled into insignificance. And now that Brokentail was dead, there was no threat to the ShadowClan warriors from the ThunderClan camp beyond normal Clan rivalry.
Whitethroat went on: "We hoped you would be able to help us now. Nightstar is sick. The camp is in chaos with so many cats ill. There are not enough herbs or fresh-kill to go around."
"What's Runningnose doing? He's your medicine cat. It's up to him to tend to you!" spat Yellowfang, before Fireheart could say anything.
Fireheart was taken aback by her tone. Yellowfang had once belonged to ShadowClan. Even though Fireheart knew her loyalties lay with ThunderClan now, she was surprised at her lack of compassion toward her former Clanmates.
"Nightstar seemed all right at the Gathering last night," Sandstorm meowed, her tone borderline curious and annoyed.
"Yes," agreed Bluestar, narrowing her yes suspiciously.
But Fireheart remembered how frail the ShadowClan leader had seemed, and she was not surprised when Littlecloud mewed, "He got worse when he returned to the camp. Runningwind was with him all night. He won't leave Nightstar's side. He let a kit die at its mother's belly without even a poppy seed to ease its journey to StarClan! We are afraid that he'll let us die too. Please help us!"
Littlecloud's plea sounded real to Fireheart. She looked hopefully at Bluestar, but her blue eyes still looked bewildered.
"They must leave," insisted Yellowfang in a low growl.
"Why?" Fireheart asked. "They're no threat to us in this state!"
"They carry a disease I've seen before in ShadowClan." Yellowfang began to circle the ShadowClan cats, studying them but keeping her distance. "It killed many cats last time."
"It's not greencough, is it?" Fireheart asked. Some of the ThunderClan cats began to edge slowly backward as Fireheart mentioned the sickness that had ravaged their own Clan during leaf-bare, Fireheart herself edged a little bit away from them, afraid if she caught it she could give it to her own kits that were too little to handle greencough at the moment.
"No. It has no name," Yellowfang muttered, keeping her eyes fixed on the captives. "It comes from the rats that live on a Twoleg dump on the far side of the ShadowClan territory." She glared at Littlecloud. "Surely the elders know those Twoleg rats carry sickness, and must never be taken as prey?"
"An apprentice brought the rat back," explained Littlecloud. "He was to young to remember."
Fireheart listened to the sick cat's labored breathing as the ThunderClan cats looked on in silence. "What should we do?" she asked Bluestar.
Yellowfang spoke up before she could answer. "Bluestar, it is not long since greencough devastated our Clan," she reminded her. "You lost a life then." The older medicine cat narrowed her eyes, and Fireheart guessed what she must be thinking. Only Fireheart, Spottedleaf and Yellowfang knew that Bluestar was on her last life. If the disease spread into ThunderClan, she might die, and ThunderClan would be left without a leader. The thought turned Fireheart's blood to ice, and she shivered in spite of the hot morning sun.
Bluestar nodded. "You are right, Yellowfang," she meowed quietly. "These cats must leave, Fireheart, send them away." Her voice was flat and expressionless as she turned back to her den.
Reluctantly, her relief at reaching a decision tempered by pity for the sick cats, Fireheart meowed, "Sandstorm and I will escort the ShadowClan warriors back to their border." Mews of approval rippled through the other cats. Littlecloud stared at Fireheart, pleading with his eyes. Fireheart forced herself to look away, it was for the best of the Clan. "Go back to your dens," she told her Clanmates.
The other cats slipped noiselessly into the undergrowth at the edge of the clearing, until only Spottedleaf hovered nearby, her amber eyes glazed with sadness as she stared at the pitiful creatures.
"Spottedleaf! Come here. You must wash their sickness from your muzzle." Yellowfang called from the fern tunnel, Spottedleaf, without a word or glance behind her, padded after Yellowfang. Fireheart watched her go, the disappointment was practically vibrating off of the young tortoiseshell she-cat, but there was nothing Fireheart could do. Bluestar had given her a order, and the Clan had agreed.
Fireheart glanced at Sandstorm and was relieved to find her friends eyes filled with sympathy. She knew Sandstorm would understand her struggle between compassion for the sick cats and the desire to protect her Clan from the illness.
"Let's go," Sandstorm meowed softly. "The sooner they get back to their own camp, the better."
"Okay," Fireheart agreed. She looked at Littlecloud, forcing herself to ignore the deseration on the small cats face. "The Thunderpath is busy. There are always more monster about in greenleaf. We'll help you cross."
"No need," whispered Littlecloud. "We can cross ourselves."
"We'll take you there anyway," Fireheart told him. "Come on."
The ShadowClan warriors heaved themselves to their paws and padded unsteadily to the camp entrance. Sandstorm and Fireheart followed without speaking, although Fireheart drew in her breath sharply as she watched the sick cats haul themselves painfully up the ravine.
As they made their way into the forest, a mouse scuttled across the path in front of them. The ShadowClan warriors ears twitched but they were to weak to give chase. Without stopping to think, Fireheart shot ahead of Sandstorm and tracked the scent of the muse into the undergrowth. She killed it and carried it back to the sickly ShadowClan cats, dropping it at Littlecloud's paws. As if they felt to ill to be grateful, they said nothing but crouched and nibbled at the fresh-kill.
Fireheart saw Sandstorm looking doubtfully. "They can't spread sickness by eating," she pointed out. And they'll need their strength to return to their camp."
"Looks like they don't have much appetite anyway," Sandstorm commented as Littlecloud and Whitethroat suddenly got up and stumbled away from the half-eaten mouse into the undergrowth. A moment later Fireheart heard them retching.
"A waste of prey," Sandstorm muttered, scraping dust over the remains of the mouse.
"I guess," answered Fireheart, disappointed. She waited till the two cats reappeared, then led Sandstorm after them.
Fireheart could smell the acrid fumes of the Thunderpath a few moments before the rumbling of the monsters reached them through the leaf-laden trees. Sandstorm meowed to the ShadowClan cats, "I know you don't want our help, but we'll see you across the Thunderpath." Fireheart nodded in agreement. She was more concerned about their safety than suspicious that the cats would not leave ThunderClan territory.
"We'll cross alone," insisted Littlecloud. "Just leave us here."
Fireheart looked sharply at him, suddenly wondering if she should be less trusting. But she still found it hard to believe that these sick warriors posed any threat to her Clan. "Okay," she conceded. Sandstorm flashed her a questioning glance, but Fireheart gave a small signal with her tail and the orange she-cat sat down. Littlecloud and Whitethroat nodded farewell and disappeared into the ferns.
"Are we going to-" began Sandstorm.
"Follow them?" Fireheart guessed what her friend was going to say. "I suppose we should." They waited a few moments for the sound of the ShadowClan cats to fade into the bushes, and then began to track them through the forest.
"This isn't the way to the Thunderpath," Sandstorm whispered as the trail veered toward Fourtrees.
"Perhaps they're following the route they came by," Fireheart suggested, touching her nose to the tip of a bramble stem. The fresh stench of the sick cats made her lip curl. "Come on," she mowed. "Let's catch up to them." Anxiety flashed through her. Had she been wrong about the ShadowClan cats? Were they heading back into ThunderClan territory in spite of their promise to leave? She quickened her pace and Sandstorm ran silently at her heels.
The noise of the Thunderpath hummed like sleepy bees in the distance. The ShadowClan cats seemed to be following a trail that ran parallel with the stinking stone path. Their scent led Fireheart and Sandstorm out of the cover of the forest ferns and onto a bare patch of ground. Just ahead, the ShadowClan cats had crossed the scentline that marked the border between the two territories and were ducking into a clump of brambles, unaware of their ThunderClan shadows.
Sandstorm narrowed her eyes. "Why are they going in there?"
"Let's find out," Fireheart replied. She hurried forward, swallowing a prickle of fear as she crossed the scentline. The rumble of the Thunderpath had grown much louder, and her ears twitched uncomfortably at the bruising din. The memory of being hit by a monster in leafbare still there in her mind every time she crossed or stepped foot on the Thunderpath.
The ThunderClan warriors picked their way through the barbed stems. Fireheart was painfully aware they were on hostile territory now, but she had to be sure that the ShadowClan cats were returning to their camp. By the sound of it, the Thunderpath was only a few foxlengths in front of them now, and the scent of the sick cats was almost drowned by its fumes.
Suddenly the brambles ended and Fireheart found herself stepping out onto the filthy grass that edged the Thunderpath. "Careful!" she warned Sandstorm as she hopped out beside her. The hard gray path lay right in front of them, simmering in the heat, and the ginger she-cat shrank back s a monster roared past. Fireheart herself reframed from shrinking back as well.
"Where are the ShadowClan cats?" Sandstorm asked.
Fireheart stared across the Thunderpath, screwing her eyes up and flattening her ears as more monsters screamed past, their bitter wind dragging at her fur and whiskers. The sick cats were nowhere to be seen, but they couldn't possibly have crossed already.
"Look," Sandstorm hissed. She pointed with her nose. Fireheart followed her wide-eyed stare along the dusty strip of grass. It was empty apart from a tiny flicker of movement where the top of Whitethroats tail was disappearing into the ground, underneath the stinking flat stone of the Thunderpath.
Fireheart's jade green eyes grew round with disbelief. It was as if the Thunderpath had opened its mouth a swallowed the ShadowClan cats whole. "Where have the gone?" Fireheart gasped.
"Let's have a closer look," suggested Sandstorm, already trotting toward the place where the ShadowClan cats had disappeared.
Fireheart hurried after her. As they neared the patch of grass that had swallowed up the black tail, she noticed a shadow where the earth dipped away sharply into a hollow beside the Thunderpath. It was the entrance to a stone tunnel that led under the Thunderpath, like the one she'd used with Graystripe on their journey to find WindClan. Sandstorm's pelt brushed against her as they crept down the slope and cautiously sniffed the gloomy entrance. Fireheart felt a rush of wind on her ears from the monsters roaring past above, but as well as the stench of the Thunderpath, she could smell the fresh scents of the ShadowClan cats. They had definitely come this way.
The tunnel was perfectly round, lined with pale cream stone about the height of two cats. The moss that grew halfway up the smooth sides told Fireheart that the tunnel ran with water during leaf-bare. Now it was dry, the bottom littered with leaves and Twoleg rubbish.
"Have you heard of this place?" asked Sandstorm.
Fireheart shook her head. "It must be how ShadowClan crossed to get to Fourtrees."
"A lot easier than dodging the monsters," commented Sandstorm.
"No wonder Littlecloud wanted to be left to cross the Thunderpath alone. This tunnel is a secret ShadowClan would want to keep for themselves. Let's get back to the camp and tell Bluestar."
Fireheart dashed up the slope and back into the forest, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Sandstorm was with her. She came charging after Fireheart, and the two she-cats headed home. As they crossed the scentline, Fireheart felt the familiar relief of being back in the safety of the ThunderClan territory; although, after hearing Littlecloud's news about the sickness in ShadowClan, she doubted if the rival Clan was in a fit state to keep up their border patrols anyway.
They raced back to camp, Fireheart felt a nagging feeling to get back to her Clan and report to Bluestar that it seemed to give her paws speed. Both she-cats shot through the woods and when they reached the ravine, all but scrambled down without breaking stride. Outside the gorse tunnel they both took a moment to calm down, smoothing out their wind ruffled fur and padding into camp with dignified heads held high. With a flick of her tail to Sandstorm, Fireheart left her waiting as she called out to her leader. "Bluestar!" Fireheart felt hotter than ever and breathless after the run home, and came straight to Bluestar's den to give her the information they had found by following the two ShadowClan cats.
"Yes?" came the answer through the lichen. Fireheart pushed her way in. The ThunderClan leader was lying in her nest with paws tucked neatly under her chest.
"We found a tunnel just inside ShadowClan territory," she told her. "It leads under the Thunderpath."
"I hope you didn't follow it," growled Bluestar.
Fireheart hestited. She had expected her leader to be excited by this discover; instead her tone was harsh and accusing. "N-no, we didn't," she stammered.
"You took too much risk entering their territory at all. We don't want to antagonize ShadowClan."
"If ShadowClan is as weak as the warriors said, I don't think they'd do anything about it," she pointed out, but Bluestar stared past her, apparently busy with her own thoughts.
"Have those two cats gone?" she asked.
"Yes. They went through the tunnel. That's how we found it," Fireheart explained.
Bluestar nodded distantly. "I see."
Fireheart searched the ThunderClan leader's eyes for some hint of compassion. Didn't she care about the sickness in ShadowClan at all? "Did we do the right thing, sending them back?" she couldn't help asking.
"Of course!" snapped Bluestar. "We don't want sickness in the camp again, think about your kits?"
"No, we don't," Fireheart agreed at once, although she still pitied the ShadowClan cats.
As she turned to leave, Bluestar added, "Don't tell anyone about the tunnel yet."
"Okay," Fireheart promised, slipping through the lichen. She wondered why Bluestar wanted to keep the tunnel a secret. After all, she had uncovered a weakness in ShadowClan's border that could become a strength for ThunderClan. Not that she felt ShadowClan deserved any sort of attack at the moment, but surely a better knowledge of the forest could only be a good thing? Fireheart sighed as Sandstorm dashed up to her.
"What did she say? Was she pleased we'd found the tunnel?" she demanded.
Fireheart shook her head. "She told me to keep it a secret."
"Why?" Sandstorm meowed in surprise.
Fireheart shrugged and kept going towards the nursery. Sandstorm trotted after her. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Is it Bluestar? Did she say anything else?"
Fireheart realized she was giving away too much of her anxiety about the ThunderClan leader. She bent to give her chest fur a quick lick, then lifted her head and meowed with forced brightness. "I must go. I promised I'd take Fernpaw hunting this afternoon."
"Do you want me and Cloudpaw to come with you?" Sandstorm's eyes looked concerned, and she added. "It'll be fun. We haven't been hunting together in ages." She nodded toward the apprentices den, where Cloudpaw was washing his pelt and Fernpaw was finishing off a mouse. "Cloudpaw is doing well in his training," she added. "He caught more prey than any apprentice yesterday." She purred with pride. "I haven't taken him out today, so he must be bored."
"I think that's a good idea," Fireheart meowed, thankful to have a friend to come and hunt with. "And if Cloudpaw is good as you say he is, Fernpaw might get to see how an experienced apprentice hunts."
"Just watch him in action," Sandstorm responded cheerfully. "He's almost as good as me with catching rabbits and we might just catch one for you." Fireheart saw mischief flash in her pale green eyes, and Fireheart knew she was referring to the time they'd hunted together in a snowbound forest that shimmered with frost, when she had surprised Fireheart with her speed and skill. "Unless you've finally learned how to catch them for yourself!" Sandstorm teased, flickering her tail over Fireheart muzzle as she trotted on ahead, calling out to Cloudpaw.
Fireheart felt a purr rise in her throat, happy to have a friend like Sandstorm. She caught up and padded over to Fernpaw, who was scraping earth over the bones of her finished meal. "Are you ready to go hunting." Fireheart asked as Fernpaw blinked up at her mentor, eyes shining.
"I'm ready!" Fernpaw replied obediently, her whiskers twitching with excitement.
"Good, We're going hunting with Cloudpaw and Sandstorm," Fireheart said with satisfaction, her apprentice coming to trott at her side as she lead her over to where Sandstorm and Cloudpaw were already waiting by the gorse tunnel.
"Ready?" Sandstorm questioned, her head tilted to the side. But before Fireheart could answer, a call of the pale ginger she-cat's name was heard across the clearing, "Sandstorm!" Turning around, both Fernpaw and Fireheart let out amused murmures as the young warrior, Brackenfur, came trotting over towards them. His golden-brown tabby fur was freshly washed, and his head was raised along with his tail.
He gave a respectful nod to Fireheart and meowed a greeting to both Fernpaw and Cloudpaw, but his amber eyes were firmly fixed on Sandstorm. "Would you like to go hunting with me?" He asked, a gleam of hope in his eyes.
Sandstorm's pale green eyes gleamed in delight, although her tone had an edge of teasing to it. "I'm actually hunting with Fireheart and our apprentices,"
Brackenfur ducked his head sheepishly as he stuttered out, "W-well, maybe later?"
"Or you can accompany us now." Sandstorm added, and Fireheart was quick to agree. Brackenfur's eyes lit once again with a special brightness, and he was quick to follow after Sandstorm who along with Cloudpaw, was exiting out through the gorse tunnel.
"I wonder when they're going to make it official," Fernpaw meowed teasingly to Fireheart, who glanced down at her apprentice with an exaggerated look of confusion.
"What ever do you mean?" Fireheart meowed back, faking innocence that Fernpaw jokingly glared back at.
"That their mates!" Fernpaw purred, her own eyes becoming glazed over at the thought as she gazed up ahead at where Brackenfur and Sandstorm where climbing side by side up the ravine.
"I would like to have someone to love me like Brackenfur loves Sandstorm," Fernpaw breathed, scrambling up boulder to boulder as both her and Fireheart climbed up the ravine.
"They do make a good pair," Fireheart replied, looking at Sandstorm and Brackenfur walking so closely together, and talking softly to each other like they were the only two cats in the whole forest. It made her remember that, that was the same way both Fireheart and Tigerclaw acted. So lost in one another, and full of happiness.
"Wouldn't you like to fall in love with someone like them?" Fernpaw purred, although forgetting that Fireheart had someone to love. But Fireheart stayed quiet, Sandstorm lead the group into the forest, Cloudpaw stopped and sniffed the air abruptly, making the party freeze in place as the white apprentice took a wiff of the air.
"I smell rabbit," he mewed. The three older warriors lifted their heads, Fernpaw following their example and drew in a deep breath. The apprentice was right.
"Over there," whispered Cloudpaw, dropping into the hunter's crouch as Sandstorm dropped alongside her apprentice. The other three members of the group crouched down, and waited in place. Soon enough a bright flicker in the bushes betrayed the white tail of a young rabbit.
With a glance at her apprentice, Sandstorm began creeping up to the rabbit on the right side, her apprentice circling around the other side. Both on silent and steady paws as they stalked the rabbit on both sides. The rabbit's tail flickered again and Cloudpaw dashed towards it, not seemingly trying to catch it, but scare it over towards where Sandstorm had positioned herself in between some bramble bushes, out of sight. The startled rabbit took off in fright, and running right into Sandstorm's waiting paws where she killed it with expect swiftness.
Both mentor and apprentice shared a triumphant pleased look. Fireheart felt impressed at how well they worked together, they seemed to be on the same wave-length to catch that rabbit. Sandstorm buried the rabbit for later as they continued onward, stopping a time or two to show Fernpaw the most excellent places to find mice, and perfect her hunting crouch.
Before long, the group of three warriors and two apprentice's had a good haul between them. And Fireheart was pleased at her own apprentice's skills, earning praise for catching a black bird right out of the air.
When they started to retrieve their catches, Fernpaw stopped in place, and went over to a clump of fern bushes and took a deep sniff at the leaves. Her head snapped back and her eyes widened in surprise as she called out to the group, or more importantly, Fireheart. "I smell Swiftpaw and Spottedkit, and it's fresh too!"
Fireheart trotted over, shocked when she too breathed in the fresh scent of her kit and the black-and-white apprentice. Rage filled Fireheart, after she clearly told them not to go out by themselves, they went behind her back and did it again anyway.
With a snort of distaste Fireheart looked over at a concerned Sandstorm, her pale green eyes questioning what Fireheart would do. "Brackenfur, can you take Fernpaw back to camp? I need to go collect these two before anything happens to them."
"Yes, Fireheart." Brackenfur agreed, his eyes catching with Sandstorm as they both looked at each other in concern. Ignoring their looks Fireheart raced through the fern bushes and into the undergrowth, her senses alert for any signs of Swiftpaw or Spottedkit. She picked up their scents near Tallpines, it was easy as the undergrowth was sparse beneath the shade of the towering pine trees. The scent grew until she could make out the ThunderClan border, and straining her ears, could hear Swiftpaw's voice, sounding surprisingly mature.
"This is ThunderClan's border, we mark it twice, once at dawn and once at sunset. But sometimes it helps to check it more often," Swiftpaw seemed to be saying as Fireheart edged nearer, able to see the apprentice's black and white pelt, and Spottedkit's much darker flame colored pelt.
"We also send out hunting patrols several times a day, to be able to feed the Clan. The apprentices and warriors hunt and patrol the borders, to keep the Clan safe and to feed elders, queens and young kits like you, who are unable to," Fireheart was impressed at the apprentice's learning and easy instructions, it almost outweighed Fireheart's fury of them being out here all alone...almost.
"What's beyond the border?" Spottedkit asked curiously, Fireheart could see her amber eyes were wide and innocent as they gazed across the border at Twolegplace. The trees were thinned out here, and Princess Twoleg nest was near here.
"Twolegplace," Swiftpaw replied, a more disgusted tone as he snorted the word out through his teeth. "That are full of Twolegs, and also Kittypets."
"Twolegs? Kittypets?" Spottedkit repeated the words, her nose crinkling at the foreign words.
"Twolegs are these creatures that stand on two legs, and have bright colored pets that live in those nests," Swiftpaw replied, gesturing with his nose towards one of the nearest Twoleg nest.
"And Kittypets are their housecats, their soft and lazy and eat slop all day. And have no respect for the warrior code or StarClan." Swiftpaw told her.
Spottedkit's eyes were wider than ever now, her ears pinned back as her claws sank into the soft forest floor. "That's horrible! Who would want to live like that?" Swiftpaw's whiskers twitched in satisfaction, as his pale amber eyes softened when Spottedkit still looked horrified.
"Don't worry, you won't become a kittypet, I'll make certain of that." Swiftpaw reassured her, Spottedkit's looked mildly pleased by Swiftpaw's promise but Fireheart felt annoyed and angry towards Longtail's apprentice.
Straightening up, Fireheart made her presence known. Startling the two cats as she stalked right up to them, Swiftpaw for a fraction of a second looked surprised before his face set in a scowl.
"What are you two doing out here, again?" Fireheart demanded, her fur rising along her spine as Swiftpaw snorted dismissively as her question.
"We're checking the border," Spottedkit meowed excitedly, clearly not understanding her mother's anger.
"Oh, did you suddenly become an apprentice?" Fireheart asked hotly, guilt fighting the anger when her daughter's flashed with hurt. Turning away from her daughter she focused on Swiftpaw, the reckless hotheaded apprentice that glared back up at Fireheart. "What did I tell you? You shouldn't be out her without a warrior and you should never take a kit out here!"
"We're not causing any harm," Swiftpaw retorted defensively, his eyes were set like stone. "Besides, Spottedkit wanted to see the border. And Longtail was out on patrol so I offered to show her."
"It's against the warrior code for kits to be outside camp, or hasn't Longtail taught you that?" Fireheart mocked, a part of her knowing that it was petty to get into an argument with an apprentice, but she was angry due to her fear that something could have happened to her kit.
"He taught me just fine!" Swiftpaw hissed, his own pelt rising in anger at the jab at his mentor.
"Obviously he hasn't," Fireheart snapped back, her jade green eyes darkening on the apprentice, her daughter had shrank back by now. Trying to make herself small in the face of these two angry cats.
"What do you know about Longtail anyway? You're just a kittypet!" Swiftpaw yowled in rage, his lips drawn back in a snarl nose to nose with Fireheart.
"Who is also deputy of ThunderClan," Fireheart pointed out, her voice low and cold. "And you are to go back to camp this instinct and until further notice, you are on elder duty," Swiftpaw's eyes widened a fraction but he did not let up with his anger. "And I don't ever want a repeat of this again!"
Swiftpaw glared hotly at Fireheart, and for a moment she thought he would refuse. But he forced his fur flat his stance straightening but he did not drop his glare or scowl. "Come on Spottedkit," Swiftpaw jerked his head to the young kit who took one paw step forward until Fireheart stopped her with a firm look.
"You stay here, Spottedkit. You go on ahead Swiftpaw," She ordered, Swiftpaw looked ready to protest, but thinking better he clamped his muzzle shut and stalked past Fireheart towards camp. Fireheart watched him disappear in the undergrowth till he was out of sight and his scent faded.
When she turned to her daughter, Spottedkit looked meek. Staring at the ground with her head slumped and ears dropped and looked quite upset, more so in herself than anyone else.
"I don't know what you were thinking!" Fireheart snapped at her daughter, her eyes blazing with anger. "Didn't I tell you before not to do something like this again? Did those words not come out of my mouth?"
"Yes," Spottedkit said weakly, still staring at her paws. Seeing her daughter took away some of Fireheart anger, blinking sympathetically at her daughter. Fireheart realized that she was still a kit, and was still learning the ways of things.
"I'm not mad, I'm just worried. You shouldn't go off like this all the time, promise me you won't go off like this again." Fireheart to wrap her tail around her daughter, allowing her to take comfort in her sleek fur.
The moment however was interrupted when a voice unexpectedly called out to Fireheart. "Fireheart!" the soft clear voice of a she-cat cried out behind the two. Whipping her head around, Fireheart was pleasantly surprised to see Princess sitting on her fence.
"Come on, Spottedkit," Fireheart meowed to her daughter. "There's someone I want you to meet." Fireheart nudged her daughter of her paws, as she guided her swiftly over to the Twoleg fence. Her own paws tingling as this would be Spottedkit's first encounter with her aunt and Fireheart's sister.
Princess jumped down from her fence as Fireheart and Spottedkit approached. For a moment Spottedkit shrank back, but with another nudge from Fireheart she kept instep. Princess tabby-and-white pelt rippled softly as she bounded towards them.
"I haven't seen you for ages!" she mewed, skidding to a halt. Her eyes widening when they came to rest of Spottedkit who was pressing herself to her mother's side. "Fireheart, who is this?"
"This is Spotted, she's the last born kit of my litter," Fireheart explained to her astonished sister. Princess blinked in surprise, before a warm purr erupted from deep in her throat. When Princess took a step forward to touch her nose to Spottedkit in greeting. Fireheart's daughter shrank back in fright, making Princess freeze in place and gaze at Fireheart as if she done something wrong.
"She's shy," Fireheart assured Princess. Turning to her kit, Fireheart nudged her more closer to Princess as she explained. "Spottedkit, this is Princess. She's my sister, and that makes her your aunt and kin, why don't you say hi?"
Spottedkit looked at Princess, looking unsure until she was right in front of Princess. This time when Princess greeted her, she didn't shrink back. Just let Princess marvel at her as she accepted Princess warm greeting. "Oh, Fireheart, she's just precious!"
Fireheart purred as her sister praised and approved of her kit. Spottedkit, although her eyes were still wide, were now filled with wonder as she stared up at her aunt. "Next time I would have to bring my other kits," Fireheart told her sister, whose eyes brightened.
"That would be great!" Princess sounded delighted at the prospects of seeing her nieces and nephews.
"We should get going," Fireheart meowed after a moment.
"Already?" Princess exclaimed. "Well, you bring the rest of your kits next time. I want to see how strong and brave they are, and maybe I can finally see this mate of yours?"
"My kits will be happy to meet you," Fireheart meowed, overlooking the mate part. She gestured for Spottedkit to follow her back to ThunderClan territory. Their walk back was silent, as if both cats were in deep thought.
"I think Swiftpaw was wrong about kittypets," Spottedkit said thoughtfully, her paws working overtime as she padded alongside her mother who looked down a her with pride. "Princess may not look like a Clan cat, but that doesn't mean she's lazy or spoiled or anything. She seems generally nice," Spottedkit told her, her amber eyes training on her mother. "You must have been a kittypet too, right? Swiftpaw said you were, but you're not soft and lazy."
"That's right, I may not have been born in ThunderClan, but that doesn't mean I dont have the heart and soul of one." Fireheart reminded her daughter, who nodded with her eyes shining.
"I think Swiftpaw just needs a good influence from a kittypet, then maybe he would change his mind about kittypets." Spottedkit meowed, her warm purrs making Fireheart's chest ach.
"Let's get back to camp, before we are missed." Fireheart meowed to her daughter, who meowed in agreement.
She's certainly your daughter, Fireheart, that thought was something Fireheart could hear Tigerclaw say at that exact moment, and this time, she allowed herself to purr at the thought.
0o0o0o
How did you like the chapter? Good, Bad? Who knows? Also I want to see 35 reviews up! But I will accept 29! I love your reviews! So remember to review! And I hope to get another chapter up shortly!
