Hello! Sorry about the delay and all! I had to help move things into my sister's new house! And also help move my things into the bigger room! (turns out that I can really pack a whole lot of things into a very small room over 18 years worth of time!) but anyway I hope that you enjoy this new update, any questions? Just P.M me, and remember to review and favorite! Also once again a shout out to:
Cloudsplash3 'Rising Flame'
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A few more days had passed, the streams in ThunderClan territory dwindled until the only freshwater to be found was near the RiverClan border, on the far side of Sunningrocks.
"There's never been a summer like it," grumbled One-eye. "The forest is as dry as a kit's bedding."
Fireheart was searching the sky for clouds from where she laid outside the nursery her kits playing beside her, sending a silent prayer to StarClan that rain would come soon. The drought was forcing the ThunderClan cats to fetch water nearer and nearer to the place where Spottedleaf had sheltered the sick ShadowClan cats, and she didn't want to risk any of the patrols coming into contact with lingering traces of disease and bringing into camp. At the same time, she was almost grateful for the distraction of worry about water, which left her less time to dwell on what had happened to Spottedkit, and where her daughter might be now.
The sunhigh patrol had just returned, and Frostfur was organizing a party of elders and queens to go to the river to drink. They gathered in the narrow shadows as the edge of the clearing.
"Why would StarClan send such a drought now?" Smallear complained. Out of the corner of her eye Fireheart saw the old gray tom glance in her direction, and she remembered with a shiver the elder's warning about the broken rituals.
"It's not the dryness that bothers me," rasped One-eye. "It's all the Twolegs out in the forest. I've never heard so many crashing around, scaring off the prey and ruining our scent markers with their stench. A bit of rain might drive them away."
"We'll I'm worried about Willowpelt," meowed Speckletail. "It's quite a journey to the stream and back, and she doesn't like to leave her kits for so long. But if she doesn't drink, her milk will dry up and her kits will starve."
"Same with Fireheart," Fireheart's ears pricked up as Goldenflower came to join them, "She's been staying in the camp more often now that one of her kits had disappeared, and Bluestar is a bit ill, she hadn't been drinking nearly enough."
"Perhaps if we each carried back moss soaked in water, they could lick moisture from that?" Patchpelt suggested.
"I think that's a great idea," Fireheart called, pushing herself to her feet. Purring as Tawnykit tumbled off her back as she was trying to swipe at Bramblekit from above. "Can you bring some back today?"
The old black-and-white tom nodded.
"We'll all bring some," offered Speckletail.
"Thank you," Fireheart blinked gratefully at her.
"We can go collect soaked moss too, mama," Hawkkit meowed, his white underbelly exposed at where he was pinned under his sister, Squirrelkit.
"Can we?" Leafkit asked with interest, her eyes half misted over as the heat made her feel sleepy. Her other sister, Mothkit was already snoozing away, her eyes closed as she used Leafkit as a head rest.
"You're too young," Fireheart said sternly, looking on as Tawnykit had regained her balance and had promptly jumped on Bramblekit and began to play-wrestle. But a pang of regret and heartache was there when she gazed upon them, Spottedkit would have also would want to help bring wet moss with the other's, although how shyly and timidly she may have asked or agreed. It stung Fireheart, knowing that Spottedkit wasn't there now with her kin and family, that she was probably off somewhere to fend for herself and Fireheart hadn't a clue as to where to begin to look. Fireheart felt helpless, probably as helpless as her last born daughter does right now. Fireheart was a bit upset, seeing all the other cats live about there day, as if Spottedkit's absence was completely overlooked, even her siblings seemed to be moving on although there was always an empty space in the nest, no matter how cramped the other kits may get, it was known as, Spottedkit's spot.
Fireheart shook her head, trying to get back in focus, Goldenflower had been right. She had to keep going forward, but it didn't stop Fireheart from missing her daughter with unrepressed intensity. She called to Sandstorm and Brackenfur, who were resting in the shade of the nettle patch after the sunhigh patrol. They leaped up at once and trotted over to her.
"Would you escort Smallear and the others?" Fireheart meowed. "I don't know how close to the river they'll have to go, and they'll need some backup if they bump into a RiverClan patrol." She paused. "I know you're tired, but the other cats are out training, and I need to stay with Whitestorm to guard the camp."
"No problem," meowed Brackenfur easily.
"I'm up for anything," insisted Sandstorm, fixing Fireheart with a firm green-eyed look.
"Great," Fireheart meowed, happy for her friends compliance and courteously sending them off with good wishes when the group padded out of the gorse tunnel leaving her and her kits in the deserted clearing. Whitestorm was with Bluestar, in her den. Willowpelt was in the nursery with her new litter and Goldenflower had gone with the elders and other queens.
Fireheart glanced over at her kits, they frisked around one another now, Mothkit roused from her sleep to join in on the fun. Leafkit and Hawkkit were acting like a pair of foxes, while Bramblekit, Tawnykit, Squirrelkit and Mothkit worked together to drive them back away from the nursery.
"You'll never get Willowpelt's kits!" Tawnykit hissed, her pale ginger tortoiseshell fur sticking up to look threatening.
"Get out of our way or we'll eat you!" Hawkkit hissed back, eyes flashing between Squirrelkit and Tawnykit.
"Foxes don't talk!" Squirrelkit pointed out, her ginger fur spiked.
"Well, maybe you should be the fox then? We could do with the peace and quiet!" Hawkkit remarked sarcastically, only to break off with a yelp as both Tawnykit and Squirrelkit jumped him. His bushy tail and flailing paws the only thing seen underneath his sisters.
Fireheart blinked fondly at her kits, their spirits high, although she couldn't help but fret in this type of weather. She could hear Willowpelt's kits mewling in the nursery, Fireheart's thoughts were how hungry they would be if their mother didn't get water soon. She hoped that the cats wouldn't have to travel all the way to the river, and she pictured the band of queens and elders moving slowly through the undergrowth with Sandstorm and Brackenfur beside them, the elders walking as they talked about their apprentice and warrior days. With a jolt, she remembered the sick ShadowClan cats. What if Spottedleaf hadn't really sent them away and they were still hiding there?
"Beware a liar, that blood trails after." Fireheart shuddered as she remembered the omen. It couldn't be that she was thinking that Spottedleaf of all cats would lie to her? But it was a good idea to check.
"Hawkkit!" Fireheart called out to one of only two toms in Fireheart litter of seven, the tom in question popped his head out of the tussles of fur followed by the heads of his other siblings. "You and your siblings stay over there, I'll be back in a moment."
"Alright!" Hawkkit called back, wiggling his way out of ginger and tortoiseshell fur. "Squirrelkit can be the fox now!"
Fireheart padded briskly toward the medicine cats clearing and nearly bumped into Spottedleaf who was padding out of the tunnel entrance.
"Fireheart, why the hurry?" Spottedleaf meowed teasingly, and then she looked at the edgy look on Fireheart's face and her expression changed.
"Did you tell Littlecloud and Whitethroat they must leave?" Fireheart whispered urgently.
"We've been through all this already." Spottedleaf sighed, shaking her head.
"Are you sure they've gone?" Fireheart insisted.
"They promised to leave that night." Her amber eyes challenged Fireheart to argue with her.
"And there's no stench of sickness left?" she persisted, her fur prickling with worry.
"Look!" she finally snapped, her amber eyes flashing with annoyance. "I told them to leave and they said they would. I don't have time for this. There are berries to be collected, and the birds will get them if I don't. If you don't believe me about the ShadowClan cats, why don't you check for yourself?"
A low yowl came from the medicine cat's den. "I don't know who you're mewing at out there, but stop it now and go and fetch those berries!"
"Sorry, Yellowfang," Spottedleaf called over her shoulder. "I'm just having a word with Fireheart." Her eyes flashed accusingly at her as Yellowfang's voice sounded again.
"Well, tell her to stop wasting your time, or she'll have me to answer to!"
Spottedleaf's shoulders relaxed and her whiskers twitched with amusement. Fireheart felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry to keep going on about it, Spottedleaf. It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that I-"
"You're just worrisome mother," she told her, nudging her shoulder affectionately as her amber eyes softened. "Go and check out the root cave for yourself, if you want to put your mind at rest." She brushed by her and padded toward the camp entrance.
Spottedleaf was right. Fireheart knew she would be satisfied only once she'd seen the ancient oak herself to make sure it was free of both ShadowClan cats and sickness. But she couldn't leave now. She and Whitestorm were the only warriors in the camp. And her kits needed to be watched, and all the other queens were out, and Willowpelt had her paws full with her own newborn kits. Her fur itching with frustration and worry, Fireheart began to pace the clearing. Keeping one eye on her kits at all times. As she turned below the Highrock to retrace her steps yet again, she spotted Whitestorm padding toward her.
"Have you decided on the evening patrol yet?" called the white warrior.
"I thought Runningwind could take Thornpaw and Mousefur."
"Good idea," answered Whitestorm distractedly. He clearly had something on his mind. "Could Brightpaw go with the dawn patrol tomorrow?" he asked. "The experience will do her good. I...I haven't been keeping up with her training lately." Whitestorm's ear twitched and, with a twinge of unease, Fireheart realized that the white warrior had been spending more and more of his time with Bluestar. She couldn't help suspecting that Whitestorm was afraid of what the ThunderClan leader might do if he left her alone for too long. At the same time Fireheart felt guiltily relieved that there was another cat in the Clan-the most respected senior warrior, no less-who shared her concerns for their troubled leader.
"Of course," she instantly agreed.
Whitestorm sat down beside Fireheart and looked on as Fireheart's kits played their fox game near the nursery. "It's quiet this afternoon."
"Sandstorm and Brackenfur have taken the elders and queens to drink by the river. Patchpelt suggested bringing back moss soaked with water for Willowpelt and myself."
Whitestorm nodded. "Perhaps they could share some with Bluestar. She seems reluctant to leave the camp." The old warrior lowered his voice. "She's been licking the dew from the leaves each morning, but she needs more than that in this heat."
Fireheart felt a fresh wave of anxiety swell in her chest. "She seemed so much better the other day."
"She is getting better all the time," the white warrior assured her. "But still, she…" His deep mew trailed away and, although Fireheart felt shaken by the dark frown on the old warrior's face, there was no need to say any more.
"I understand," she murmured. "I'll ask Patchpelt to take her some when they return."
"Thank you." Whitestorm narrowed his eyes at Fireheart. "You're doing very well, you know," he remarked calmly.
Fireheart sat up. "What do you mean?"
"Being deputy. I know it hasn't been easy, with your kits, with Bluestar...the way she is, and the drought, and Tigerclaw. But I doubt there's a cat in the Clan who would deny that Bluestar made the right choice when she appointed you."
Apart from Dirtstripe, Dustpelt, and half the elders, Fireheart responded silently. Then she realized she was being churlish, and she blinked gratefully at the white warrior. "Thank you, Whitestorm," she purred. She couldn't help feeling encouraged by such high praise from this wise cat, whose opinion she valued as much as Bluestar's.
"And I'm sorry about Spottedkit," Whitestorm went on gently. "It must be very hard on you. After all, she was your kit, and I promise that in the future that all apprentices will be accounted for along with kits."
Fireheart was touched for the white senior warriors words, her heart clenching as her missing daughter was mentioned. "Thank you," she rasped out, almost choked with emotion. "I just wish that things could have gone differently and she wouldn't have stepped paw out of camp."
"She was a kind, good hearted kit," Whitestorm meowed softly. "But perhaps StarClan has given her a special destiny. I am no medicine cat; I cannot read the stars like Yellowfang or Spottedleaf, but I have always been willing to trust our warrior ancestors, wherever they might lead our Clan."
And that is what makes you such a noble warrior, Fireheart thought, filled with admiration for Whitestorm's loyalty to the warrior code. Fireheart only hoped that Spottedkit's destiny would lead her back home, or at the very least to a safe and happy place.
The sound of pebbles clattering outside the camp wall made both cats jump. Fireheart dashed to the camp entrance. Giving a stern look to her kits to stay where they were as they looked up from their game. Speckletail and the others were crashing down the rocky slope, sending grit and dirt crumbling around them. Their fur was bristling and their eyes were filled with alarm.
"Twolegs!" Speckletail panted as she reached the foot of the ravine. Fireheart looked up to where Brackenfur and Sandstorm were helping the eldest cats as they struggled down from boulder to boulder.
"It's okay," Sandstorm called down. "We lost them."
When they were all safely at the bottom, Brackenfur explained, his breath coming in frightened gasps: "There was a group of young ones. They chased us!"
Fireheart's fur bristled with alarm as a terrified mewing broke out among the other cats. "Are you all okay?" she meowed. Sandstorm looked around the group and nodded.
"Good." Fireheart steadied herself with a deep breath. "Where were these Twolegs were they by the river?"
"We hadn't even reached Sunningrocks," answered Sandstorm. Her voice grew calmer as she got her breath back, and her eyes began to gleam with indignation. "They were loose in the woods, not on the usual Twoleg paths."
Fireheart tried not to betray her alarm. Twolges rarely ventured this deep into the forest, and the fresh memory of Spottedkit's abduction was still in the front of her mind. "We shall have to wait till dark to fetch water," she decided out loud.
"Do you think they'll be gone by then?" asked One-eye shakily.
"Why would they stay?" Fireheart tried to sound reassuring despite her private doubts. Who could predict what a Twoleg might do?
"But what about Willowpelt?" fretted Speckletail. "She'll need water before then."
"I'll go and fetch some," offered Sandstorm.
"No," meowed Fireheart. "I'll go." Fetching water for Willowpelt would give her a perfect opportunity to take Spottedleaf's advice and check for herself that the ShadowClan cats and their sickness had gone from the cave beneath the old oak. She nodded to Sandstorm. "I need you to stay at the top of the ravine and look out for Twolegs."
One-eye let out an anxious mew. "I'm sure they'll have turned back by now," Fireheart soothed the elder. "But you'll be safe with Sandstorm on guard." Fireheart looked at her friends shimmering emerald eyes and knew that she could trust Sandstorm.
"I'll come with you," meowed Brackenfur.
Fireheart shook her head. She had to make this journey alone to avoid any other cats finding out about Spottedleaf's foolish good deed. "You'll need to guard the camp with Whitestorm," she told the golden brown warrior. "And I want you to report what you saw in the forest just now to Bluestar. I'll carry back as much moss as I can. The rest of you will have to wait till sunset."
"Are you sure you don't want someone to go with you?" Goldenflower asked as she walked up, her pale green eyes looking worried.
"I'll be fine and quicker by myself, Goldenflower," Fireheart turned to the pale ginger she-cat. "Look after my kits, alright?" the pale ginger she-cat nodded her head. Fireheart and Sandstorm climbed the ravine together, cautiously sniffing the air as they approached the top. There was no scent of Twolegs here.
"Be careful," Sandstorm advised as Fireheart prepared to head into the forest.
"I will," Fireheart promised, nudging Sandstorm's shoulder playfully. Then Fireheart turned and crept warily through the trees. She kept to the thickest undergrowth, her ears pricked and her mouth half-open as she strained her senses to pick up any sings of Twolegs. She smelled their unnatural stench as she approached Sunningrocks, but it was stale now.
Fireheart turned and cut through the woods to the slope above the river that marked the RiverClan border. As she checked for RiverClan patrols, she couldn't help looking out for the familiar gray head of her friend, Graystripe. But there was no sign of any cats in the airless forest. Fireheart would be able to fetch water from the stream without being challenged, but first she had to check the cave beneath the ancient oak.
She headed along the border, stopping at every other tree to leave her scent and freshen the boundary between the two Clans. Even this close to the river, the forest had lost its newleaf lushness and the leaves looked shriveled and worn. Fireheart soon spotted the gnarled oak, and as she drew near she saw the dusty cave where the ShadowClan cats had sheltered.
She breathed deeply. The stench of the sickness had gone. With a sigh of relief she decided to take a quick look inside and then fetch the water. She padded forward, her eyes fixed on the hole. SHe crouched low, then cautiously stretched her neck and peered into the makeshift den.
She let out a startled gasp as a weight dropped onto her back and claws grasped her sides. Fear and rage pulsed through her and she yowled, twisting violently like a slippery fish. She wiggled out of the cats hold, when she turned around to the attacker she found to her surprised a cheerful looking gray tom who had his claws sheathed.
"Graystripe!" she meowed joyfully.
"I thought you would never come to see me," purred Graystripe.
Fireheart came to touch muzzles, but pulled back quickly as Graystripe was soaking wet. She twitched the water off her whiskers and stared in amazement at the gray warrior. "You swam across the river?" she meowed in disbelief. Every cat in ThunderClan knew how much Graystripe hated getting his thick fur wet.
Graystripe gave himself a quick shake, and the water spattered easily from his pelt. His long fur, which used to soak up water like moss, looked sleek and glossy. "It's quicker than going down to the stepping-stones," she pointed out. "Besides, my fur doesn't seem to hold the water as much anymore. One of the advantages of eating fish, I suppose."
"About the only one, I should think," answered Fireheart, screwing up her face. She couldn't imagine how the strong flavor of fish could compare to the subtle, musky flavors of ThunderClan's forest prey.
"It's not so bad once you get used to it," meowed Graystripe. He blinked warmly at Fireheart. "You look well."
"You too," Fireheart purred back.
"How is everyone? Is Dustpelt still being a pain? How's Bluestar?"
"Dustpelt's fine," Fireheart began, and then hesitated. "Bluestar is…" She searched for words, unsure how much to tell her old friend about the ThunderClan leader.
"What's up?" asked Graystripe, his eyes narrowing. Fireheart realized that the gray warrior knew her too well to miss her reaction. Her ears flicked self-consciously. "Bluestar's all right, isn't she?" Graystripe's voice was thick with concern.
"She's fine," Fireheart assured him quickly, relieved-it was her anxiety about the ThunderClan leader that Graystripe had detected, not her wariness of her old friend. "But she hadn't really been her old self lately. Not since Tigerclaw…" She trailed off uncertainly.
Graystripe frowned. "Have you seen that old poisonpaws since he left?"
Fireheart shook her head, biting back a defense in Tigerclaw's place. That was what Tigerclaw was now, right? "Not a sign of him. I don't know how bluestar would react if she saw him again." 'or how I would react if I saw him again.'
"She'd scratch his eyes out, if I know here," purred Graystripe. "I can't imagine anything keeping Bluestar down for long."
I wish that were true, Fireheart thought sadly. She looked into Graystripe's curious eyes, knowing with a pang of sadness that her desire to confide in her old friend had been an impossible dream. Graystripe was a member of RiverClan now, and Fireheart had to accept with a heavy heart that she couldn't share the details of her leader's weakness with a cat from another Clan. And she also realized that she wasn't prepared to tell Graystripe about Spottedkit's disappearance-at least, not yet, anyway. It was too soon. But she suspected her silence might have more to do with pride. She didn't want Graystripe to know that being deputy, mentor and raising kits have been stretching her thin.
"What's it like in RiverClan?" she meowed, deliberately changing the subject.
Graystripe shrugged. "Not much different from ThunderClan. Some of them are friendly, some of them are grumpy, and some of are funny, some of them are...well, they're just like normal Clan cats, I suppose."
Fireheart couldn't help envying the gray warrior for sounding so relaxed. Clearly Graystripe's new life didn't carry the burden of responsibility that Fireheart had to deal with now that she was deputy. And part of her still felt a small thorn of resentment that had mingled with her grief since Graystripe had left ThunderClan with her adopted kits. Fireheart knew her friend could not have abandoned his kits then Fireheart could abandon her own: she just wished he'd fought harder to keep them in ThunderClan.
Fireheart pushed away these unfriendly thoughts. "How are your kits?" she asked, finding herself wondering how her adopted kits have been doing.
Graystripe purred proudly. "They're wonderful!" he declared. "The Featherkit is just like her mother, every bit as beautiful, and with the same temper! She gives her den mother quite a bit of trouble, but every cat loves her. Especially Crookedstar. Stormkit is more easygoing, happy whatever he's doing."
"Like his father," remarked Fireheart, happy to hear that the kits were doing fine.
"And almost as handsome," boosted Graystripe, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Fireheart felt an old familiar rush of joy at being with her old friend. "I miss you," she meowed, suddenly overwhelmed with longing to have Graystripe back at the camp to hunt and fight beside her again. "Why don't you come home?"
Graystripe shook his wide gray head. "I can't leave my kits," he meowed. Fireheart couldn't help the look of hurt that flashed in her eyes, and seeing this Graystripe went on quickly: "Oh, they are very well cared for in the nursery. They would be safe and happy with RiverClan. But I don't think I could bear to be away from them. They remind me to much of Silverstream."
"You miss her that much?" Fireheart questioned.
"Don't you miss Tigerclaw?" Graystripe retorted, making Fireheart snap her head back as if she been slashed across the muzzle. "Love doesn't just disappear Fireheart, I know you still love Tigerclaw, and anyone that has ever known you can tell that you love him even after all that he has done," Graystripe looked more thoughtful as he continued. "And I don't blame you."
Fireheart blinked owlishly at Graystripe, before nodding her head in reluctant agreement. Her old friend was right, no matter how much she tried to deny it or get him out of her mind. "Enough soppy stuff!" Graystripe declared, shaking out of thick gray fur as if shaking off the memories. "You didn't really come her e to see me, did you?"
Fireheart was caught off guard. "Well, not entirely…" she confessed.
"You were looking for those ShadowClan cats, right?" Graystripe meowed with a knowing look.
"How did you know about them?" Fireheart demanded, stunned.
"How could I not know?" exclaimed Graystripe. "The stench they were giving off. ShadowClan cats smell bad enough on their own, but sick ones...yuck!"
"Does the rest of RiverClan know about them?" Fireheart was alarmed to think that the other Clans could have found out ThunderClan was sheltering ShadowClan cats again-and ones tainted by sickness at that.
"Not as far as I know," Graystripe assured her. "I offered to do all the patrolling at this end of the river. The other cats just thought I was homesick and indulged me. I think they were secretly hoping I'd go back to ThunderClan if I got enough of the forest scents!"
"But why would you protect the ShadowClan cats like that?" Fireheart asked, puzzled.
"I came over and spoke to them soon after they arrived," Graystripe explained. "They told me that Spottedleaf had hidden them here. I reckoned that if Spottedleaf had something to do with it, then you must know. Sheltering a couple of sickly fleabags is just the sort of soft hearted thing you'd do."
"Well, I wasn't exactly thrilled when I found out," Fireheart admitted, her sleek pelt rippling with indifference.
"But I bet you let her off."
Fireheart shrugged. "Well, yes."
"She'd know you wouldn't have said anything, that's why she did it," meowed Graystripe affectionately. "Anyway, they've gone now."
"When did they leave?" Fireheart felt a wave of relief that Spottedleaf had kept her promise.
"I saw one hunting this side of the river a couple of days ago, but not a whisker since." Graystripe meowed thoughtfully, his eyes scrunched up in thought.
"A couple of days ago?" Fireheart was alarmed to hear that the ShadowClan cats were still there recently. Had Spottedleaf decided to nurse them until they were well enough to travel, after all? Her fur prickled with irritation at the thought, but she trusted that she had not made the decision lightly. She was just grateful to StarClan that they hadn't bumped into a water-gathering patrol from ThunderClan. They were gone now, and with any luck so was the threat of sickness.
"Look," meowed Graystripe. "I have to go. I'm on hunting duty, and I promised I'd watch a couple of apprentices this afternoon."
"Have you got an apprentice of your own?" Fireheart asked.
Graystripe met her gaze steadily. "I don't think RiverClan is willing to trust me to train their warriors yet," she murmured. Fireheart couldn't tell if it was amusement or regret that made her old friend's whiskers twitch.
"I'll see you again sometime," Graystripe meowed, giving Fireheart a shove with his muzzle.
"Definitely." Fireheart felt a black hole of sadness yawn in her belly as the gray warrior turned to leave. Tigerclaw, Graystripe, Spottedkit...Was Fireheart destined to lose every cat she grew close to? "Take care!" she called. She watched Graystripe pad through the ferns to the edge of the river and wade in confidently. The warrior's broad shoulders glided through the water, leaving a gently wave as he swam with strongly churning paws.
Fireheart watched him go, a foreign thought entering her mind. What if she and Graystripe ended up as mates? Graystripe never falling in love with Silverstream and having to join RiverClan, Fireheart never knowing the heartache of losing Tigerclaw. But Fireheart shook the thought away, she could never picture herself with Graystripe in such a relationship. Her heart rested with Tigerclaw no matter what because their bond was strong, and Graystripe would forever be in love with Silverstream. With a swish of her tail she turned away and headed into the trees to collect moss to be able to carry water back to camp.
After gathering the moss in a big clump, Fireheart carried it back to the river to soak it thoroughly. Making sure that it didn't fall apart as it was weighted down with water. When Fireheart was satisfied, she carried the ball of wet moss gently between her teeth. Some of the moisture had begun to drip out on the journey home, soaking her chest fur and cooling her forepaws, but there would be enough to quench Willowpelt's thirst until a patrol could collect more after sunset.
The Clan lay in small groups around the clearing while the sun slowly slid toward the treetops. Most of them had eaten and were quietly sharing tongues in the customary grooming session, pausing briefly between licks to greet Fireheart as she emerged from the gorse tunnel. She nodded to Runningwind, Mousefur and Thornpaw, who were about to go out on the evening patrol.
Brindleface was getting ready to lead another group of elders to fetch water. She was gathering them together at the fallen oak, and Fireheart heard Smallear's determined mew as he passed. "We'll need to keep our ears pricked and our eyes sharp while we're traveling." The old gray tom went on: "You see that nick in my ear? I got that when I was an apprentice. An owl swooped out of nowhere. But I'll bet my claws left a bigger scar than his!"
Fireheart felt her fur relax on her shoulders, soothed by the familiar murmurings of Clan life. The ShadowClan cats were gone, just as Spottedleaf had promised, and she had seen Graystripe. She slipped into the nursery and placed the moss gently at Willowpelt's head.
"Thanks, Fireheart," meowed Willowpelt.
"There'll be more after supper," Fireheart promised as the queen began to lick the precious drops of water from the clump of moss.
"You didn't run into any Twolegs did you?" Goldenflower asked, gently pulling Squirrelkit back into the nest as she tried to wiggle out of it.
"Ya, did you see any?" Squirrelkit green eyes were wide with wonder as she peeked her head over the rim of the nest.
"No," Fireheart reassured, her whiskers twitching as she gave her daughter a stern yet playful look. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"We were waiting for you!" Bramblekit's pale amber eyes gleamed up from the shadows of the nest, his eyes curious as he watched Willowpelt press out water from the moss.
"You shouldn't have, you need to sleep," Fireheart advised her son, her whiskers twitching with warmth for her kits. Turning back to address both Goldenflower and Willowpelt she added: "Brindleface is going to lead the other elders to the river once the sun has set and the woods are clear of Twolegs," Fireheart explained.
Goldenflower gave out an amused purr. "It's been awhile since some of them have been out in the forest after dark," she commented.
"I think Smallear is looking forward to it," purred Fireheart. "He has been telling stories about the owl that used to hunt near Sunningrocks. Poor Halftail looked a bit nervous."
"A little excitement will do him good," Willowpelt remarked. "I wish I could go with them. A scrap with an owl would be just the thing to stretch my legs!"
"It won't be long," Fireheart meowed, understanding how Willowpelt may feel. Fireheart herself had special privileges that came with being deputy, warrior duties for one. It also helped that her kits were getting older and slowly but surely getting used to solid food. "But first you have your kits." Willowpelt looked comfortable lying in the nursery while her fast-growing kits scrambled over her.
Willowpelt twisted her head to pick up a tiny tortoiseshell-and-white she-kit that had tumbled off her flank. She dropped it between her forepaws and gave it a lick. "Oh, yes, I have my kits," she agreed. "But I miss running through the forest, hunting for my own prey, and patrolling our borders." She licked the kit again and added, "I'm looking forward to taking these three out into the forest for the first time."
"They look like they'll make fine warriors," Fireheart meowed. A pang at how Willowpelt has all her kits with her, Fireheart wasn't sure if she would ever let her kits out of the camp ever again. "I'll be back in a bit," Fireheart told them as she began to back out of the nursery.
When she was outside, she could smell the tempting scents of the fresh-kill pile wafting from nearby, but there was one more thing she had to do before she could settle down for her evening meal. She padded across the clearing to the medicine cat's den.
The elderly medicine cat was resting in the evening sun, her fur dull and unkempt as usual. She lifted her muzzle to greet her. "Hello, Fireheart," she rasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for Spottedleaf." Answered Fireheart.
"What is it? Can't I get a wink of sleep?" Spottedleaf's voice sounded soft, probably due to the grogginess in it. Her head lifted up from inside her fern nest, and her half misted amber eyes locked onto Fireheart's form.
"Is that any way to greet your deputy?" Yellowfang scolded, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"It is when she disturbs my sleep," meowed Spottedleaf, stumbling out of the nest looking tired. "She seems determined I shouldn't get any rest these days!"
Yellowfang narrowed her eyes at Fireheart. "Have you two been up to something I should know about?"
"Are you questioning your deputy?" Spottedleaf teased with a bit more life in her voice.
Yellowfang purred. "I know you've been up to something," she meowed. "But I won't pry. All I know is that my associate seems to know what she is doing and causing no harm." Fireheart watched they interacted, noting on how well they seem to be working together. She shifted her paws awkwardly on the sun-baked grown. She had come to tell Spottedleaf that the ShadowClan cats had gone, but with Yellowfang here it was no easy.
"It's strange," Yellowfang growled, looking pointedly at Fireheart. "I suddenly feel like fetching another mouse from the fresh-kill pile." Fireheart blinked gratefully at the old medicine cat. "Anything you want, Spottedleaf?" she called over her shoulder as she padded toward the tunnel. Spottedleaf shook her head. "Okay, I'll be back in a moment," Yellowfang rasped. "Or maybe two."
When she had disappeared, Fireheart meowed quietly, "I checked on the ShadowClan cats. They've gone."
"I told you they would," replied Spottedleaf.
"But they didn't go until a couple of days ago," Fireheart added.
"It wouldn't have done them any good to travel any sooner," mewed Spottedleaf. "And I had to make sure they'd learned how to make the herb mixture before they went."
Fireheart twitched her tail at spottedleaf's new found stubbornness, but she couldn't bring herself to argue with her old friend. She knew Spottedleaf believed with all her heart that she had done the right thing in caring for them, and part of her agreed it had been worth the risk.
"I did tell them to leave, you know," Spottedleaf meowed, her tone losing some of its certainty.
"I believe you," Fireheart agreed gently. "It was my responsibility to make sure they left, not yours."
Spottedleaf looked up at her curiously. "How do you know they left?"
"Graystripe told me."
"You spoke to Graystripe?" Spottedleaf looked surprised, but she blinked in good nature. "How is he?"
"He's fine," Fireheart purred. "He swims like a fish now."
"Really?" Spottedleaf murmured in amusement. "I would have to see it to believe it!"
"I thought so too," Fireheart agreed, then stopped, embarrassed, when her belly growled with hunger.
"Go and eat," Spottedleaf ordered. "You'd better hurry up before Yellowfang demolishes the entire pile, and leave you nothing but fur and bones."
Fireheart leaned down and gave her friend and affectionate, friendly lick on the ear. "See you later," she mewed, padding out of the medicine cat's den and back into the clearing.
Yellowfang had left her the choice of squirrel or a pigeon. Fireheart took the pigeon and looked around the clearing, wondering where to eat it. She glanced around to find Cinderpelt along with her brother Brackenfur and Sandstorm eating near the nettle patch. With her pigeon hanging limply from her jaws, she padded across the clearing to join them. She came to settle in between Sandstorm and Cinderpelt and began to tear into her pigeon.
Suddenly a terrible caterwauling made Fireheart jerk up her head. Sandstorm scrambled to her paws as Cinderpelt and Brackenfur jumped to their paws not a heartbeat later Mousefur and Thornpaw thundered into the clearing. Their fur was matted with blood, and Thornpaw was limping badly.
Fireheart swallowed her mouthful quickly and swiftly stood up. "What happened? Where's Runningwind?" The other cats gathered behind her, hissing with fear, their fur bristling as they prepared for trouble.
"Intruders," panted Mousefur. "We tried to drive them out but there was to many."
"Who were they?" Fireheart demanded.
Mousefur shook her head. "We couldn't see them properly, We were in the shadows."
"But what about their scent?"
"Too near the Thunderpath. Couldn't tell," answered Thornpaw, his breath coming in short gasps.
Fireheart looked at the apprentice, who was swaying unsteadily on his paws. "Go and see Spottedleaf," she ordered. "Whitestorm!" she called to the white warrior who was already hurrying from Bluestar's den. "I want you to come with us," She turned to Mousefur. "Lead us to where this happened."
Sandstorm and Dustpelt looked expectantly at Fireheart waiting to receive orders. "You two stay here and guard the camp, but Cinderpelt and Brackenfur can come, we need expect warriors in camp," she meowed. "This might be a trap to lure our warriors away. It's happened before." With Bluestar on her last life, Fireheart knew she had to leave the camp well protected, taking Cinderpelt and Brackenfur was stretching it enough.
She charged out of camp with Whitestorm at her side, Cinderpelt and Brackenfur right along side Mousefur who was panting behind them. Together they scrambled up the ravine and raced into the forest.
Fireheart slowed her pace when she saw that Mousefur was struggling to keep up, Cinderpelt and Brackenfur flanking her to help her keep up. "Quick as you can," she urged. She knew she must be in pain after the fight, but they had to find Runningwind. She had a horrible feeling that this attack must have something to do with ShadowClan. Littlecloud and Whitethroat had been in ThunderClan territory so recently. Had they tricked her into leading her Clan into danger after all? She headed instinctively toward the Thunderpath.
"No," called Mousefur. "It's this way." She brushed past her, quickening her pace with Cinderpelt and Brackenfur just being, and veered toward Fourtrees. Fireheart and Whitestorm sped after her and the younger warriors. As they raced through the trees, Fireheart realized she had been this way before. This was the trial Littlecloud and Whitethroat had followed after Bluestar had sent them away the first time. Had a ShadowClan raiding party come through the stone tunnel under the Thunderpath?
Mousefur skidded to a halt between two towering ash trees. The Thunderpath droned in the distance, its foul stench drifting through the undergrowth. Ahead, Fireheart see a limp body up ahead near the Thunderpath. Pushing in between Cinderpelt and Mousefur, Fireheart stept acuselly. Signaling for the others to stay where they were.
"Be careful," Cinderpelt whispered as Fireheart passed her, Fireheart's ear flickered showing that she heard her. Cautiously, Fireheart stalked forward on slow, steady paws. Peeking over the edge of the Thunderpath, her jade green eyes widened as her head shot up.
Lying on the Thunderpath was the lean brown figure of Runningwind lying in the middle of the Thunderpath, unmoving as a skid mark of blood trailed on the hard black surface and onto Runningwind's fur. Fireheart's head shot up as her mouth opened in a soundless gasp. A black-and-white tom came from the other side of the Thunderpath and came to bend over the unmoving body. With a jolt Fireheart realized that it was Whitethroat.
The ShadowClan warrior's eyes stretched wide as he saw Fireheart approach. He began to back away from Runningwind, his legs trembling with shock. "He's dead!" he wailed.
Fireheart without a moment to think about it, jumped onto the Thunderpath, coming to the very center on the ThunderClan side to look over her fallen Clanmate. His flank was still and his eyes already glazed over and stiff, his stomach was flattened as if a monster had rolled right overtop of him. With a burst of uncontrollable rage, Fireheart slashed warningly at Whitethroat, making in scramble back onto the ShadowClan side of the Thunderpath, her back raised as she hissed threateningly at him.
Whitethroat crouched down where he was shaking in fear and submission. Fireheart bared her teeth at him, ready to fling herself at the ShadowClan warrior. Was this the thanks she gets for helping them in their time of need? But before she could a deafening rumble vibrated on the Thunderpath underneath their paws, looking up in horror Fireheart saw the fast coming monster heading their way. Grabbing a mouthful of Runningwind's fur Fireheart began to drag in out of the road, the harsh whistling of the wind made Fireheart screw up her eyes, but no impact happened, the monster had missed them. But as she opened her eyes, a ragged shape was lying motionless on the Thunderpath. The monster hadn't hit Fireheart but it had hit Whitethroat.
For a long heartbeat Fireheart froze, flooded with memories of her own dreadful and painful accident that had broken her tail. Then she saw Whitethroat stir. Fireheart couldn't leave any cat out there. Not even a ShadowClan enemy. She dragged Runningwind's body near the edge of the Thunderpath. peering up and down the Thunderpath. There were no monsters in sight. She scurried back across to where Whitethroat lay. The tom looked smaller than ever, his white chest glistening with blood like fire in the rays of the slowly sinking sun.
Fireheart knew that moving the cat would only hasten his death. Trembling with shock, she looked down at the warrior Spottedleaf had taken such trouble to care for, in secret from the rest of her Clan. "Why were you on ThunderClan territory?" she whispered.
She leaned down as Whitethroat opened his mouth to speak, but the warrior gurgling mew was drowned as a monster roared past terrifyingly close, sending a wave of fumes and frit over the two cats. Fireheart sank her claws as well as she could into the unyielding surface and crouched closer to the ShadowClan warrior.
Whitethroat opened his mouth again, releasing a thin trickle of blood. He swallowed painfully, sending a juddering spasm the length of his body. But before he could speak, his eyes focused on a point over Fireheart's shoulder, back towards the shadows in ShadowClan territory. Fireheart watched as Whitethroat eyes glittered with pain before they glazed over for the last time.
Fireheart spun around to see what Whitethroat was looking at in his final moments. Her heart lurched when she was who stood at the edge of the Thunderpath-the dark warrior who had prowled through so many of her dreams.
Tigerclaw.
0o0o0o
He's back! How did you like this chapter? Short? Good enough? Whatever! I hope you liked reading it! Anyway review! I want at least 50! I love you guys, so show a little support in the comment/review box! As always! Yours!
