Chapter 7! Wow! Ya, another update for you guys? How does that feel? Well, It makes me feel great! Also check out this awesome Fanfic I found! Its called 'Light in the Darkness' by xXxRavenXDameonxXx
And omg! The new warrior series! (Vision of Shadows!) my heart is broken! Poor Violetkit, poor Twigkit! Poor SkyClan! And fuck you Darktail! (I send a kitten army on you!)
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Fireheart felt rooted to the Thunderpath as she stared at the cat that had cast his ever presence over her life for so long. His smoldering pale amber eyes finding Fireheart's jade green ones, they entranced Fireheart like they always been able too. How long had it been since Tigerclaw was exiled? It felt like moons, or even seasons!
The fiery evening sun bled through the tips of the trees, its orange rays glowing on the dark pelt of the massive tabby. Across the silence of the deserted Thunderpath, Tigerclaw eyed Fireheart with intense emotion.
"T-Tigerclaw," Fireheart's voice choked in her throat, her ears pricked in surprise while she stood stalk still under his penetrating gaze. A list of things she has concocted in her head to say to him if she ever seen him again had run off like scared mice, leaving her unable to string together a single sentence.
Tigerclaw's lower body was wrapped in the shadows on the far side of the Thunderpath, his tail flickering back and forth catching in the light before disappearing back into the darkness behind him. His massive paws were planted just outside the reach of the Thunderpath, still on the grass side. His dark tabby fur was rippling along his shoulders and along his spine as if the wind had blown on him although there wasn't any wind. But Fireheart's gaze were firmly on his eyes, the pale amber glimmering as if inviting her to his side.
Fireheart had taken only one paw-step forward, already being drawn into his pale amber depths. Then, to Fireheart's startelement, they promptly changed to that of alarm. "Get off the Thunderpath!" He roared, more loudly than the actual roar of the oncoming monster. Fireheart's mind cleared in a heartbeat, paws scrambled back, propelling herself backwards as she flung herself to the safety of her own side of the Thunderpath. Barely avoiding a brush of a tail alongside the monster's shiny exterior.
When she was on firm ground, she sat down trembling for a heartbeat. Flashes of breaking her tail that leaf-bare came back, the one that almost left Cinderpaw crippled. Turning back to stare across the Thunderpath, Tigerclaw was their his massive claws extended and fur spiked up as if in fright and defence. But as soon as Fireheart got back to her paws he turned and disappeared into the darkness of a bramble bush, swallowed up in their barbed stems.
"Fireheart!" Cinderpelt gasped, her head shotting out of the undergrowth as she scanned the clearing. "Are you alright?"
"Was their another cat with you?" Whitestorm asked, the senior warrior padding out as well. "I thought I saw someone over near those bushes, but I couldn't get a good look." Before Fireheart could say anything, a thin wailing came from Mousefur, the small dusky-brown she-cat leaned heavily on Brackenfur's shoulder, her eyes were glazed over as she stared at Runningwind's lifeless body.
Fireheart shivered at the dusky-brown she-cats cry of grief, the sun disappearing from the forest. She could see Mousefur's eyes shining in the dark tense with pain and grief. Fireheart felt a wave of sorrow as she stared at the outline of Runningwind's body, which would be growing cold by now.
Fireheart stared at Cinderpelt then back at Brackenfur. "Brackenfur, Cinderpelt, can you carry Runningwind back to camp without me? And Whitestorm can you help Mousefur, her injuries must be hurting right now." The older senior white warrior narrowed his eyes curiously but said nothing and nodded.
Fireheart twitched her ear. "I'll follow you back soon. There's something I must do first." Fireheart watched Brackenfur as he picked Runningwind up by the scruff, and Cinderpelt helping by picking him up from behind. Whitestorm sent Fireheart another glance before ushering a grieving Mousefur back towards the forest, the party was silent and sober.
When they had gone, Fireheart stared across the hard gray Thunderpath at the body of the black-and-white, Whitethroat. Fireheart could not leave Whitethroat's body to be battered by monsters on the Thunderpath, it was a shameful death that the ShadowClan warrior didn't deserve. The Thunderpath was quiet now, and Fireheart crossed to the middle and grasped the warrior's scruff in her teeth. SHe dragged him gently across to the ShadowClan border, hoping that his Clanmates would give him an honorable burial.
Fireheart padded a little bit away from his body, and came to sniff at the bramble's that Tigerclaw had disappeared through, it smelled strongly of ShadowClan but the unmistakable lingering scent of pine forest and ThunderClan was still there. Peering inside she didn't know if she felt relief or disappointment to find him already gone. Pulling back Fireheart thought it best to go, ShadowClan might discover her soon, and she didn't want to test how able they are to defend their territory. Casting one last glance at the brambles, Fireheart forced herself to cross onto ThunderClan territory again instead of the nagging feeling that she should have gone after Tigerclaw.
Fireheart padded briskly through the forest in ThunderClan territory, her paws vibrating as she recalled how Tigerclaw looked. Tigerclaw's previous wounds had healed, and he looked stronger than how he had left ThunderClan. He seemed to have lost weight due to seeing every one of the tabby's ribs. But he looked proud and still looked to have strength under his thick pelt. But the one thing that Fireheart was happy to see that remained the same, was his eyes.
When Fireheart entered the moonlit ThunderClan camp, Runningwind's body lay in the center of the clearing. He looked peaceful, stretched out as if he were asleep. Bluestar was pacing around the warrior's body, her broad gray head swinging from side to side.
The rest of the Clan hung back, keeping to the shadows at the edge of the clearing. The air was thick with distress. The cats weaved silently among one another, glancing anxiously at their leader as she padded back and forth, muttering under her breath. She didn't even try to control her grief, as she would have done once. Fireheart remembered how quietly she had mourned her old friend and deputy, Lionheart, many moons ago. She showed none of that silent dignity now.
Fireheart could feel the Clan watching her as she approached their leader. Bluestar looked up, and she felt a stab of alarm when she saw that her leaders eyes were clouded with shock and anxiety.
"Whitestorm says that a band of cats did this, do you know who has done this? Have you seen them?" Fireheart felt all eyes on her, her sleek pelt ruffled with unease at their wide-eyed look.
"I-" Fireheart swallowed, knowing that she couldn't lie to her leader, no matter how much the truth would hurt her. "I saw only two, one of them was...Tigerclaw." Behind her the Clan exploded into yowls of disbelief and fear. Fireheart let them wail, keeping her eyes fixed on Bluestar. She felt her heart flutter like a trapped bird as she begged StarClan to give her leader the strength to cope with the return of her attacker.
"How, how can this be?" Bluestar shaked her head, her eyes boring with anxiety and a far off look.
"I saw him in ShadowClan's territory, he-he seemed to be hiding out there, I don't know if he is permitted there or not." Fireheart wondered if the scent of ShadowClan was coincident now or not, had he joined up with more ShadowClan cats beides Whitethroat? Was Whitethroat in Tigerclaw's gang? Or was it something else entirely?
Bluestar dropped her head, at Fireheart's words. "So he has returned," Bluestar hissed. "How could I have not have seen his treachery when he lived among us? What a fool I've been!" She shook her head, her eyes closed. "What a mouse-brained fool." Fireheart's paws trembled. Bluestar seemed to be shattering right before her eyes, in front all her Clanmates and didn't even seem to care. With a jolt she realized she would have to take charge.
"We must make sure the camp is guarded day and night from now on. Longtail." She looked over at the striped warrior. "You will sit guard till moonhigh." Then she swung her head toward Frostfur. "You will take over then." The two cats nodded, and Fireheart bent her head toward Runningwind's body. "Mousefur and Brackenfur can bury Runningwind at dawn. Bluestar will sit vigil with him until then." She glanced at her leader, who was staring blankly at the ground, and hoped that she'd heard her.
"I will join her," meowed Whitestorm. The white warrior shouldered his way through the crowd and sat beside Bluestar, pressing his pelt against hers.
One by one the Clan padded forward to pay their respects to their lost friend. Willowpelt slipped from the nursery and touched the dead warrior gently with her muzzle, whispering her sorrowful farewell. Goldenflower followed her, signaling to Fireheart's kits to stay back. Fireheart looked at them from where she was waiting for her turn, she shivered from ear to tail as Bramblekit peered curiously around Goldenflower, he looked just like his father a dark tabby lookalike with the same pale amber eyes. She watched as Goldenflower gently licked Runningwind's cheek.
When Goldenflower was finished she back away as Fireheart stepped forward, gently ushering the kits back into the nursery. Fireheart leaned forward and leaned down to lick Runningwind's dull pelt. "I'm so sorry this had happened to you." she choked out softly. As she backed away, she saw a figure step forward from the shadow of the Highrock. It was Darkstripe. Fireheart watched his eyes flick from Runningwind to Bluestar and back, burning, not with fear or grief, but with a brooding thoughtfulness. Unsettled, Fireheart headed for one place she knew she would find comfort. She padded through the ferns to the medicine cat's den, her mind fretted with doubts and concerns that needed to understanding ear of her friends.
Thornpaw sat in the well-trampled grass clearing. Spottedleaf and Yellowfang crouched beside him while he held up a paw for them to examine. Spottedleaf peeled a wad of cobwebs away from the pad, making Thornpaw grimace. "It's still bleeding," Spottedleaf reported with a sigh.
"It should have stopped by now," rasped Yellowfang. "We need to dry this wound before infection creeps in."
Spottedleaf's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "We have those horsetail stems I gathered yesterday. What if we drop some sap onto the cobwebs before we bind them onto the paw? That my stop the bleeding."
Yellowfang let out a rambling purr. "Good thinking." The old medicine cat turned at once and hurried toward her den while Spottedleaf pressed on Thornpaw's wound with her paw. Only then did she notice Fireheart standing in the tunnel entrance.
"Fireheart!" she mewed, her amber eyes showing her concern. "Are you okay?"
"Just some scraped up pads, and a nasty fright with a monster and..." Fireheart reply trailed off as she padded forward to join them.
"I heard that Tigerclaw has returned with his rogues," meowed Thornpaw, twisting his head to look up at Fireheart. "Is that true?"
"It's true," Fireheart told him gravely, her eyes flashing to Spottedleaf with a forlorn look. Only Spottedleaf and Graystripe understood how Fireheart would feel about Tigerclaw's return, and she was desperate to talk about it with one of her friends.
Spottedleaf glanced at Fireheart, then shook the golden-brown apprentice's paw. "Here, press on this."
"Me?" mewed Thornpaw in surprise.
"Do you want me to constantly hold your paw?" Spottedleaf questioned, her amber eyes narrowing playfully. "You're on your way to being a brave warrior, just keep pressing on it. Who knows? Maybe someday it could be of use if a certain she-cat is hurt and is in need of aid that we can't give at the moment? I'm sure she would be very greatful!"
Thornpaw's eyes widened for a moment, before he concentrated on lifting his paw higher and clamped his jaws carefully around the wound.
"What happened?" Spottedleaf meowed, her amber eyes flashing to Fireheart's.
"I saw Tigerclaw on the other side of the Thunderpath, Runningwind seemed to have been hit by a monster. I didn't see anything else that could have killed him, he must have chased them out and had forgotten to check about monsters." Fireheart meowed quietly, so that Thornpaw couldn't hear.
"And you believe that?" Spottedleaf questioned. Fireheart hesitated, before nodding. She didn't see anything besides where the monster had hit Runningwind.
"It was a monster that killed him," Spottedleaf agreed, her tortoiseshell face looking tired. "And I found nothing that indicated that another warrior had killed him."
Fireheart's eyes filled with relief to hear that, but it still didn't squnch the thought that Tigerclaw had been hunting in ThunderClan territory. Why was he still on ThunderClan territory when he was banished? Was he in need of ThunderClan's plentiful bounty of prey?
"You know, I had missed feelings at seeing Tigerclaw again?" Fireheart whispered as she confided in her friend. "Part of me wanted to go to him and another just wanted to turn tail and run, would it be selfish if I would have wanted to go with him?"
"When love is strong, you will always feel that pull for someone," Spottedleaf meowed, blinking in sympathy. "Even I have felt it." Fireheart snapped her head up in surprise, the amber eyed tortoiseshell medicine cat was no longer looking at Fireheart, her ears pinned back in slight shame.
"What do you mean?" Fireheart blurted, she didn't know that Spottedleaf had been in love before.
"Only in my dreams," Spottedleaf sighed, her eyes growing wishful. "I can only vividly see him, it's like I have meet him in...in...in a past life of some sort? He's there, constantly, it makes me feel secure and also I always have this need to help him in every way I can, even though he is out of my reach." Spottedleaf sighed, before giving out a little huff of laughter. "I must sound so mouse-brained right now."
"No," Fireheart shook her head, nudging Spottedleaf's shoulder gently. "It's not mouse-brained, it's special."
"Thank you, Fireheart," Spottedleaf breathed, her amber eyes shining in thanks for the understanding.
"I think I should get going," Fireheart meowed, shaking out her stiff legs. "I think I could do with some improvements to safe guard the camp, and also manage to get some sleep."
"That's good," Spottedleaf meowed as she went to greet Yellowfang who finally arrived with a wade of cobwebs. When she returned to the clearing, Fireheart was surprised to find many of the cats still awake. Bluestar, Whitestorm, and Mousefur crouched silently beside Runningwind's body, their grief made plain in their lowered heads and tense shoulders. The other cats lay in small groups, their eyes blinking in the shadows and their ears twitching nervously as they listened to the noises of the forest.
Fireheart stood their for a moment, sucking in the scents of her Clanmates and the crisp air around her. A shadow moved near the edge of the clearing and Fireheart swung her head around to find only Darkstripe.
Fireheart beckoned the striped warrior closer with her tail. Darkstripe slowly padded toward her. "I want you to take out a second patrol as soon as the dawn patrol returns tomorrow," Fireheart meowed. "From now on there will be three extra patrols every day, and all patrols will have three warriors."
Darkstripe looked coolly at Fireheart. "But I promised Whitestorm I'd take Brightpaw out training tomorrow morning."
Fireheart's sleek fur was prickling with irritation. "Then take her with you," she snapped. "It'll be good experience. We need to speed up apprentice training anyway." Fireheart decided, more warriors were needed now.
Darkstripe's ears flicked, but his gaze remained steady. "Yes, deputy," he murmured, his eyes glittering. It unnerved her the way he was taking everything in strides, as if he could careless about Runningwind's death or Tigerclaw's return. With a farewell flicker of her ears Fireheart made it look as if she wasn't running away from the dark stripped warrior. Fireheart padded over to the nursery, stopping to glance around her Clan before entering. Sandstorm was talking softly with Brackenfur and Cinderpelt, getting caught up on what had happened. Dustpelt was sitting with Fireheart's apprentice, Fernpaw. And Goldenflower, who had gone to join Brindleface, Frostfur and Speckletail near the warriors den were talking queitly amongst themselves.
Fireheart entered the nursery after being satisfied that her Clanmates wouldn't panic while she slept. The nursery was quiet and inviting, her kits curled up but still widely awake. She purred quietly at this, they had been napping most of the day and Fireheart wondered how she would ever get them to sleep.
"Mother, Why is Runningwind sleeping in the middle of the clearing?" it was Hawkkit that asked this question, his head was lying on Squirrelkit's back, who for once didn't try to push him off.
"Shouldn't he sleep in his own nest?" Mothkit meowed, her nose scrunched up as to why he wasn't.
"Maybe he's too tired to get to his nest?" Leafkit suggested as Fireheart padded into the nest with them.
"He's not sleeping," Fireheart meowed, swallowing hard as she swept her kits closely to her side. "He's dead."
"Dead?" Squirrelkit repeated, her head tilted at the one word. "What does that mean?"
"Well, death is like our fresh-kill in a way," Fireheart began unsurely. "Death happens when a cat has died and is no longer alive, meaning no more patrols, or hunting or Runningwind in general. He's gone."
"Forever?" Hawkkit said in disbelief, his ice-blue eyes widening in alarm.
"Forever." Fireheart repeated.
"So we'll never see him again?" Leafkit asked, her pale amber eyes boring into Fireheart's and she could see the sorrow there in her young daughter's eyes.
"No, not forever," Fireheart soothed, nuzzling each kit in turn. "We'll see him again in StarClan."
"StarClan?" Bramblekit echoed where his head rested on one of his paws, his pale amber eyes never leaving his mother's face.
"StarClan is our deceased warrior ancestors of the Clans who live on in spirit form after dying, and watch over the living Clan cats." Fireheart explained, watching her kits eyes widen in amazement.
"So is Runningwind in StarClan?" Tawnykit asked, only to gasp in awe as Fireheart nodded.
"He hunts with our warrior ancestors now." Fireheart meowed softly, glad that it seems to sooth the kits.
"Is our father there?" Leafkit asked, her head turning to the side as she pressed up against Tawnykit.
"Of course he is, Mouse-brain!" Hawkkit retorted, rolling his eyes. "If he's not here, then he has to be there!"
"I bet he became StarClan's leader!" Squirrelkit purred, her green eyes sparkling with excitement before Fireheart could say anything.
"He was the best warrior of ThunderClan," Mothkit agreed, her amber eyes sparkling with the same emotion as Squirrelkit.
"All Clans go to StarClan!" Fireheart pointed out, a troubling feeling growing in her stomach.
"But won't they fight in StarClan?" Bramblekit questioned, looking interested.
"Cats in StarClan all get along," Fireheart told him, watching his ears flick back as his eyes shined with interest. "They have no need to fight because prey is plentiful, there is plenty of space and it never gets cold and you would never have to lose your loved ones."
"I wanna go to StarClan!" Tawnykit meowed, her eyes widening with excitement this whole time.
"Not until you are much older and your time as a warrior is over," Fireheart rebuked, a little nervous by her daughters declaration. "Besides you're too young, StarClan has no need for you yet."
"Mother," Mothkit spoke up, looking thoughtful. "Can you tell us more about our father? What happened to him?"
"Your father," Fireheart hesitated as she looked over at Willowpelt, but she was in a deep sleep alongside her kits. "Was a brave warrior," Fireheart decided it wouldn't hurt. "Although he could be grumpy and rash, he was also clever and very gentle. He saved me many times and I loved him very much just like he loves you very much," Fireheart swallowed heavily, watching their innocent eyes expand around the hidden fact that their father also tried to kill Bluestar and led a band of rogues into their camp.
"Now get some sleep, it's been a very entertaining day," Fireheart meowed, not able to say anything further and watched them grumble as they settled down, Fireheart just hoped when the time came that they know what cat they hoped to be.
0o0o0o
Fireheart pushed her way into Bluestar's den. Even though it was not yet sunhigh, she'd been out on patrol twice already that day. And she would be taking her apprentice, Fernpaw, out hunting this afternoon. The days since Runningwind's death had been busy. All the warriors and apprentices were exhausted trying to keep up with the new patrols. With Willowpelt in the nursery and Goldenflower always looking after Fireheart's kits, Whitestorm reluctant to leave his leader's side, Spottedkit gone, and Runningwind dead, Fireheart barely had time to eat and sleep between the constant worrying and duties. It didn't help that every time she so much as passed ShadowClan border she had the urge to run straight across to see if Tigerclaw is still there, out there alive, safe or well fed.
Bluestar crouched in her nest, her eyes half-closed, and for a moment Fireheart wondered if she had caught the ShadowClan sickness. Her fur was even more matted, and she sat with the stillness of a cat who could no longer care for itself, but waited silently for death.
"Bluestar," Fireheart quietly called her name. The old she-cat turned her head slowly toward her. "We've been patrolling the forest constantly," she reported. "There's been no sign of Tigerclaw and his rogues." Bluestar looked away without answering. Fireheart paused, wondering whether to say more, but Bluestar had drawn her paws farther under her chest and closed her eyes. Disheartened, Fireheart dipped her head and backed out of the cave.
The sunlit clearing looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe the Clan faced any dangers. Brackenfur was playing with Willowpelt's kits outside the nursery, flicking his tail for them to chase, while Fireheart's older kits play wrestled nearby with Goldenflower looking after them, Whitestorm rested in the shade beneath the Highrock. Only the fact that the white warrior's ears were pricked toward Bluestar's den betrayed the strain the Clan was under.
Fireheart stared unenthusiastically toward the growing pile of fresh-kill. Her belly tight and hollow, but she couldn't imagine being able to swallow anything. She spotted Sandstorm eating a piece of fresh-kill. The sight of her friend gave her a thought about how she'd enjoy her company while she was out hunting with Fernpaw. The thought restored Fireheart's appetite, and her belly growled with anticipation for the chase. She would leave the fresh-kill for the others to share. Besides, it was better to have a friend with you.
At that moment Fernpaw trotted out of the apprentice's den, her fur ruffled out as she yawned. Her pale green eyes blinking as Brightpaw, Mousefur, Frostfur, and Cinderpelt came walking into camp bringing water soaked moss for the queens and elders. Brightpaw carried her dripping bundle toward Bluestar's den under Whitestorm's appreciative gaze.
Fireheart called across to Sandstorm. "You promised you'd catch us a rabbit whenever I asked. You up for coming hunting with me and Fernpaw?"
Sandstorm looked up. Her green eyes shone with anticipation at the request. "Okay," she called back, and quickly gulped down her last mouthful of food. Still licking her lips, she trotted toward Fireheart. "But I have to look after my apprentice, and I also promised Longtail I'd look after Swiftpaw while he is on patrol." Fireheart tensed at the mention of the black-and-white apprentice and Sandstorm seemed to pick up the reluctance Fireheart shown at him joining them. "He's sorry for what he's done Fireheart, don't hold Spottedkit's disappearance against him."
Fireheart wanted to scoff that it was easy for Sandstorm, seeing as it wasn't her kit that was taken. But she nodded her head reluctantly and Sandstorm went to gather her kin and Longtail's hotheaded, stubborn apprentice. As she began to call for both apprentice's, Fireheart called to her own apprentice. Fernpaw came trotting up at once.
"Are you ready to go hunting?" Fireheart asked Fernpaw as soon as she arrived.
"Of course!" Fernpaw instantly replied, her whiskers twitching in anticipation. Fernpaw has become quite the decent hunter and Fireheart couldn't be prouder of the pale gray apprentice. When Sandstorm, Cloudpaw and Swiftpaw arrived they raced through the gorse tunnel, and out into the forest.
With Fernpaw hot on her heels and the other two apprentice just paw-steps behind, Fireheart followed Sandstorm up the ravine and into the woods, impressed at the way her muscles flexed smoothly under her pale ginger coat. Fireheart knew she must be as tired as she was, but Sandstorm kept up a quick pace through the undergrowth, her ears pricked and her mouth open.
"I think we've found one!" she hissed suddenly, dropping into a hunting crouch. Fernpaw and Cloudpaw opened their mouths to scent the air, while Swiftpaw watched quietly on surprisingly subdued. Fireheart herself stood still while Sandstorm drew herself silently through the bushes. She could smell the rabbit and hear it snuffling in the undergrowth beyond a clump of ferns. Sandstorm suddenly shot forward, making the leaves rustle as she sped through them. Fireheart heard the rabbit's hind legs pound against the parched ground as it tried to escape. Leaving the apprentice's behind, Fireheart leaped instinctively, swerving around the gerns, and chasing it through the undergrowth and across the forest floor as it bolted away from Sandstorm's sharp claws. Fireheart took its life with one sharp bite, uttering a silent prayer of thanks to StarClan for filling the forest with prey, even if they hadn't sent rain for so long. The storm that had been promised by the rumbles of thunder a few evenings ago had not come, and the air was as brittle and stifling as ever. Sandstorm skidded to a halt beside Fireheart who had crouched over the rabbit. She could hear her panting. Fireheart's own breath was coming in gasps too.
"Thanks," she meowed. "I'm a bit slow today."
"Me too," Fireheart admitted, sharing an amused purr with her friend.
"Maybe you should rest," Sandstorm meowed after a moment.
"We all do." Fireheart felt the care that Sandstorm was sending her.
"But you've been twice as busy as everyone else. Looking after the Clan, mentoring Fernpaw and also taking care of kits, it must pile up on you."
"It is a lot," Fireheart meowed, and added on hastily. "But it's nothing I can't handle." That was a lie and Fireheart could detect that Sandstorm didn't believe it, but Fireheart was sticking to that lie. The Clan needed her more than ever to be strong, she couldn't show them how much it hurt to know that Tigerclaws return had caused her sleep patterns to shift, constantly haunted by him as she would be frozen on the Thunderpath and be hit by a monster while gazing into his eyes, or the strain that it took whenever she entered the nursery to find that not all her kits would be there.
Sandstorm seemed to sense Fireheart's anxiety. "I know there's a lot to do. Perhaps I can help more." Sandstorm glanced at Fireheart, and there was a kinder look in her eyes. "I'm here for you, and I'm sure Brackenfur wouldn't mind helping out more as well."
Fireheart blinked in thanks, knowing that Sandstorm would always have her back. And Brackenfur would loyally follow his deputy and would practically roll over for Sandstorm if she asked nicely. "Thank you," Fireheart whispered, and both cats seemed to jump as the three apprentices that they left behind pushed their way out of the undergrowth behind them.
"Did you get it?" Cloudpaw panted, his eyes taking in the rabbit that they managed to catch.
Suddenly Fireheart realized how tired they looked, and remembered how hard it had been to keep up with the bigger, stronger warriors when she was training. She nudged the dead rabbit towards them with her nose. "Here, you eat something." she offered. "I should have given you time to eat before we left camp."
As Cloudpaw and Fernpaw dug in, Sandstorm caught her eye. "Perhaps you could order fewer patrols?" she suggested doubtfully. "Everyone's tired, and we haven't seen Tigerclaw since Runningwind died."
Fireheart felt a twinge of regret. She knew Sandstorm couldn't really believe her hopeful words. Fireheart had a feeling that Sandstorm was on to Bluestar's mental state, how their leader was more paranoid than ever now that Tigerclaw has returned and her attitude has begun affecting the Clan. Fireheart had seen the tension it had caused in the warriors lean bodies as they patrolled with her, their ears always pricked, their mouths always open, tasting the air for danger. She had also sensed their growing frustration with their leader, who was needed more than ever to help keep the Clan in order and feeling secure. But Bluestar had hardly left her den since the vigil for Runningwind.
"We can't cut down on patrols," Fireheart sighed, her eyes trailing to Swiftpaw who hadn't touched the rabbit at all. His amber gaze staring off towards the forest, deep in thought. For a moment Fireheart wondered what could be going through his mind.
"What does Bluestar think will come out of all these patrols?" Sandstorm asked the question tentatively.
"She's worried for our safety, of course." Fireheart knew she was being evasive. Only she and Whitestorm understood how completely Tigerclaw's return had swept Bluestar back into the dark and tortured placed she had been in after the treacherous warrior had tried to murder her.
"She's lucky she has such a good deputy," Sandstorm meowed reassuringly. "Every cat in the Clan trusts you to lead us through this."
Fireheart couldn't help glancing away. She had been well aware of the way the other cats had been looking at her lately, with a mixture of hope and expectancy. Even her kits acted like she was already Clan leader. She felt honored to have their respect, but she knew she was young and inexperienced with kits to raise along with the title, and she longed for Whitestorm's unshakable faith in her StarClan-led destiny. She hoped she was worthy of the Clan's trust. "I'll do my best," she promised.
"The Clan couldn't ask for more than that," Sandstorm murmured.
Fireheart glanced back at the apprentices, Fernpaw and Cloudpaw had eaten their fill and left some for both Sandstorm and Fireheart, Swiftpaw took none for himself. "Let's finish this and find something else to take home." Fireheart advanced Sandstorm. When both she-cats had eaten, they moved on with their apprentice's in tow, heading toward Fourtrees. They traveled without speaking, wary of betraying their presence in the forest to any watching eyes. With the unexpected still out there, ShadowClan, WindClan, rouges and longer and...Tigerclaw.
An unfamiliar cat-scent hit her tiny pink nose as they neared the slope that led down to Fourtrees, and her fur bristled. Sandstorm had clearly smelled it too, for she froze, arching her back, her muscles tense.
"Quick," Fireheart hissed. "Up here, and listen Cloudpaw!" She glanced briefly at the apprentices as she clawed her way up a sycamore tree. Sandstorm, Fernpaw, Cloudpaw and Swiftpaw followed in a line, and the five cats crouched on the lower branches and peered down at the forest floor.
Fireheart saw a shadow weaving through the ferns, dark and slender. Two black ears poked above the fronds. There was something about the shape of them that stirred a distant memory, not unpleasant. Was it a cat that they had help from one of the other Clans? But with dark presence in the forest, there was no way of knowing which cats were to be trusted these days. All strangers were enemies.
Fireheart flexed her claws, preparing to pounce. Beside her Sandstorm quivered with anticipation along with an excited Cloudpaw, and Brightpaw stared down, her small shoulders tense. Swiftpaw looked blankly down at the moving figure, his claws sheathing and unsheathing lessiourly. As the stranger padded under the sycamore tree, Fireheart let out a vicious yowl and dropped onto tits back.
The black cat screeched with surprised and rolled over, knocking Fireheart to the ground. Fireheart leaped nimbly to her paws. She had felt the size and strength of this cat in her first pounce, and knew it would be easy to chase off. She faced the cat, arching her back, and gave a warning hiss. Sandstorm leaped down from the tree as did her apprentice, Cloudpaw, Brightpaw came scrambling down after and Swiftpaw leaped gracefully down without a care. Fireheart watched as the black cat's eyes widen in panic as it realized it was outnumbered.
But Fireheart was already letting the fur lie flat on her shoulders. Her first instinct had been right: she recognized this intruder. And from the look on the cat's face, which had turned from panic to relief in a single heartbeat, the intruder recognized Fireheart too.
"Ravenpaw!" Fireheart sprang forward to give her old friend a welcoming nuzzle.
"It's good to see you again, Fireheart!" Ravenpaw nudge dher in return, his eyes looking almost wistful for a moment before turning to Sandstorm. "And can this really be Sandpaw?"
"Sandstorm!" the ginger she-cat corrected her sharply.
"Of course. The last time I saw you, you were half the size!" The black tom's eyes narrowed. "How's Dustpaw?"
Fireheart understood Ravenpaw's wary tone. Sandstorm and Dustpelt had trained at the same time as him, and had viewed Ravenpaw more as a rival than a denmate. When Ravenpaw had fled from him mentor, Tigerclaw, and gone to live in Twoleg territory beyond the upland, Dustpaw and Sandpaw had not been sad to see him go. Fireheart doubted that Ravenpaw had missed them either.
"Dustpelt's great." Fernpaw piped up, her pale green eyes shining at the mention of the warrior.
Ravenpaw looked at the apprentice, his eyes growing with interest at the new face. "Is this one of your apprentices?" he asked, looking at Fernpaw.
"Yes, she's mine. Her name's Fernpaw." Fireheart said proudly, flashing Fernpaw a pride filled look.
"And this lump of fur is mine," Sandstorm said, gesturing towards Cloudpaw who whined in defense. "He's Cloudpaw."
"And him?" Ravenpaw gested to Swiftpaw, who looked indifferent and suspicious of Ravenpaw this entire time. "That's Swiftpaw," Sandstorm answered. "And he's Longtail's apprentice."
The warm breeze ruggled the leaves at the tops of the trees. Fireheart glanced up at the noise. This unexpected meeting had disarmed her, and she'd let her guard slip. She scanned the undergrowth warily as she remembered the threats around her. "What are you doing here, Ravenpaw?" she asked urgently.
Ravenpaw, who had been studying Sandstorm with a curious expression in his amber eyes, turned his head. "Looking for you."
"Really? Why?" Fireheart knew it had to be important for Ravenpaw to come back to the forest. The young black cat had lived in constant fear after he had accidentally witnessed Tigerclaw killing Redtail, the ThunderClan deputy. When Tigerclaw had tried to kill Ravenpaw too, to keep him quiet, Fireheart and Graystripe had helped their friend escape. Ravenpaw now lived on a Twoleg farm with Barley, another loner-a cat who wasn't a kittypet, nor part of a forest Clan. Ravenpaw must have a very good reason for returning to his old enemy's territory. After all, he had no way of knowing that Tigerclaw's treachery had been revealed and he had been driven out of ThunderClan. As far as Ravenpaw knew, tigerclaw was till the deputy.
Ravenpaw flicked his tail uneasily. "A cat has come to live on the edge of my territory," he began. Fireheart stared at him, confused, and Ravenpaw tried to explain. "Well, more like a kit really, I found her when I was out hunting. She was scared and frightened. She wouldn't say much to me cause she was so shy, she reminded me much of myself when I was still part of the Clan. but what I'm getting at is she smelled of ThunderClan."
"ThunderClan?" Fireheart echoed.
"I asked her if she had come over the uplands, but she didn't seem to have any idea where she was. So I took her back to the Twoleg nest where she said she was taken too."
"Taken to?" Sandstorm meowed, her eyes scrunched up in disbelief. "Was she being held there by Twolegs? And was it really ThunderClan you smelled?"
"I wouldn't forget the scent I was born to," Ravenpaw retorted. "And she wasn't like any other I have know, she smelled of the wild, and she has the glint in her eyes that I found so familiar I just couldn't put my paw on it. And she certainly didn't like those Twolegs."
A glimmer of hope began to steer in Fireheart stomach, a aching of yearning was there but she held back until Ravenpaw had finished his story.
"I couldn't get her scent out of my mind. I went back to the Twoleg nest to speak to her again, but she was shut in. I tried to talk to her through a window, but the Twoleg chased me away."
"What colored was this cat?" Fireheart felt Sandstorm glance at her with a glimmer of her own.
" A solid dark ginger," replied Ravenpaw. "She had this amber eyes that really sparked my attention, as if I seen them before."
"That sounds like Spottedkit!" Swiftpaw cut in, shouldering his way forward, for once there seemed to be some life in his as his eyes glowed at Ravenpaw's words.
"Then you know her?" Ravenpaw meowed. "Was I right? Is she a ThunderClan cat?"
Fireheart hardly heard Ravenpaw's words. Spottedkit was found! She could be brought home! She began to circle her old friend, her paws tingling with joy and relief. "Was she okay? What did she say?"
"W-well," stammered Ravenpaw, turning his head to follow Fireheart as she padded around him. "Like I said, the first time I met her she seemed scared and lost."
"That's not surprising. She hardly been outside ThunderClan territory before." Fireheart weaved impatiently around Sandstorm and Cloudpaw. "She hasn't even been out of the nursery let alone Highstones! There's no way she'd know she was so close to home."
Sandstorm nodded, and Ravenpaw remarked. "That would explain why she was so upset. She must have thought-"
"Upset?" Fireheart stopped pacing. "Why? Was she hurt?"
"No, no," Ravenpaw mewed quickly. "She just seemed really scared and miserable. I thought if I brought her to the Twoleg nest then her family would be waiting for her, but she still seemed unhappy. That's why I came to find you."
Fireheart's eyes filled with emotion, her daughter had been all alone for so long. Miserable and scared and uncertain of what was to come.
Ravenpaw blinked uncertainly. "Did I do the right thing in coming here?" she meowed. "Has this...er….Spottedkit been banished from the Clan?"
"Of course not!" Swiftpaw hissed, his tail standing vertical as if the insult was directed at him personally. "She was kidnapped by Twolegs!"
"She is also my kit," Fireheart meowed gravely, meeting Ravenpaw's surprised amber eyes. "She's been missing for a quarter moon. I...I was beginning to think I'd never see her again, but you, you-" Fireheart came to press her muzzle against Ravenpaw's cheek, unable to hold in her happy purrs.
"We're going to go and fetch her, right?" Swiftpaw demanded, his claws plucking the grass impatiently.
"Yes, right now in fact," Sandstorms startled meow of surprise was overlooked. "I'll be back by sunhigh tomorrow," she meowed. "Tell Whitestorm where I've gone."
Alarm stretched Sandstorm's eyes wide. "You're going right now?"
"I'll need Ravenpaw to show me where she is, and I can't expect him to hang around in the forest," she explained. "Not with those rogue cats on the loose."
"Rouge cats?" Ravenpaw echoed, his tail flickering out behind in. "What do you mean?"
"Come on," Fireheart meowed to the black cat. "I'll explain as we go. The sooner we get moving the better."
"Not without me," Swiftpaw quickly began following, his face set along with an arrogant stride.
"Or me," Sandstorm stepped forward, her eyes flashing as if anyone to dare say anything. "You'll need all the help you can get if you bump into those rogues or a WindClan patrol!"
Fireheart felt a surge of joy at Sandstorm's words. But she glanced warily down at Swiftpaw. "Swiftpaw-" Fireheart began, only to be cut off by the apprentice's loud scuff.
"I know how you feel about me Fireheart, I know you blame me for Spottedkit being taken in the first place. And truth is, I don't blame you I also think it was my fault for mocking her for believing in kittypets. But Fireheart, Can't you see that I need to do this? To redeem myself for putting Spottedkit through all that's happened? Please, Fireheart!" Fireheart hesitated, but the desperation in Swiftpaw's eyes, it pulled at Fireheart.
"Oh, let him come," Sandstorm meowed, rolling her eyes at Fireheart's hesitation. "He wants to prove himself Fireheart, so let him."
"Okay, you can come," Fireheart agreed, watching as the black-and-white apprentice seemed to light back up, his eyes shining. "But you listen to both me and Sandstorm, is that clear?"
"Yes, Fireheart," Swiftpaw quickly nodded, his fur fluffing out with relief.
Fireheart briskly turned back to the two remaining apprentices. "You two go back to the camp and tell Whitestorm where we've gone," Fireheart meowed to the two apprentices. "He knows Ravenpaw."
Fernpaw's eyes flashed in alarm, one that Fireheart instantly soothed. "Don't worry, you'll both have each other to keep safe. Go straight back home, and keep your ears low. No stunts." FIreheart ordered them, feeling a twinge of worry at leaving the two young cats to travel alone.
"We will, Fireheart," Cloudpaw promised, nodding his head as he looked serious. "Come on, Fernpaw, let's go." Cloudpaw flicked his thick white tail and the two apprentices turned quickly and vanished into the undergrowth.
Fireheart pushed away her anxiety about the apprentice's and began to trek through the ferns. Sandstorm and Ravenpaw fell into step beside her with Swiftpaw just a pawstep behind, and she was reminded of all the times she had hunted in the forest with Ravenpaw and Graystripe. But as the stifling forest air pressed down on her and her sleek fur prickled with anticipation of the journey ahead, she couldn't walk fast enough, she was going to finally bring Spottedkit home!
The four cats raced through Fourtrees and climbed into WindClan territory. Fireheart remembered the last time she had been here, with Bluestar. They would be following the same route, straight across the uplands to the Twoleg farmland that lay between WindClan territory and Highstones. At least there was no breeze this time to carry their scents across the moor. The air on the uplands was unnaturally still, and so dry that Fireheart felt her fur crackle as it brushed through the heather.
She chose a trail that kept them as far as possible from the camp that lay at the heart of WindClan's territory. The ground up here was usually peaty and wet, but now it had dried to a hard crust and the heather was browning in places, shriveled by the sun.
"So what about these rogues?" Ravenpaw broke the silence without slowing his pace.
Fireheart sighed with dread, the news she gave was one filled with a heart that ached, bitterness and regret and also betrayal that mixed into all that has happened within the time that she had last seen Ravenpaw. When she had finished Ravenpaw was silent, his amber eyes narrowed with thought, not the normal fear or even anger for his former mentor and tormentor.
"Hmmm, a shame." Ravenpaw settled, his tail flickering dismissively, making Fireheart look at him with surprise.
"That's it?" Fireheart meowed, watching Ravenpaw stroll casually. "Are you saying you think banishing Tigerclaw was wrong?"
"No," Ravenpaw meowed, his eyes flashing with something that Fireheart didn't catch before it changed. "What Tigerclaw had done deserved banishment, but it's also a waste as well. Tigerclaw should have seen what he had to give his Clan and what he had, he had everything a cat could ask for and he threw it away for something that was only temporary. I find now, that I pitty Tigerclaw."
"Pity Tigerclaw?" Sandstorm echoed, her eyes pricking up in surprise as if Ravenpaw just learned how to fly. "You've certainly have changed, Ravenpaw."
"I have, haven't I?" Ravenpaw meowed, his eyes twinkling. "I suppose I have, living in a new home, and I like it there. I've got Barley for company if I want, and that's plenty for me."
"But don't you miss ThunderClan?" Fireheart asked, her jade green eyes blinking at her black furred friend.
"There are things I have missed, and things I wish would have happened," Ravenpaw agreed, his eyes looking a bit sad before finally turning back to acceptance. Just like that time in leaf-bare. "But it just wasn't in my destiny."
"Can we please stop walking down memory lane, and get out of WindClan territory already?" Swiftpaw's irritated meow sounded from behind the three cats, glancing behind himself Ravenpaw commented with an easy going look on his face. "He's certainly Longtail's apprentice, he's got that temper of his."
Fireheart shared an amused look with Sandstorm, but quickened the pace until they were racing through the heather to fast to speak. She avoided the sweathe of gorse where she and Bluestar had met Mudclaw, and instead led them in a broad circle across the open moor. The barren hillside offered no protection from the sun, and Fireheart felt as if her sleek pelt was on fire due to its still leaf-bare thickness. By the time they reached the slope that led down to Twoleg territory. The valley stretched out below them, patched with meadows and paths and Twoleg nests like the dappled coat of a tortoiseshell.
"The WindClan cats must have been keeping out of the heat in their camp," she meowed, puffing as they ran down the hillside. "Let's hope the rest of the journey is this easy." They reached a copse of trees, adn Fireheart welcomed the cool shade and the familiar woodland smells. High above them two buzzards circled with high-pitched calls, and she could hear the rumbling of a Twoleg monster in the distance. Her aching legs tempted her to lie down and rest for a while, but she longed to find Spottedkit and that drove her own. She had a fleeting thought that Swiftpaw would have it much harder, but he didn't complain, not once.
As they padded through the trees, Sandstorm stared around with her whiskers trembling. Fireheart realized that she had traveled this far from ThunderClan territory only once before, when she had accompanied Bluestar to the Moonstone as an apprentice. It was a journey all cats had to make before they became warriors. Fireheart had been here several times, not just to visit Highstones, but to see Ravenpaw and to lead WindClan out of exile. But it was Ravenpaw who was most at home in these woods.
"We can't hang around here," the black cat warned. "Especially not this time of day. Twolegs like to walk their dogs here." Fireheart could smell the scent of dog nearby. She flattened her ears that almost mingled in with her sleek pelt and followed Ravenpaw in silence as the black tom led them out of the copse.
Ravenpaw squeezed through the hedge first. Fireheart waited for Sandstorm to go next, followed by Swiftpaw, then pushed her way through the thickly tangled leaves after. She recognized the red dirt track on the other side. She had crossed it with Graystripe on their journey to find the exiled WindClan. Ravenpaw looked both ways before racing across and disappearing into the far hedgerow at the other side. Sandstorm glanced at Fireheart and she nodded encouragingly, Swiftpaw already following after Ravenpaw. Sandstorm nodded and darted forward, and Fireheart followed at their heels.
The barley in the field beyond the hedge stretched high above their heads. Instead of skirting the edge, Ravenpaw headed straight into the forest of crackling stems with Swiftpaw following head on. Fireheart and Sandstorm weaved after them, hurrying so they didn't lose sight of either the black cat's tail flicking ahead of them, or Swiftpaw's black-and-white pelt just a mouse-length ahead. Fireheart felt a ripple of unease as she realized she could never find her way out alone. She had lost all sense of direction, with nothing to see but the endless golden stems and a strip of clear blue sky above,. She was very relieved when they finally emerged and sat down to rest under the hedge on the far side of the field. They were making good progress. The sun was only halfway down the sky and the uplands were already far behind them.
Fireheart smelled a familiar scent on the hedge beside her. "You're marker," she commented to Ravenpaw.
"This is where my territory begins." Ravenpaw swung his head around, signaling that the wide sweep of fields ahead of them was where he lived and hunted.
"Then Spottedkit is near here?" Swiftpaw demanded, his paws working on turning up the dirt. His impoliteness shining through. Fireheart herself was looking at Ravenpaw hopefully.
"There's a dip on the other side of that rise," Ravenpaw told him, pointing with his nose. "The Twoleg nest is there."
Fireheart suddenly felt the fur on her spine tingle. What was that smell? She froze and opened her mouth to let the scent reach the glands inside.
Beside her Ravenpaw had lifted his nose, his black ears pricked and her tail flicking nervously. His eyes widened in alarm. "Dogs!" he hissed.
Fireheart heard grass swishing the hedge and tensed her shoulders as the strong odor filled the air. A loud bark made her tail fluff out, and a heartbeat later she sw the quivering nose of a dog thrusting through the hedge.
"Run!" she yowled, pushing Swiftpaw forward who had slide out his claws as if going to confront the dog's head on. Another rustle and a yelp of excitement told her that a second dog was following the first. That got Swiftpaw running. Fireheart fled just behind him. Sandstorm racing beside her, her fur brushing her's as they pelted along the hedgerow with the dogs at their heels, trying to stay together.
The drumming of the dogs paws made the ground tremble, and Fireheart could feel their breath hot on her neck. She glanced over her shoulder. Two massive dogs loomed behind them, their soft flesh rippling, their eyes flaring, and their tongues lolling. With a jolt, Fireheart realized that Ravenpaw was nowhere to be seen.
"Keep running," she called to Swiftpaw. "They won't be able to keep this pace up for long." Sandstorm glanced at Fireheart, her paws pounding faster without being told.
She was right. When she turned her head again, she saw that the dogs had begun to fall behind. Fireheart sized up an ash tree in the hedgerow ahead of them. It was some way off, but if they could put enough distance between themselves and the dogs, they might be able to scramble up it to safety.
"Can you to see that ash?" Fireheart called to her companions, panting. "Climb it as quickly as you can. I'll follow."
Sandstorm grunted in agreement while Swiftpaw's response was a flicker of an ear. They raced on toward the tree. Swiftpaw reaching it first and climbing with quick powerful thrusts. Fireheart yowled to Sandstorm and she shot up the trunk after the apprentice, clawing her way to safety.
Before she leaped for the tree, Fireheart looked over her shoulder once more to see how far to see how far away the dogs were. Her fur shot up when she saw huge teeth barely a rabbit-length from her face .With a vicious snarl the dog lunged at her. With a challenging yowl Swiftpaw dropped onto the dog's head, slashing on its muzzle and eyes. The dog whined in pain as Swiftpaw clawed at its eyes, shaking him from its head the dog turned tail and ran. Swiftpaw's distraction gave Fireheart the chance to scrambling up the tree, as fast as a squirrel.
Swiftpaw wasted no time racing up behind her. They stopped together on the lowest branch and looked down. Below them the dog remaining dog barked in frustration, throwing its huge head back and bellowing angrily. When the remaining dog finally got fed up with waiting for them and followed after its companion that had run off.
"Swiftpaw, that was amazing," Fireheart meowed, impressed. Swiftpaw didn't say anything, but his eyes shined and he straightened up to sit taller.
"Where's Ravenpaw?" Sandstorm asked suddenly.
Fireheart shook her head, having no clue as to where one her best friend had gone. "He must have run the other way. He should be okay. I think there were only two dogs."
"I thought this was his territory. Didn't he know there were dogs on this side of the field too?" Fireheart couldn't answer as she looked up at the pale ginger she-cat. She saw Sandstorm's expression darken. "You don't suppose he led us here on purpose?" she growled, narrowing her eyes.
"Of course not," snapped Fireheart, her jade green eyes blazing in defense for the black tom. "He's our friend, he would never try and harm us."
"Does seem a bit suspicious?" Swiftpaw meowed bluntly, his whiskers twitching.
"Fireheart?" A high-pitched mew made Fireheart, Sandstorm, and Swiftpaw peer down through the leaves. A familiar black pelt standing directly below them, looking up at them with a concerned look before clawing his way from the trunk onto Swiftpaw's and Fireheart's branch. The black cat nodded nodded at Swiftpaw. "Not sure why they bothered chasing him, though. He wouldn't have made much of a meal."
Sandstorm stood up and hopped down onto their branch, almost knocking Ravenpaw off if he hadn't moved. "Don't we have a kit to find?" she inquired, looking a Fireheart who nodded.
Sandstorm stood up and brushed past Ravenpaw. "Come on then." Swiftpaw quickly followed her down.
"I see she's still a bit prickly," Ravenpaw remarked.
"I wouldn't go teasing Sandstorm if I were you," Fireheart murmured as she followed Sandstorm and Swiftpaw down the tree. She decided not to tell her old friend that Sandstorm had suspected him of leading them into a trap. Ravenpaw was no fool-he'd probably worked that out for himself, but it was a sign of his newfound confidence that he wouldn't let her hostility bother him. And with the dogs gone, the only thing Fireheart wanted to think about was finding Spottedkit.
Ravenpaw led them to the top of the rise and stopped. A Twoleg dwelling lay in the shallow valley ahead of them, just as he had promised.
"That's where you took Spottedkit?" Fireheart asked. When the black nodded, Fireheart's belly began to fill with excitement and impatient yearning.
"I can't smell her," Sandstorm remarked, and Fireheart didn't miss the suspicious edge to her tone.
"Her scent was already stale when I came to see her last time," Ravenpaw explained patiently. "I think the Twolegs are keeping her locked in."
"Well, we just have to get her out now won't we?" Swiftpaw meowed, already heading down the slope toward the dwelling.
"Come on," Fireheart meowed to Sandstorm and Ravenpaw, "We'll get her out, one way or another."
The Twoleg dwelling was surrounded by a neatly clipped hedge. Fireheart followed Swiftpaw through it and stared across the browning grass to the Twoleg nest silhouetted against the dusky sky. She flattened her body to ground and crept toward the nearest bush, her ears pricked. Her nose was no good here. The evening air was filled with clogging flower scents that drowned out more useful smells. She heard pawsteps on the grass behind her and turned to see Ravenpaw and Sandstorm followed, their quarrel apparently put aside for now. She nodded to them, grateful for their company, and looked back in front only to softly hiss in annoyance as Swiftpaw walked stealthily across the lawn.
Fireheart quickly followed after the reckless apprentice, keeping low as Sandstorm and Ravenpaw followed leaving behind the safety of the hedge. "There's the window," Ravenpaw whispered Ravenpaw, shaking his head as they rounded the corner of the nest to Swiftpaw had already jumped onto a tree and pulled himself onto the ledge. "Certainly Longtail's apprentice." Ravenpaw muttered.
Fireheart wasn't listening anymore as she followed after Swiftpaw, her heart pounding as she was so close to reclaiming her kit. She followed where Swiftpaw got up to the ledge, and began to claw her way up the winding stem, to reach the window and cautiously pull herself up onto the ledge next to Swiftpaw who was staring into the window, his eyes shining as he looked up at Fireheart.
Inside, a Twoleg was standing over something that spat out clouds of steam. Fireheart winced at the harsh unnatural light, but she felt old memories of her kit hood stirring inside her, and she knew she was looking into a kitchen, where Twolegs prepared food. Her mind flooded with long-buried memories of eating dry, tasteless food and drinking water with a sharp, metallic taste. Blinking the image away, she began to look for any sign of Spottedkit.
"She's over there," Swiftpaw meowed, directing her attention towards a corner of the room. Huddled ontop a towering, thick tree was Spottedkit hidden in a soft looking den at the top her dark ginger fur recognizable as her head hung out of the hole, her amber eyes looked lifeless as she stared at the Twoleg.
A loud banging came from a side door and a Twoleg kit came rushing into the room, making a racket. Fireheart half expected her daughter to cower under the Twoleg kits loud screeching but her daughter just watched it blankly, unfazed.
"She looks miserable," Swiftpaw meowed, his voice filled with pity.
"Well, not for long," Fireheart assured as she stared down at Sandstorm and Ravenpaw. "Its Spottedkit! She's here."
"Has she seen you?" called back Sandstorm.
Fireheart cautiously turned back to the window, but kept her body flattened against the hard stone. Spottedkit was still gazing at the Twolegs, her eyes showing blank interest and shadow of unhappiness, and she looked uncared for. "My poor kit," Fireheart murmured.
"I'll get her attention," Swiftpaw hissed, raising up slightly as as he gently put his paw against the glass, lightly pounding on the glass to gain her attention. Fireheart watched with bated breath as Spottedkit's ears twitched. Then Fireheart's kit raised her eyes towards the window and spotted them, and her eyes jumped to life as she let out a joy filled meow of delight.
Inside, the noise made the older Twoleg swing around in surprise. Fireheart leaped down from the ledge, landing beside her friends. Swiftpaw followed hesitantly.
"What's the matter?" asked Sandstorm.
"Spottedkit saw us, but I think the Twoleg did too!"
"We should go," Ravenpaw meowed urgently.
"No," hissed Fireheart. "I'm not leaving my kit, you can go if you like but I'm staying!"
"Me too!" Swiftpaw agreed stubbornly, his eyes looking up at the window ledge again.
As they spoke, a creaking noise sounded behind them. Fireheart snapped her head around. Light flooded from a door in the wall and spilled out into the garden, illuminating the grass all the way to the hedge. The bright pool darkened suddenly as the shadow of a Twoleg fell across it.
Fireheart froze. There was no time to hide. She knew they had been spotted. The Twoleg called, its cried hard and questioning, and then it stepped out and began to walk slowly toward them. The three warriors huddled together as the Twoelg came nearer and nearer. Fireheart heard Sandstorm draw in a trembling breath. She looked up and her belly tightened with terror. The Twoleg was towering over them. They were trapped.
It was only then did Swiftpaw let out an annoyed hiss. "I don't have time for this!" with agile speed he raced through the Twolegs legs, and darted inside the Twolegs nest. The Twoleg let out a surprised yowl. Inside the nest there were sounds and a loud racket as if things were falling and a Twoleg kits cry.
A moment later, Swiftpaw was racing back out of the nest, Spottedkit dangling from his jaws as he skidded around the startled Twoleg and bolted the way they had come. When Swiftpaw passed the three warriors didn't hesitate to follow him, leaving behind the Twoleg and its nest. They ran through the hedge and out into the field beyond, back tracking their trail and eventually came to huddle in a clump of nettles.
When Swiftpaw set Spottedkit down Fireheart was instantly on her daughter, licking her face and purring as loud as a thunderstorm. Spottedkit took in the attention and returned the purrs just as hard.
"I was so worried about you Spottedkit," Fireheart meowed as she caught her breath, looking in her daughter's amber eyes that were filled with happiness but yet also sad.
"And I thought i'd never see you again." Spottedkit replied, smashing her head into her mother's flame colored pelt.
"Don't you ever go anywhere without permission, do you understand?" Fireheart meowed sternly, watching Spottedkit's eyes grow serious.
"Don't worry, I won't." Fireheart's whiskers twitched with satisfaction, licking her daughter once more on the head as the calming relief that her daughter was once more part of her life.
"The moon is rising," Ravenpaw meowed, breaking up their moment. "If you want to be back by sunhigh, we don't have much time."
Fireheart nodded and turned to both Sandstorm and Swiftpaw. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," Sandstorm answered, stretching her forelegs to front of her while Swiftpaw just nodded.
"Good," meowed Fireheart. "Then we'd better get going."
Ravenpaw led the Clan cats as far as the uplands and left them at the bottom of the dew-covered slope that led to WindClan territory. Dawn was not far off, but it was the height of greenleaf and the sun rose early. They had made good progress.
"Thanks, Ravenpaw," Fireheart meowed, touching the black cat's nose with her own. "You did the right thing, coming to get me. I know it must have been hard, coming back to the forest. You really are my hero."
Ravenpaw dipped his head, his eyes shining. "Even if we aren't Clanmates anymore, you will always have my friendship and loyalty."
Fireheart blinked away the emotion that clouded her eyes. "Thank you," Spottedkit pipped up, her nose twitching as she stared at Ravenpaw. "For helping save me."
"Anytime," Ravenpaw meowed, blinking warmly at the small kit. Before turning away to head home.
Fireheart watched her old denmate trot across the sparkling grass and disappear into the copse. "If we hurry, we can get to Fourtrees before the WindClan dawn patrol sets out," she meowed. She set off up the slope, her kit swinging snuggly in her jaws, reminding her of when she carried Morningflowers kit home. Swiftpaw and Sandstorm flanked her. It was a relief to travel through the uplands bet of the uplands, where deserted badger setts lay, the sun lifted its head above the horizon and sent a wave of golden light across. Fireheart peeked down to see Spottedkits eyes dance with awe and wonder, her young mind taking in the scenery.
"I smell home," the young kit whispered quietly, making Fireheart almost miss her words.
"Really?" meowed Swiftpaw, his eyes doubtful. "ALl I smell is old badger dirt!"
"And I smell ThunderClan intruders!"
The four ThunderClan cats spun around, their fur bristling. Deadfoot, the WindClan deputy, stepped out of the heather and jumped on top of the sandy badger set. He was small and skinny, and he moved with the distinctive lopsided gait that gave him his name, but Fireheart knew that, like the rest of WindClan, his size concealed an agility and speed that other Clans found hard to match.
There was a rustle and Mudclaw stalked from the heather. Fireheart eyed him tensely as the brown warrior circled the group and stopped behind them. "Webpaw!" called Mudfur. The tabby apprentice who had been with Mudfur before padded out into the open. Fireheart waited, her head pounding as she held Spottedkit a little bit closer to her, waiting to see if there were more Warriors on their patrol.
"You seem to be making WindClan territory your second home," hissed Deadfoot.
Fireheart sniffed the air, blocking out Spottedkit's scent. No more WindClan cats. They were evenly matched. "There's no other way from the forest to the lands beyond," she meowed through the mouthful of fur, keeping her voice calm. She didn't want to provoke a fight, not with her daughter's safety on the line, although she couldn't forget the way she and Bluestar had been treated by Mudfur before.
"Are you trying to travel to Highstone again?" Mudfur narrowed his eyes, taking a step towards them threateningly. Swiftpaw put himself between Fireheart and the WindClan warrior, narrowing his own eyes in warning. "Where's Bluestar? Is she dead?"
Sandstorm arched her back, and hissed furiously. "Bluestar is fine!"
"So what are you doing here?" snarled Mudclaw.
"Just passing through." Swiftpaw said arrogantly, although he sounded coolly and unaffected by Mudclaw.
"Why you arrogant furball!" Mudclaw arched his back, his teeth bared. Swiftpaw quickly mimicked his stance, although looking smaller in comparison to the warrior.
"You leave him alone!" Spottedkit squeaked, her paws flailing as she swung from her mother's jaws.
"A kit?" Deadfoot said in astonishment, seeming to just now notice the tin she-kit. "You bought a kit here?"
"It's complicated," Sandstorm meowed tensley, on the defense.
"Great answer," Mudclaw said mockingly, making Sandstorm glare at him.
"Stand down, Mudclaw," Deadfoot hissed, not looking at him but right at Fireheart. "I'll let you off with a warning, but only this once."
"You're really just-" Mudclaw began to protest but Deadfoot cut him off with a harsh glare.
"That's enough, Mudfur," Deadfoot told the WindClan warrior, before addressing the ThunderClan cats. "We'll escort you to Fourtrees, and we best not have this incident again."
"You won't!" Swiftpaw retorted, his fur lying flat although he eyed the other warriors suspiciously.
Fireheart felt relief for avoiding a confrontation, even though they were swiftly escorted towards Fourtrees. Fireheart's happiness was almost tangible because despite his soware mood, Swiftpaw looked up at Fireheart with pride, they had done it. They have brought Spottedkit home. When they reached the forest, which was ringing with birdsong and thick with tempting smells of prey. But Fireheart's main concern was getting back to camp, wanting her daughter to eee home once more.
Fireheart picked up speed as they neared the camp and crashed down the ravine at full speed. She raced through the gorse entrance, Spottedkit squealing with excitement. As they broke out of the tunnel, Fireheart was happy to note that the camp looked just as she had left it.
"I'm back!" Spottedkit squealed, drawing the attention of the early waking cats who were sunning themselves at the edge of the clearing. They looked up, and Fireheart saw their eyes blink with surprise.
Whitestorm padded up to Fireheart. "I'm glad you're back safely." Whitestorm meowed, his eyes trailing to Spottedkit who was still in her grasp. Leaning down the senior warrior touched noses with the kit. "And I'm glad that you're back safe and sound as well."
"Glad to be back!" Spottedkit meowed, her amber eyes shining.
"And we're glad to have you back." Swiftpaw said, coming up to touch one of Spottedkit's paws. Fireheart placed her daughter down, but kept her tucked in the safety of her front paws.
"I'm sorry if I worried you. Ravenpaw came to find me because he said he'd found Spottedkit."
"Yes, Cloudpaw told me what happened," meowed Whitestorm. Sandstorm padded up to Fireheart and nodded a greeting to her former mentor. While Swiftpaw sat closely to Fireheart, gazing at Spottedkit.
"Fireheart!" Cloudpaw's mew sounded from the apprentices den, who had come out with both Thornpaw, Brightpaw, Ashpaw, and Fernpaw just a pawstep behind him. The apprentice's came racing towards them, their eyes shining as they came to greet them and touch noses with Spottedkit.
"It's good to have you back!" Cloudpaw meowed, looking pleased as he nudged Spottedkit with his nose.
"I'm glad that you're okay." Fernpaw added, her eyes soft as she gazed at Spottedkit.
"We were so worried about you." Brightpaw added, nosing Spottedkit more gently than Cloudpaw had.
"To be honest I was mostly alright," Spotted kit admitted. "Although those Twolegs made such a racket and the young one kept pulling at my tail and ears and snagging their paws in my fur!"
"That's horrible!" Ashpaw gasped, his eyes wide with concern as he looked at Spottedkit.
"And they fed me awful food that made me want to gagge!" Spottedkit added, her tone rising to a whine.
"That's terrible!" Speckletail called from outside the nursery, only to stick her head inside for a moment to mew something to someone inside. It wasn't long before Goldenflower pushed her way outside, whipping her head back and forth in urgency before landing on Spottedkit.
"Spottedkit!" Goldenflower meowed, coming to nuzzle the dark ginger she-kit and cover her with loving licks. It wasn't long before her siblings peeked their heads out to see what the commotion was about.
"Hey! It's Spottedkit!" Mothkit meowed, her tone was full of glee as she raced across the clearing followed by the pack of kits their meows of delight echoing through the camp.
"Spottedkit!" Squirrelkit yowled, bowling into her sister. Spottedkit was tousled into a tussle of kittenfur, but their was no denying the warm purrs that came with the reunion between siblings.
"I'm glad that she's back." Goldenflower whispered, her eyes filled with warmth as she looked at Fireheart. Who had just the same look in her own.
"I am too," Fireheart whispered, watching her kits finally whole and together again.
0o0o0o
It was a bit later when she had time to report to Bluestar. Her leader was huddled in her nest, her fur ruffled and her eyes anxious. Fireheart couldn't help wondering if she moved at all since she'd seen her last.
"Spottedkit is back," Fireheart whisper, her eyes revealing just how much that statement filled her with such relief and peace of mind. "She was in the Twoleg territory beyond the uplands."
"And she found her way from there?" asked Bluestar in surprise.
Fireheart shook her head. "Ravenpaw saw her and came to tell me where she was."
"Ravenpaw?" confusion flickered in the old cat's eyes.
"Er...Tigerclaw's old apprentice," Fireheart reminded her awkwardly.
"I know who Ravenpaw is!" snapped Bluestar. "What was he doing in ThunderClan territory?"
"He came to tell me about Spottedkit," Fireheart repeated.
"Spottedkit." echoed Bluestar, tipping her head slightly to one side. "She's back? StarClan had brought her back home to us."
"Ravenpaw helped," Fireheart added.
Bluestar stared at the sandy floor for a long time, and Fireheart thought she had wandered off into her own mind again when she looked up. "Ravenpaw helped you?"
"Yes. He led us to where Spottedkit was shut in."
"What did Ravenpaw say when you told him about Tigerclaw's treachery?" Bluestar demanded suddenly and out of the blue.
Fireheart was caught off guard by the question. "Well, he...he was shocked, of course," she stammered.
"But he tried to warn us about him, didn't he?" Bluestar's voice sounded full of regret. "I remember now. Why didn't I listen to him?"
Fireheart struggled to find a way to comfort her leader. "Ravenpaw was just an apprentice then. Every cat admired Tigerclaw. He hid his treachery well." Or not well enough. Fireheart silently admitted.
Bluestar sighed. "I misjudged Tigerclaw and I misjudged Ravenpaw. I owe him an apology." She looked up at Fireheart with heavy eyes. "should invite him back into the Clan?"
Fireheart shook her head. "Ravenpaw seems happy where he is, Bluestar. We left him in Twoleg territory, where Barley lives," she explained. "You were right when you told me he would find a life that suited him better outside the Clan."
They fell silent, before something popped inside Fireheart's head. "Bluestar there's something I want to request."
"What is it?" Bluestar asked, her eyes narrowing.
0o0o0o
"I, Bluestar, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to follow your noble code and I command him in his turn to you, as a warrior. Swiftpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"
Swiftpaw didn't hesitate. "I do,"
"Then I name you Swifttail, may you serve your Clan for seasons to come," Bluestar rested her muzzle on his head and the newly named Swifttail licked his leader's shoulder. His amber eyes sparkling in delight.
"Swifttail, Swifttail, Swifttail!" His Clanmates called out his name, and Fireheart felt proud of the black-and-white warrior.
"Tonight you will hold silent vigil," Bluestar rasped, her words trailing off as she abruptly departed to her den as the ceremonial words were uttered.
"Look at that, you have part of Longtail's name!" Sandstorm meowed, coming to congratulate him.
"It's a great name," Longtail retorted, coming to congratulate his former apprentice, they had a special bond between them. And Fireheart found it refreshing to see close bonds.
"Swifttail, Swifttail, Swifttail," Spottedkit meowed, coming to frisk around his paws, her siblings following as they weaved between the newly named warriors legs. "You're a warrior now!"
"Just you wait till I become a warrior!" Hawkkit declared, skidding to a stop in front of the black-and-white warrior. "I'll have an amazing name and become the greatest warrior ever!"
"I'm sure you'll get there eventually," Swifttail retorted, but his shining eyes betrayed his amusement and accomplishment.
"Don't worry Thornpaw," Leafkit meowed as the golden-brown tabby apprentice came up to them. "You'll be a warrior soon too!"
"I'm sure I will," Thornpaw meowed casually, coming to great Swifttail with a nudge to his side. "The den's going to be a bit lonely without you."
"You'll get over it." Swifttail replied, his amber eyes locked with Thornpaw, each cat seeming to take part in an inside joke.
"I'll be warrior soon to!" Cloudpaw declared as he came up to Swifttail, coming to probe at the new warriors stomach. "So you best not hold this over my head, warrior or not I can still beat you in a fight anyday."
"Congratulations, Swifttail." Brightpaw meowed, stepping in before either tom could cause a commotion. "You're a full fledged warrior now!"
"Congratulations, Swifttail," Fireheart meowed, padding forward. The black-and-white warrior turned to the deputy, his eyes guarded. Fireheart and Swifttail hadn't gotten along since Spottedkit was taken, Fireheart blaming Swifttail for getting her daughter taken in the first place. But as Swifttail risked himself to find and help rescue her daughter, Fireheart thought that her former hostility should lay in the past and not the present. "I'm glad that you are now a warrior."
"Thank you, Fireheart." Swifttail said curtly, dipping his head respectfully. They had a lot of mending to do to get on a level of respect, but for the most part, Fireheart was just thankful to put things to rest between them about this whole situation.
"Come on," Fireheart murmured, nudging her kits towards the nursery. "It's time to sleep." The kits eyes stretched wide, as if they didn't like that idea but with a few gentle nudges Fireheart had them all snuggled up in their nest.
Fireheart curled around her kits, feeling pleased. She had all her kits together again, her Clan was safe...at the moment. Swiftpaw had become a warrior known as Swifttail and the night was going to be secure. With that good feeling, Fireheart drifted into slumber.
The forest weaved its way into her dreams. Tree trunks loomed toward her through the mist, disappearing into clouds as they soared upward. Fireheart called out, and heard a quiet 'Shhh' sound, feeling curious, Fireheart followed the sound. As the sound grew louder, so did the thickness of the mist and the acrid smell that hanged in the air. Fireheart's fur began to prickle as a sudden overwhelming fear seemed to clutch as her, her sleek flame colored fur hardly standing out and rising in bristle induced fear. But like an unknown force Fireheart kept going, until there was an archway of only two trees ahead, with one more pawstep a huge grayish-brown viper jumped out at Fireheart its fangs extended ready to take a bite out of her.
Fireheart woke with a start. Her eyes flashed open and she stared fearfully around the nursery. Something was wrong; the acid scent still filled the air, and a strange, choking mist seeped through the branches. Fireheart leaped to her paws and scrambled out of the den. An orange light shone dimly through the trees as Swifttail, who was sitting vigil looked on with growing horror.
The smell grew stronger and Fireheart stared in horror as well, Fireheart knew with as much fear as she had in her dream what it was.
Fire!
0o0o0o
Well, how did you all like the update? Worth it? (Baby i'm worth it, uhh, i'm worth it, give me a review because I'm worth it!) well, I hope you enjoy and favorite and follow!
