Ok warnings for misgendering in this chapter. I know I said that after Blazepaw joins the Clan that was going to be the last but this is for the plot between Blackfrost (Blackfoot) and Flintfang! This chapter is not in a thunderclan Pov (gasps a nonthunderclan pov in the first book?! The horror!)
anyway prepare to cry hope you all enjoy!
"Yuck!" a little black and white tom meows in disgust, pulling a foot out of the deep murky water. Amber eyes looked in concern even though he chuckled. He looked at how small this kitten was, his kin, the son of his sister, Fernshade.
"He..he should still be in the Nursery..with Fernshade.." He shakes his head when the black and white apprentice calls his name.
"Flintfang! Stop laughing! It's not my fault that my legs are so short," the kitten whines as he struggles out of the water. Smiling Flintfang bends down onto the root and grabs him by the scruff gently pulling him out and onto the branch.
"Don't worry, you'll grow into your legs soon. Just remember that whenever you go out of the camp.."
"To always bring another Clan Member with you because the waters are deep and you might need help being pulled out. I know this Flintfang! You told me this about ten times a day!" the kitten whines making Flintfang chuckle.
"Yes I do Badgerpaw..what would I tell your mother if you drown?"
"I'll come back as a Silverpelt Messenger and tell her that you pushed me," Badgerpaw jokes, his kitten blue eyes twinkling in mischief. Flintfang grumbs but then he looks up to see Blackfrost, his brother and Deputy in front of him.
"Back to camp you two..Timberstar needs to speak to the Clan.."
Flintfang sighs and nods his head but Badgerpaw squeals and he scrambles over the roots, the mud on his black and white fur going every, "Uncle! Uncle Blackfrost! Do you think Timberstar will let me go on the next raid!"
Blackfrost looks at Badgerpaw with a disgruntled look on his face, "Its just Blackfrost..not uncle Badgerpaw. I'm Deputy and you have to give me the respect I deserve," Flintfang narrows his eyes but he then smiles that makes Flintfang want to bare his fangs in anger. "But from what I heard you have been doing well in Battle Training, I bet Timberstar will soon give you your own Battle Claws,"
"He's too young for Battle Claws!" But Flintfang kept this to himself as he walked besides Blackfrost, Badgerpaw squealing happily as he ran towards Camp.
"You remember when that was us, Sister?" Flintfang glares at Blackfrost who flinches, his ears down.
"Ack," Blackfrost nudges Flintfang, "Force of habit, sorry" he lightly chuckled but as Flintfang walked ahead to catch up with Badgerpaw he cringed at himself.
Flintfang pushes himself through the thorn tunnel and into the hollow that was ShadowClan's camp. He breathes in the scents of his Clanmates and flinches at the smell of Crow-food that fills the air.
"It changed…" he thinks to himself looking at the slope where the Elders used to sleep. Ever since TImberstar became leader he forced the Elders out of the Camp..he closes his eyes thinking of his mother, Hollyflower who died after a Quarter-moon of not being taken care of..her body already weakened by Eriarus' Tears..
Flintfang then blinks as he hears a mournful cry, and runs over to the large crowd nearby. Brigthflower was in the center, crying over the dead body of Marigoldkit.
"Why!" Brightflower yowls, curling around the tiny tortoishell's body, "Why Arianus! Why her!" she sobs out tears streaming down her face.
Flintfang trembles before turning to Rowanberry, "What in the name of Cysgalis' Heart happened?"
The cream and brown she-cat trembles, anger burning in her amber eyes. Flintfang just remembers that Marigoldkit was her sister, "WindClan! That's what happened!" she growls, "Timberstar found her body near the border,"
"Why was she out of camp?!" Flintfang was confused. The little scrap wasn't even a moon old yet and shouldn't be out of Camp unless watched over by a Warrior and their mother.
"Timberstar said that she snuck out while Clawstrike was sleeping," Rowanberry growls as she glares at the battle scarred tom.
"I guess they aren't going to be mates anymore," Flintfang thought to himself as the brown tom just looked towards Timberstar. "He doesn't even look sorry!" the tom was a rogue that was taken into the Clans and was thought to be Robinwing's brother with how the two knew each other and how they almost looked alike.
"Let all cats join here beneath Rhosyn's Tree for a Clan meeting!" Timberstar's yowl echoed through the hollow but there was no purpose since everyone was there. He looks down at them with his orange eyes, making them all squirm.
"Enough is enough," he meows, "First WindClan kills our leader Raggedstar, my father," everyone could hear the whimpers from Honeyberry and Sunflame his sisters, "But now they killed an innocent kit!" he snarls, waving his broken tail furiously. "That is why..this raid..we will force them out!"
Everyone grows quiet at this, there was some muttering but Flintfang knew that no one would argue about it. Not after the example Timberstar gave when Archeye and Crowtail both argue against Timberstar's order of leaving the camp. Flintfang looked to the ground sure that he could still see the blood soaking into the ground as Lizardstripe and Volepaw ripped into the two Elder's throats. In the corner of his eyes, Flintfang stared at Volepaw. The brown tom was smaller than their brother, Mosspaw and their sister Dawnpaw but for the lack of their size they made it up with training.
"With Lizardstripe as their Mentor it isn't surprising,"
"Force...force them out?!" Nightburr meows out holding in the cough that they all knew wanted to come out. "There have always been Four Clans in the Forest as stated by the Gods! If one of their Warriors truly did kill Marigoldkit then we must bring this up to the next Gathering..not punish a whole Clan with innocent kits!"
"Why?!" Brightflower snarls standing up and glaring at the black tom with anger in her orange eyes, "Kits of any Clan are supposed to be protected!," the fangs that hang from her ears whipped around, "And they killed my daughter! Any Clan who kills a kit that's not even a moon old doesn't belong in the God's Forest!"
Nutwhisker, her oldest son, screeches out in agreement while Rowanberry pads over to her trying to calm her down.
"That's a load of badger droppings," a large dark gray she-cat pushed her way through. Her fur was big and matted which clinged in clumps. Her face was scarred from many battles. Her torn ears flatten at the sight of her little sister before she looks at Brightflower with a glow in her orange eyes, "There have always been Four Clans in the Forest! Just like there are Four Gods and Four Trees! Do you wish for Gwynata to curse us for driving out her Blessed?!"
"Gwynata wouldn't want a Clan to be her Bless if they killed kits, mother," Timberstar leaps down and nuzzles her. She hisses at her son, "The Clan has rotted since Thriftstar has taken over..Heatherstar should have never made him her Deputy… first Cloudbreeze, then father and now Marigoldkit… this is it!" The cats cheered around him, yowling out their support, "Tonight! We will attack and drive out the rotten Clan from this Forest!" His crown, made of amethyst that shone in the darkness.
Flintfang looks with wide eyes, fear in them. His stomach churns in anguish as Timberstar looks at them, "Those who will be coming are, myself, Blackfrost, Russetfang, Rockclaw, Nightburr, Clawstrike, Nutwhisker, Flintfang, Mosspaw, Volepaw, Badgerpaw and Ratpaw,"
Horror filled Flintfang as Badgerpaw squeals in delight. He closes his eyes, praying to Rhosyn for help..to pray to Gwynata to protect Badgerpaw..he pins his ears as he hears Fernshade cry softly, not too loud for Timberstar to hear.
"Flintfang! Flintfang!" he looks at the ball of fluff that knocked into his legs, "We got to go to Cinderwing to get my Battle Claws!" he crouches down baring his teeth, "Oh those Winds won't know what hit them!" he swipes a paw, "They'll get what they asked for, for killing Marigoldkit!"
Flintfang swallows back the yowls of rage and he nods his head. With a gentle swipe of his tail he begins to lead him to a cave where smoke was pooling out of. Just as they entered, a pale gray tabby almost knocked into Badgerpaw but was able to stop herself in time. Tears were streaming down her face to Flintfang's shock.
"Ashpetal?" he meows but Ashpetal just whimpers before shaking her head and pads away.
"Why was Ashpetal crying?" Badgerpaw asks but Flintfang shrugs but he watches as Ashpetal goes to Newtspeck and places her face into her fur. Feeling like he was introducing he nudges Badgerpaw inside the Smitiing Cave.
Both toms cough as they walk into the cave, smoke puffing in their faces. Cinderwing was banging onto a new set of Battleclaw, long and sharp they curled. Badgerpaw squeals and runs over, kneading the floor. Even though there was sadness in Cinderwing's eyes, he chuckles at the excitement from the small kit.
Flintfang watches as Cinderwing measures Badgerpaw's paw, flinching at how small the Battleclaws were. He looks to the thing gray tom, "So..what was that about with Ashpetal,"
Cinderwing flinches before he sighs, "Ashpetal..is having kits,"
Flintfang blinks at that but Badgerpaw gasps, "That means we'll be stronger! We'll have more apprentices and then warriors!" he squeals but Flintfang sees Cinderwing flinch. Turning to Badgerpaw, Flintfang meows, "Why don't you go see your mother..show her your battle moves," Badgerpaw's blue eyes sparkle before he runs out of the cave. With the apprentice gone, Flintfang turns to Cinderwing, "I thought you wanted kits with Ashpetal?"
"I do! Just not in this ShadowClan!" he rasps, his tail lashing out, "What is the point in having kits when they'll die!" he glares down at the kitten size battle claws, "When Raggedstar was alive..kits could play and be kits..they learned the story of our ancestors and Gods from the Elders..in Timberstar's ShadowClan Elders are kicked out for being 'useless'" he growls out, "Kits battle each other instead of playing," his ears pinned down, "If it wasn't for Yellowfang and Marshnose, Blossomkit would had died.."
Flintfang flinches remembering the incident Cinderwing was talking about. Before Littlepaw, Ratpaw (back then Brownkit) and Wetpaw became apprentices they had badly attacked Blossomkit, his niece through Blackfrost and Poppyheart. The poor kit lived but now she has a scar running down her face along with a shredded ear.
Cinderwing shakes his head and picks up the Battleclaws into his jaws before leaving the den, Flintfang was following. He watches as Appleflower and Rockclaw pick away at some crowfood food, grimacing at the taste. Russetfang was licking at Tangleburr's ears, the she-cat having new scars from one of Timberstar's battle practice.
"More like he had Lizardstripe, Clawstrike and Nutwhisker gang up on her," Flintfang looks up as Lizardstripe was puffing up proudly as Timberstar compliment her on a good battle mood, "Not even upset that they attacked their own daughter…"
He looks up as Timberstar cried out a battle cry, sighing with guilt clawing at his heart in what he was about to do, he grabs his Battle Claws from Cinderwing, trying to ignore the apprentice's excited squeals.
"Timberstar.." the group looks over to see Yellowfang and Sunflame standing besides her mother, "If you are really doing this..then I'm leaving," she growls out, orange eyes burning in fury. The others gasp at this, a Witch leaving her Clan, lots of fur beginning to rise from their spines. This was an omen..a very bad omen…
Timberstar's orange eyes widened, "Mother.." the others could see his eyes move back and forth in fear, "Mother I have no choice! WindClan has gone too.."
"The Gods will not want this! I will not be part of this!" she snarls, looking like she wanted to lash out at him, "You have no idea how much I want to march up to Mothermouth and demand the Gods on why they gave you Nine Lives because you have changed ShadowClan! This is not the Clan I pledge to serve and heal!" she turns to Marshnose who was trembling with fear, his nose dripping even more, "Marshnose you have been a dear and loyal friend..and a wonderful Apprentice..but I can not stay here anymore..not as long as Timberstar rules..may the Gods light your path..," with that the Witch holds her head up high and marches through the gorse.
"I'm..I'm going with her.." Sunflame whispers out which didn't shock many others. Sunflame was trained by Lizardstripe, while her brother was trained by Nightburr and Honeyberry was trained by Scorchstrike, her uncle. But everyone knew how harsh Lizardstripe was, even to their own kits..even to their own mate Mudstep who died during the cold harsh Eriaus' Tears.
It was like every day Sunflame was coming back into camp with new scars and Lizardstripe would not only lash out at Sunflame (back then Sunpaw) with their claws but their words too..most of the time even after finally getting her Warrior name Sunflame would either be in the Healing Hollow with Yellowfang or out in the territory.
"Traitor!" Lizardstripe snarls wanting to strike at their former Apprentice but Timberstar glares at them.
"Sunflame are you sure of this," he meows gently to his sister. "If you leave..unlike mother you can't come back. You'll be officially exile from the Clan..I won't be able to protect you," he eyes Lizardstripe.
"If there is one does care for his kin.." Flintfang thought.
"I'm sure brother.." Sunflame said and before Timberstar could try to convince otherwise she walked towards the entrance. Flintfang blinks at the way she walked out but then he turns his focus back onto Timberstar who was yelling out orders.
"Even after his mother and sister left..he still is going on with his plan of the raid.." Flintfang looks to his brother but Blackfrost too was giving orders. He closes his eyes and prays to the Gods..for what he didn't know. Guidance, help or maybe even hope.
When he opened them again it seemed like he had stepped forward in time. Already he was crouched beside Badgerpaw almost in the heart of WindClan's territory. Flintfang turns to Nightburr who was crouching beside him, holding back another cough.
"You shouldn't be here Nightburr..you should be resting…"
But Nightburr shakes his head, "I'm the same age as you, Flintfang..just because of this cough doesn't mean I don't have the same spirit, the same loyalty to my Clan...the Clan needs that in these times," the black tom's eyes go to Timberstar, "I had hope to have prove that besides fighting but fighting is all Timberstar thinks of..that's all of ShadowClan thinks of these days.."
Flintfang hums but Badgerpaw nudges him. Turning he sees the small Apprentice almost hopping up and down. "Calm down Badgerpaw..save your strength,"
Badgerpaw nods his head and crouches lower but his body is still trembling in excitement, "I'm going to use the two-pawed move you taught me..and and the leap-and-scratch!"
Flintfang blinks trying to hold his rage in, "Just remember everything I taught you, and that there is no shame in losing your first battle," his tone was heavy and he turned his gaze away to look at the Stars but there were none. Just dark clouds that made the blackening sky darker..no Gods or messengers were watching this night.
The ShadowClan warriors prowled through the gorse until they could see the two Warriors that were standing on guard on top. Flintfang recognizes both of them from the Gathering. One was the small lean mottled form of Sharpwhisker. Flintfang remembers the pale brown tabby gloating about finally getting an Apprentice. While the other was Plumclaw, the small dark gray she-cat was keeping her green eyes out onto the gorase.
Flintfang watches as Nutwhisker leaps out of the gorse. Sharpwhisker stood up, his ears pricked but it was too late as the brown tom slashed at the WindClan Warriors throat. Plumclaw was frozen in shock but Flintfang didn't blame her. It was against the Warrior Code to kill unless it was under extreme circumstances. So seeing a Clanmate's life bleeding out of them was a good reason to go into shock but soon she shakes herself to shriek a warning just before Clawstrike pins her down to the ground.
Flintfang soon follows his Clanmates into the battle. He could see Mudclaw was hissing and biting into Nightburr's scruff while Hopflight barreled into Blackfrost. Lizardstripe was smirking down at a light brown tabby she-cat before ripping into her stomach, ripping it open and making the WindClan Warrior cry out in pain. Flintfang pulls his attention away just as Aspenfall pounces on him. Flintfang yowls when his right leg twisted funny but he pushes on, bracing his Battle Claws onto Apenfall's shoulder. The gray and white tom hisses as blood drips down his shoulders and wasn't prepared for Flintfang to knock him into a brown she-cat. Flintfang turns to find another opponent, just to see Badgerpaw fall to the ground without a sound. A trickle of blood crept from his ear, which was crumpled in the dust.
Ignoring Rabbitflight who was trying to sink her teeth into his tail and bounded over, crashing into Mudclaw, "Get off him, you foxhearted piece of foxdung!" Flintfang snarled, clawing at Mudclaw's face. Before the mottled brown tabby could do anything Flintfang bends down to grasp Badgerpaw;s scruff between his teeth. The Apprentice's fur was still soft and fluffy, and it tickled Flintfang;s nose. Blinking to stop the sneeze, Flintfang lifted the tiny limp body into the air, ignoring Mudclaw's look of horror and carried it to the edge of the WindClan camp.
FLintfang gently sets Badgerpaw down, and looks down at his apprentice..his nephew. Badgerpaw's breathing was quick and shallow and a strange scent came from him, sour like blood and crow-food. There was nothing any cat could do to help him. Flintfang closes his eyes angrily, he had trained his nephew in every battle skill he knew and made sure he could duck and roll and slash as well as any of the other Apprentices. But Badgerpaw was only three moons old..too small to take on Mudclaw, a full grown Warrior.
"Flintfang..is..is that you?" Badgerpaw's eyes flicker open as he mew weakly.
Flintfang could feel his heart dropping and he curls around his nephew, "Yes..it's me.."
"Was I good..enough?" Badgerpaw rasped in a tiny voice as a bead of blood begins to drip out of his mouth, :I..I tried to remember..everything you taught me.."
Flintfang starred at the tiny battered body..Badgerpaw hadn't stood a chance from the moment the first battle yowled out.
"I..I hope Timberstar is proud of me," Badgerpaw meowed as his blue eyes begin to close, "And my mom,"
Sorrow stir in Flintfang's stomach. What was he going to tell Fernshade..who was so excited to have kits..what was he going to tell his sister, that her son was always doomed to die in this battle because he was too small.
"Fernshade will be very proud of you..so will Wolfstep.." he croaked out as tears began to prick at his eyes.
"Are..are you proud of me?"
Flintfang begins to cry, "Oh Badgerpaw..I am so proud..you fought brilliantly," he curls his tail around his nephew.
"Will..will you be alright without me," Badgerpaw asked frefully as he moved his head. The trickle of blood coming from his ear thicken and was now drenching into Flintfang's fur..but Flintfang didn't care.
"We'll do our best," Flintfang meowed gravely. "And we will always remember you and how brave you were," it must have been his imagination but he was sure he saw Badgerpaw's chest puff up in pride.
"Do..do you think..I'll become a Warrior now?" Badgerpaw ponders as his voice grows fainter, "I..I thought of it..and I wanted to be know as Badgerfang..like you...because you were a great mentor.."
Flintfang could feel the lump in his throat growing as he leaned forward and rested his muzzle on top of Badgerpaw's head, "That's a great honor. Badgerfang is a very good name for a Warrior of any Clan.." he closes his eyes as Badgerpaw's breaths coming quicker, his flank hardly rising at all as he fought for air, "May you find good hunting, swift-running and shelter as you watch over us from Silverpelt from the moons to come," Badgerpaw lets out a tiny sigh and his flanked stilled.
Flintfang stands up, his eyes burning in pain and grief, when a great cry rang out. Looking over the ledge he sees that TImberstar was pinning Sootfrost, a smoked black she-cat to the ground. A dilute tortoiseshell was yowling with anger and grief but a gray she-cat was holding her back.
"You are in no condition to fight!" Ashfang growls trying to hold Morningflower back.
"That's my mate! Sootfrost!"" Morningflower screams even as Wrenflight comes over to help Ashfang hold her back.
Thriftstar stalks over anger making his amber eyes glow, "What is the meaning of this Timberstar..let Sootfrost go!"
Timberstar chuckles, his Battle claws digging into Sootfrost's head, "Pardon the intrusion Thriftstar but you have a choice...your daughter or your land.."
"What?!" Mudclaw hisses, "I'd rather die than give you our territory you crow-food eating scavengers!"
"Well I'm not asking you," Timberstar drawls, making Sootfrost whimper as his Battle Claws started to make the molly bleed, "I'm asking your leader..unless Thriftstar and Hopflight died without my knowing?"
Thriftstar growls, tail lashing furiously but he slumps in defeat, "Tornear..help Morningflower and Ashfang..we lost too many already..if we lose anymore, there will be no more WindClan,"
"Good choice," Timberstar purrs before releasing Sootfrost who runs to Morningflower. The two mates nuzzle each other before Morningflower picks up her sister's kit, Eaglekit, into her jaws before she along with Ashfang and the two remaining Elders, Redclaw and Cloudrunner, are surrounded by the Warriors and Apprentices. Flintfang could see a small white molly with green eyes helping Plumclaw while she sniffled. One by one WindCLan tear through the gorse, their blood spattering the ground until only Thriftstar remained.
"This isn't the last of WindClan, Timberstar," spat Thriftstar, "The Gods will punish you and your Clans for what you did tonight!"
Timberstar chuckles as he leaps onto a rock, jeering down at the WindClan Leader, "Whenever you run..I will find you,"
Flintfang looks over to the clearing as Thriftstar follows his Clan..besides Badgerpaw, he could see Nightburr's body was slump next to Mosspaw, the tiny Apprentice laying ominously still. When Flintfang walked over he could see that his head was wretched at an awkward angle and his eyes were glazed.
Anger and rage filled him, another Apprentice who shouldn't have left his mother's belly. Looking over to Volepaw who now had a ripped ear, didn't seem sad at all that their brother was dead..they were puffing up proudly as Lizardstripe compliments on their battle moves and how bravely they fought.
Timberstar leaps off the rocks and strodes over to Flintfang, "Where were you?! Blackfrost said that you ran away," he sneers at him.
Not caring for what Timberstar would do..no longer fearing what Timberstar would say to the Clan for failing him, he meows, "Badgerfang" he snarls making the brown tabby blink, "died fighting Mudclaw..he fought like a lion.."
For a second Timberstar was shocked, "That's a shame..he would have made a fine Warrior,"
Flintfang felt his anger begin to bubble, "Maybe one day he would have!But he was too young! Mosspaw was too young," he snaps, "You should stop training kits before they are six moons old! We had this rule for a reason! Given to us by Daisytail and Oakflake for a reason! There are too young to die, too young to fight and too young to be treated as full grown warriors! You will destroy the Clan before they become Warriors!"
Timberstar stares at him before he takes a deep breath, "I won't punish you because I know you are grieving Flintfang..but this is my decision..I am ShadowClan's Leader..I have been given the God's Blessings so my word is law.."
Flintfang glares, "Fine but I will honor the Warrior Code. I will never train another kit who should still be their mother's belly,"
Timberstar mrrows in laughter, "Fine..I have other Warriors who will make fine mentors.." he lashes his tail before he turns to the others, "Now let us celebrate! For now we have more land and have chase off those kit killers!"
Flintfang ignores the others' jubilant cries, going back to Badgerpaw's body. He blinks as moonlight finally breaks free from the dark cover of the clouds and he turns to stare at the claw moon..but his eyes widen when he looks down..the cleaning was filled with blood, his Clanmates's fur was shining with blood and Timberstar was surrounded by it..no it spilled from him and painted the others.
"A Blaze will come..a strong Blaze that brings hope to all Clans.."
Flintfang blinks his eyes as Clawstriked pushes past him. Shaking his head he looks as the others begin to head out, Russetfang and Rockclaw had grabbed Nightburr's body while Ratpaw was dragging Mosspaw's body the best he could. Taking a deep breath he turns around and gently picks up Badgerfang's body..wondering what that message meant and what it meant for his Clan.
Poor Badgerfang..don't worry little one you are now one of the Messegers of the Gods (Starclan Cats in this fic) and watching over your clan.
so yep! Flintfang was given the prophercy..I never understood why only thunderclan got it..when Firestar saved all the Clans..never made sense to me..anyway hope you enjoy it!
Also I feel bad for Ashpetal and Cinderwing (That's Ashheart and Cinderfur) they are finally having kits but now theyre worry that they might die. Anyway please leavea comment!
also a part of me wanted Thriftstar to just..say fuck you to Timberstar (he learned it from Jake) but it wouldn't make snese and TImberstar wouldn't understand..but don't worry! There will be curse words!