"StarClan…what a joke," Ashfur snorted indignantly. "As if some magic dead cats are all-knowing! Our ancestors shouldn't decide our fate."
Lionpaw jumped out from some bushes and dropped a mouse at his mentor's paws.
Ashfur looked at the dead mouse picturing his long-lasting enemies instead. A burning flicker of jealousy lodged bitterly in throat and he had to quell it. He nodded and said, "Good work. It's a clean kill."
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Lionpaw beamed. "Thanks Ashfur!" He wonders why Ashfur hates StarClan so much. Cloudtail doesn't care for them but he's still a loyal and strong warrior for ThunderClan. To Lionpaw he's still unsure to put his blind faith into StarClan. Wisdom is wisdom but really, StarClan can't change the tides or the path of the sun. Besides, he only wanted to prove that he's a strong warrior. His ceremony is coming up and becoming stronger is an important thing to Lionpaw.
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The golden tabby tom is the only survivor of his litter. Hollykit and Jaykit died but nobody told Lionpaw how, not even his mom and dad. Leafpool would start crying and leave the medicine den in a hurry, so Lionpaw knew he wouldn't get any answers soon. If I'm the strongest warrior they won't have to worry about me anymore and see me as a dedicated ThunderClan cat!
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"Ashfur, why do you hate StarClan?"
"It's more than StarClan," the grey cat chuckled. "It's the clans themselves. They all pretend to be righteous and just but they'll willingly sacrifice any poor cat they want if it means they get out of trouble unscathed. How do you think leaders get where they are?"
Like Firestar, my grandfather and Brambleclaw, my father? Lionpaw would listen intensely to all the stories from the elders but he found it strange that they'd leave some details out. Good or bad, shouldn't all legends be told? That way you can learn from them.
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Everyone says Ashfur is a grumpy and snappy warrior but Lionpaw sees him as a father figure. More so than his actual father. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw are always so busy that they hardly notice Lionpaw's daring accomplishments. But Ashfur never shooed Lionpaw away if he wanted to go hunting, learn new battle moves, or ask about the clans. Ashfur often spared good advice, things that improved Lionpaw's deftness. He felt bad for the grey tom that seemed to almost vanish in the lively forest background. Hardly a passing cat ever stopped to talk to Ashfur. If ThunderClan brags about their warm hospitality then why does everyone treat Ashfur like a scary ghost?
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Leaping onto a tree stump, Ashfur climbed up to a sturdy limb. "Try to keep up. This is an old ThunderClan move."
Lionpaw scaled a tall tree, one of many in the forest. He's in a world of green leaves and birdsong. Ashfur astutely studied Lionpaw's jump from tree branch to tree branch.
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He wants to hate Lionpaw –but he can't. Lionpaw is Squirrelflight's son. Even now, Ashfur still loves the she-cat. Why? Why does the universe have to be so cruel? It's mocking him. It has to be!
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Ashfur wonders what his life would've been like if he was still Squirrelflight's mate. Would Lionpaw have been his son? The grey tom would've been a proud father. But he's just a mere warrior, sacrificing his life for cats that don't even care about him anymore. I fought against BloodClan too –and as an apprentice just like Brambleclaw! Why does he get all the recognition alongside Firestar?!
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"Our ancestors have stories but imaginary dead cats can't give medicine cats prophecies or omens," Ashfur spat. "Such things bring us into unnecessary wars. The leaders are all self-absorbed and mouse-brained to believe such tales."
Lionpaw took in the scent of bird. Maybe he could catch one up here. "Then why not be a loner? Brightheart told me stories about-"
"I already invested much of my youth to ThunderClan," Ashfur sharply countered. "And I lost my friends and family. It's dangerous being a loner. There are dogs, foxes, monsters, and twolegs."
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Back at camp Lionpaw deposited food in the fresh-kill pile. Firestar and Brambleclaw told him to help Leafpool repair the dens. Boring apprentice work. Lionpaw's golden eyes glimpsed all the warriors departing for action outside of camp. I wish I could go with them! They do real work!
Grabbing some fresh-kill Lionpaw sat in the clearing when he saw Ashfur chewing a mouse. His cynical blue eyes glowed with amusement. "They didn't let you go on patrol?"
"Yeah! And I'm almost a warrior! It shouldn't be too hard to patrol. Both Brambleclaw and Firestar said I'd be better help here at camp."
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Ashfur's gaze landed on Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight jealously. The couple is also eating amid other warriors in the sunny clearing.
"Did you know Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw?"
Melancholy injured Ashfur's smile. "I was Brambleclaw's best friend. We both fought Scourge and Tigerstar together."
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Tigerstar. The infamous cat that almost destroyed the clans. Lionpaw's Clanmates said he was a ShadowClan leader but not much else. What was he like? Surely an evil cat. But if he was able to convert two Clans to follow him then surely he had to have been a strong cat. Whenever Lionpaw asks about Tigerstar they quickly try to direct him elsewhere. His hearing however, showed that they were unafraid to talk about Tigerstar with other warriors.
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The grey tom's eyes angrily swerved to Firestar who is talking with some other warriors. Ashfur's claws flexed and scarred the earth. Squirrelflight and I were perfect together! Because Brambleclaw is her mate he gets to be deputy? What am I missing? They have the perfect life! Hawkfrost and I failed last time but I won't let Squirrelflight go. It should be her and I. Not Brambleclaw.
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"I'll talk to Firestar at dawn. We'll go on patrol with the other warriors and apprentices."
"Really?!" Lionpaw jumps to his feet excitedly. Now I can show everyone how valuable I am!
"Yes," Ashfur waved a paw as his tail flicked with annoyance. "Now go do…whatever apprentices do."
Lionpaw bounded away, going to his friends to work on new battle moves.
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If Brambleclaw can't be a good father then maybe Squirrelflight will leave him. Maybe she'd even love me again! She'll see I'm the better cat! And if that failed well, he could always turn Lionpaw against ThunderClan. It wouldn't be hard to resent such a system. Especially because Lionpaw wants to be a great warrior. Ashfur felt empathy, he and Lionpaw are overlooked by their Clanmates. How tragic that would be! Imagine the irony. Lionpaw would return, being an evil descendant of Tigerstar.
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Lionpaw hardly slept last night. He bounded out of the apprentice den and barreled into the other apprentices. "Sorry. Good morning!" He ate a quick breakfast with the others going on patrol. Some elders with their achy bones ambled out of their dens to the fresh-kill pile.
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"Look at you! You're a lot like your grandfather. He'd be proud you're up so early to help," Longtail said.
"Thanks!" Not one for sluggish gossip Lionpaw ran over to Ashfur. He is waiting by the others. "Ready to go!"
Ashfur nodded. "Good. Remember, we're not to fight any other cats." Not yet, anyway. He had to stifle a laugh. How scared would the clans be if they thought Tigerstar returned?
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Strange. RiverClan's marks are faint. They haven't been patrolling for a while… Ashfur saw Lionpaw catch a water vole. On their patrol the other ThunderClan cats stopped to talk with some medicine cats on their way to Moonpool.
"Ashfur, can you tell me about Tigerstar?"
"Why? He was an evil cat."
"Brambleclaw said he was a ShadowClan leader."
"Yes he was, because ShadowClan had no leader. Tigerclaw was exiled and was welcomed by ShadowClan."
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Lionpaw balked. "That means if he received nine lives that the StarClan had to have seen him as a good leader. But he wasn't."
Ashfur snorted. "No. He tortured or killed any who stood against him. He also caused a famine. So StarClan has terrible visions that almost costed all of our lives."
"But…if he had the name of Tigerclaw that means he had been part of a clan. He wasn't born in ShadowClan because you said he was exiled."
"Tigerstar was a ThunderClan warrior."
"What?!"
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So Ashfur told Lionpaw about Tigerstar's history. Even his gory death. That he is Brambleclaw's father and at one time, Tigerstar was looked at as a shining example of a dedicated warrior to his clan.
"You are Tigerstar's grandson and they are still afraid he'll return."
Lionpaw's golden eyes fell to the earth sadly. My Clanmates are judging me for something my ancestor did? I didn't even know who Tigerstar was. Ashfur was the only one to tell me the truth. And they must've believed in Tigerstar to join TigerClan. He must have had some good in him.
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A few heartbeats of silence pass and Lionpaw asked, "Can you tell me about Hollykit and Jaykit?"
Ashfur stared at the apprentice in shock. "They didn't tell you? Hollykit and Jaykit died from a badger attack. Two of them ambushed the ThunderClan camp and attacked the medicine den. The Badgers had come from WindClan and a few WindClan warriors tried to help."
"Nobody could stop them?"
Ashfur's tail lashed angrily. "No. And to think, ThunderClan used to fight packs of dogs so bravely! How do you think Brightheart got injured? Cats these days are too soft."
Too soft… Lionpaw felt a storm of rage inside him. All the amazing stories he was told as a kit vanish, they break into sharp splinters. Hollykit and Jaykit could've lived if ThunderClan had been strong enough. The golden tabby vowed to become the strongest warrior –and to become leader of ThunderClan.
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Lionblaze is now a warrior. And tonight is his first Gathering. From what he can see none of the clans are as strong as they claim to be. A big fire had scorched WindClan territory leaving them without much fresh-kill and RiverClan is suffering through a long-lasting drought. All they're doing is looking for signs in the sky and the moon. Why wait on StarClan when they can band together and do something now?
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The leaders are giving their reports on clan life when Lionblaze, full of wrath and bravery, leapt onto a big tree limb sticking out from the earth and shouted. "Why should we ask and follow StarClan's wisdom?!"
Warriors gasp at the outburst.
"By the time they deliver us a vision it'll be too late to do anything! They choose heroes from a Clan they like and leave the rest to suffer! We can do fine without them!"
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Leopardstar hissed and her sharp teeth flashed in dim moonlight. "You dare interrupt a leader's words?"
"And defy StarClan?!" Mistyfoot asked.
Blackstar considered the warrior's passionate clamor. "He has a point. Clearly StarClan loves ThunderClan and WindClan the most, no matter how much we give to them." His yellow eyes gleam with esteem. "And it takes guts to defy a leader."
Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy also added, "Don't forget that we've suffered from late prophecies and visions."
"StarClan leaves us guessing without clear information," a RiverClan warrior agreed.
"If their signs were translated sooner we could've stopped Tigerstar's war, and TigerClan."
"Are you blaming the medicine cats?"
"No! They are as important as any clan cat!"
"And Tigerstar was given his nine lives by StarClan! They caused the war!"
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Disgruntled murmuring flooded the Gathering. Clanmates were turning on Clanmates, deputies turning against leaders. A visible outrage is breaking loyalty and certainty right before Ashfur's eyes. He stifled a laugh. Lionblaze is right. Why blindly listen to StarClan when they are the ones that let Tigerstar start a war? If the clans have to be destroyed in the process for a true leadership to be found then so be it. At least Lionblaze has the courage to lead the clans in a new future.
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Ashfur trailed behind the other ThunderClan cats going home.
"You should've never spoken out," Brambleclaw scolded. "It isn't a warrior's place to question what other clans do."
"And what? Let the clans fall further and further into darkness?!" Lionblaze fired back.
"Listen to your father. He's a wise and noble warrior," Squirrelflight said.
"Ambition is a good trait. But too much can be a cat's downfall," the deputy somberly said.
"Not if it's for the right purpose. Didn't Firestar go against Bluestar's orders and save the clans?"
The grey tom grinned cruelly. ThunderClan's end will soon be real. What will they do when a descendant of Firestar and Tigerstar is the one who will destroy the clans?