Back once more with another chapter of my "this is totally meant to be a one-shot but clearly that didn't happen" Exiled Fireheart Au!!! I hope you read and enjoy it!! (I will hopefully get around to finishing Into the Wild soon!!)
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Tigerclaw kept a scrutinizing eye on his kits that frisked and played around a clearly put upon Dustpelt who was too debilitated to manage an escape.
Tigerclaw's former supporters had been guests in ShadowClan for the past Quarter-moon. Already Dustpelt was up and mobile if still a bit weak and succumbs quickly to exhaustion. They were now looking healthier, no longer skin and bones and able to hunt for themselves. Though they distance themselves and keep conversations formal, they coexist with the ShadowClan warriors in mutual tolerance.
The kits however could not see the tension between the former ThunderClan warriors and their ShadowClan Clanmates. Tigerclaw's kits were curious and unable to keep their noses from where they did not belong. So, now the young brown tabby was the kit's new favorite playmate. Whether the young, lithe, heavy, dark brown tabby tom wanted to be or not.
Tigerclaw kept an eye on them as he listened closely to Blackfoot's reports of a current dry spell at the height of the hot Greenleaf season.
"There might be a drought with our streams if it keeps on like this." The jet black pawed warrior was saying, looking as if the weather had personally insulated him.
"That's something we have no control over," Tigerclaw replied, shrugging it off. "We still have the marsh to fall back on if the streams do dry up."
Blackfoot annoyance seemed to taper off, appeased by Tigerclaw's calm assurance that they would be fine.
"Though I wonder how the other Clans are faring in this heat." Blackfoot muttered, and that caused Tigerclaw to contemplate the impact this would have on each Clan.
"RiverClan will hardly be affected by the dry spell." Tigerclaw mused, "in fact, they might even thrive. They fish after all. WindClan might be having trouble seeing as they have the moorland and their streams will shrivel up into nothing if the heat intensifies or drags out too long without rain. ThunderClan's streams may also run dry but they have the river." Blackfoot muttered in agreement.
Tigerclaw dismissed his closest companion once he caught sight of Fireheart making her way towards Dustpelt and their kits. Tigerclaw was too far away to hear what Fireheart was saying to the still recovering tom, but the dismissive flick of his tail told him that Dustpelt told the flame-colored she-cat not to worry about it.
Fireheart meowed something and caused their kits to stop clambering all over the young tom, and instead follow their mother back towards the nursery. His kits seemed to grumble and whine but happily followed after.
Tigerclaw felt a jolt of amusement. Soon they would be apprentices and sleeping together in the apprentice's den. They should enjoy their kithood as much as they can now. But thinking of their apprenticeship also brought about the fact that Fireheart would come join the other warriors in the warriors den. Neither he nor Fireheart had brought up the topic of their relationship, or where they stood in it or if it even still existed. Tigerclaw had hoped with all the time they had been spending together, time spent happy and carefree, that they could mend what once was damaged and could return to being mates. Perhaps not the way it had been before, their relationship could never truly go back to how it had been before, but a much stronger one this time around. They have been through so much and have experienced many hardships and they have both changed. But they could learn to love again.
Tigerclaw was sure of it.
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"Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw! Wake up!" Tigerclaw jolted awake as his side was harshly probed by a heavy foot.
Tigerclaw let out a hiss of annoyance but the expression on one of the warriors, Flintfang, made all his senses become alert as it appeared to be something serious.
"What is it? What's going on?!" Tigerclaw demanded as he exited the warriors den. Many cats were standing in the clearing, their noses to the air as they seemed to be looking at something beyond the pine trees.
"Take a sniff at the air!" Wetfoot advised from somewhere on his left.
Tigerclaw raised his head and got a good whiff of the scent of smoke. It caused his pelt to prick in alarm but he forced it to lay flat.
"Check the border and surrounding area." Tigerclaw ordered, drawing the attention of the warriors. "We need to see where the fire is coming from and where it's headed."
"It's coming from ThunderClan's side of the border." Meowed Russetfur, coming to stand before Tigerclaw. "It's not crossing the Thunderpath, so I think our territory is safe for now."
"Regardless, make sure the elders and queens are prepared to flee if the fire does cross onto our territory." Tigerclaw growled, getting a nod as Russetfur went around informing the others.
Tigerclaw watched as more and more of his Clanmates began emerging from their dens. Coming to see what all the fuss was about and standing amongst the others to see if they could spot the flames when they were informed of the situation.
Tigerclaw spotted Fireheart poking her head out of the nursery alongside Tallpoppy. Both she-cats talked with one of the apprentice's, seemingly getting the news about the fire, and when they seemed to understand the situation both she-cats disappeared once again inside the nursery.
Tigerclaw knew that Fireheart would take good care of their kits. The flame-colored she-cat was strong and intelligent, and had a calm approach when dealing in a stressful situation.
Tigerclaw turned his attention away from Fireheart and his kits to instead focus when he heard a wailing sound coming from the medicine cat's den. The massive, broad-shouldered tabby was quick to assess the situation and what was going on. And he found that of course it was his former supporters.
"I need to go help them." Dustpelt meowed, rising to his paws as he stared off into the distance, where his former home was now burning.
"You would really go back to help the cats that banished you?!" Tigerclaw asked, incredulously.
Dustpelt held his head high, steadily meeting Tigerclaw's gaze, unflinching. "Without hesitation."
"Well I'm not going." Darkstripe spat. "Let them all burn for all I care."
Dustpelt pelt began to bristle but let it fall flat when Longtail stepped up beside him. "And so would I."
Tigerclaw looked between the two cats. Banished and labeled traitors, yet still willing to return to help save the cats that had easily tossed them aside. It wasn't something the massive dark tabby could truly comprehend, but something told him that what they were doing was right. Regardless of being exiled the former ThunderClan warriors still had loyalty and respect in their former Clan. Perhaps Tigerclaw no longer had that but Longtail and Dustpelt certainly did.
"Alright," Tigerclaw meowed, moving to let the two go. "but I'm coming with you."
Longtail and Dustpelt shot each other a look, one filled with hesitation and distrust. Understandable, but also uncalled for with how much Tigerclaw had already given them. If Tigerclaw wanted to hurt the former ThunderClan warriors, or even ThunderClan itself, he would have done so already.
They moved swiftly through the pines, and then as they neared the Thunderpath bordering ThunderClan and ShadowClan's territories, the clogging scent of smoke had already overtaken the stench of the Thunderpath. There was a faint orange glow visible from the border and it seemed to be coming within the heart of ThunderClan's territory.
"Oh no." Tigerclaw heard Longtail mutter in absolute terror as the amber eyed ShadowClan warrior looked between the loyal former ThunderClan warriors. They were horrified to see their former home being destroyed right before their very eyes.
"Let's move." Tigerclaw hissed, drawing the two horror struck toms out of their stunned states and quickly followed after the massive tabby tom.
The ground was scorching hot to the touch, while the heat blasted in their faces as they moved quickly within the burning forest. They were heading towards ThunderClan's camp, a risky move, but one neither Longtail or Dustpelt could be talked out of. Tigerclaw had some misgivings but somewhere deep inside, Tigerclaw didn't wish to see his birth-Clan or his former friends destroyed. Especially not his nephew, or his oldest and almost littermates, Whitestorm. Fireheart would also be heartbroken if anything were to happen to most of their former Clanmates.
Tigerclaw gave a full body shudder as they passed the training hollow, all the trees were aflame and only growing as they were nearing the ravine.
"I can hardly see anything with this smoke in my eyes." Longtail hissed, eyes narrowed and ears flat to his head.
"We have to keep going." Dustpelt yowled from beside Tigerclaw's right shoulder. "We're almost there."
They could see the bright flames by now which flicked just beyond the wall of the ThunderClan camp, tearing greedily at the carefully woven ferns, destroying it all.
They came to a halt outside the camp. Ash was raining down around them as they all searched from the top of the ravine. Searching for any signs of any cats still hanging around.
It almost appeared to be deserted.
Almost.
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So what do you think's going to happen now? Finally at the fire scene but what is in store now that there is no Fireheart to save them? What will Tigerclaw, Longtail, and Dustpelt do?
Fun Facts:
Blackfoot is literally Tigerclaw's BFF at this point whether or not he wants to be.
I hate Darkstripe but cannot see him willingly going back to ThunderClan like Longtail and Dustpelt. He's just too bitter so I have him stuck in ShadowClan.
Longtail and Dustpelt will always be loyal to ThunderClan!
Tigerclaw still cares. Perhaps not entirely but he loves his nephew, his old best friend Whitestorm, and those that Fireheart cares about.
Was thinking of having Fireheart join them but no. Fireheart is staying behind.
