CHAPTER 21
Another quarter of a moon went by. As it turned out, despite his best efforts, Longfang's injured eye was beyond repair; it clouded over and lost its sight. All he could do was prevent infection. The scratches would scar, and with the chunk out of the herbalist's ear, he looked more like a warrior who had been in a rough fight than a timid healer. His nerves were even more shot than before, if that were possible. Dappledshade had observed him jump because a leaf had blown by just in the corner of his now-limited vision.
Rogue scent continued to appear around every Gorseclan border. These cats were highly mobile, and clearly able to move across their neighbouring territories unobstructed. Waspsting started to tell anyone that listened to him that clearly their rival clans were conspiring directly with the rogues.
Dappledshade wasn't so sure about that, but Fernclan was certainly being a pain in the tail. The piece of land near the river that had been a historically disputed zone was regularly being marked by Fernclan patrols over the established line. It seemed they intended to claim it. Dappledshade doubted it was a serious land grab. More just pushing Gorseclan's buttons after the Gathering debarcale. Either way, if a Gorseclan patrol caught them in the act, a fight was a certainty.
Icestar had lost what little patience he had waiting for Tussockclan's answer. He pressed during a clan meeting on the subject that he needed to act with haste in order to fulfil the prophecy. If Flaxclan and Fernclan would not come willingly, they would need Tussockclan on side, even if they were low on warriors and weaklings. More bodies was what mattered. Bringing all clans together as Starclan had ordered him was what mattered.
He elected to gather together a patrol to head to Tussockclan the next day, and request once more for Dewstar to join the clans under Icestar's leadership. He selected the cats to go during the meeting. Sheercrag, Cuckoofeather, Kauribark, Blackbird and Dappledshade herself would accompany the leader. Sorrelwind would remain behind to keep the camp running, while Weedfur led a dawn patrol as usual.
The walk to Tussockclan's camp was a long one. Longfang prepared travelling herbs for the group. "Just in case you need the strength." He commented as he pushed them towards Dappledshade, as the sun only just had begun to crest over the hills.
Sedgetuft wished her luck. For once he was actually awake at the crack of dawn; he was going on the regular patrol. "The patrol is leaving!" A small voice's excited cry interrupted their goodbyes. Dappledshade glanced towards its source just in time to see their mother grabbing one of their younger siblings by the scruff and dragging them back inside the den. It made them both purr with amusement. The kits were getting big being four moons old.
"Time to go." Icestar's call had her waving her tail to her brother and heading off with the rest of the patrol. She stretched out each limb as she waited for her turn to carefully make her way through the gorse tunnel. Her legs were going to hurt after walking all the way to Tussockclan and back in one day.
The trip was uneventful. Icestar let them hunt freely as they made their way across their territory in a straight line. Dappledshade reflected that she really hadn't spent much time in the dead centre of their land. Patrols took one around the edges. Hunting you went where the prey was best, which really wasn't the middle of their territory, which was plain grassy farmland. Especially at this time of year when it was so dry… Besides, the cattle grazing about could be a bit of an obstacle to a successful hunt. Icestar made sure the patrol gave them a wide berth, especially as a steer eyed them while they passed.
Dappledshade could smell the ocean by the time they neared the Tussockclan border. You could see it in the far distance from most of Gorseclan land due to the way it sloped downhill towards the shore, but couldn't smell it most of the time unless you were close to the border, or the wind was blowing towards Gorseclan strongly off the waves.
"Here's the territory markers." Kauribark called from ahead. He had been at the front of the patrol most of the way, once they broke out of a formal formation with Icestar at the head. Dappledshade figured that the brown tabby was probably happy to be out of camp, away from his unsteady relationship. They weren't screaming at each other anymore, but he and Wattleflower weren't exactly speaking either.
As Dappledshade and the rest of the patrol joined him, sure enough, there were Gorseclan markers from yesterday along a farmers fence, right next to the strong scent of Tussockclan which must have been laid not long ago. Seemed like their dawn patrol had already been by.
"Let's get going." Icestar said with a slight growl to his voice, pushing under the wire of the fence and crossing the border. He was obviously impatient to get there when they were so close. There would be a short trek further across farmland before they hit the dunes and rocky shore that made up most of Tussockclan's territory.
"Hopefully these gullfood-eaters are in their main camp. I don't want to be wandering around all day looking for them." Cuckoofeather huffed. Dappledshade was inclined to agree with them. Tussockclan had multiple camp locations for protection against storm surges. The sand dunes in the near distance all looked the same to her. Finding a camp hidden among them would be tricky. Supposedly the main camp was in the middle of their territory, and marked by a distinctive feature; a short stubby tree that had managed to scrape out a living. From her understanding, it made for a useful marker in a territory where the sand could shift and scent markers were easily worn away, especially in bad weather. Apprentices from Tussockclan talked at Gatherings about how they used it to help not get lost when venturing away on their own before they knew their territory well.
"They were still there when I came last to ask Dewstar for a reply." Kauribark answered, his large ears twitching at the sound of the rustling tussock blowing in the sea breeze. It was hard to tell if an enemy was sneaking up on you here, or if it was simply the wind. "I can't imagine they would have bothered moving since; the weather has been clear."
"Lead the way Kauribark." Icestar said with an impatient flick of his thick tail.
The dunes were tricky to walk on. They said Tussockclan cats were the most sure-footed of all the clans due to walking on sand and wet rocky shores all the time, and Dappledshade could believe it as she found herself sliding down banks of sand and getting prodded with sharp ends of tussock. It certainly wasn't an elegant performance by the patrol; oh how Flaxclan and Fernclan would laugh if they could see this! Even Icestar couldn't keep his footing and stumbled several times as they trudged towards the middle of the territory. Dappledshade might have laughed at the absurd sight, were she not fairly sure she'd get demoted for it.
"I hate these stupid spiky plants." Blackbird was grumbling quietly and swatting at the strands of tussock in her face by the time they drew close to a single gnarled tree nestled in the dunes.
"I agree." Dappledshade said sourly, sure she had seeds stuck in her coat. She would have to get them out before they worked their way to the skin. She had heard of nasty wounds caused by these bloody things.
"Quiet." Icestar snapped, moving to the front of the patrol with stiff body language. Soon, Dappledshade saw why. Two Tussockclan camp guards were approaching with bared teeth and raised hackles. They were crossing the shifting sand with relative ease. Dappledshade couldn't believe she was feeling a twinge of jealousy towards Tussockclan cats. "Calm yourselves." The leader said clearly as the two cats came up over a dune at them. "We aren't a raiding party; I simply wish to speak with Dewstar."
The cats exchanged a look. The black tom with silver flecks through his pelt didn't flatten his hackles. "Why bring an entire patrol for that?" He hissed, clearly distrustful.
Icestar didn't miss a beat. "Protection. The rogues have now taken to attacking cats alone." He answered simply.
The two Tussockclan glanced between each other again. "I see." The grey and white tom with an underbite spoke this time. Dappledshade didn't know the Tussockclan warriors well, but she believed this was one of their seniors. The other cat shared Dewstar's oddly flecked pelt, so she assumed they were related in some way. The grey tom's words were undoubtedly guarded, and that made Dappledshade curious. Mention of the rogues clearly touched a nerve. "Fine, I will see if Dewstar will speak with you."
"I appreciate that, Cragtooth." Icestar replied. Cragtooth only grunted dismissively, flicking his ears at this partner to stay with the patrol. The younger warrior said nothing, only standing a short distance away with a surly expression until Cragtooth returned.
He looked Icestar up and down, like he still didn't trust what he was here for. "Dewstar will see you now, follow me." The patrol followed Cragtooth down the bank, then up and over another. He had to pause and wait for them at the top to catch up in the sand. The other cat followed behind them, and as they entered down into the camp proper, remained behind on the crest of the dune to go back on watch duty.
Dewstar was waiting for them in the middle of the sparse camp, sitting in the sand with her fluffy tail curled lightly around her paws. It was nothing like their own; dens cobbled together from driftwood and tussock and shrubs. It felt very open and vulnerable compared to the towering strong stone and thorny gorse walls of home. Dappledshade had no idea how they could feel safe here.
"Icestar." Dewstar mewed a polite greeting, incling her head to them. Icestar returned the gesture silently, and when he blinked his eyes expectantly at the young leader in the silent pause, she stammered into continuing a greeting. "Ah, yes, well. Cragtooth mentioned your visit may be in relation to these troublesome rogues?"
"That's correct. I've come for the answer to my question. The rogues are growing increasingly bold and dangerous, and I think they are the threat Starclan warned me of in the prophecy they sent me. We must unite."
Dewstar hesitated a moment, and Dappledshade thought she looked like a cat struggling to find the right way to answer. Eventually, the long-haired she-cat said "Yes, well, as I already told your messenger…" her eyes slid over to Kauribark, then back to her fellow leader. "I have no answer for you yet. Starclan has not spoken to me on this matter."
"Are you not a leader in Starclan's eyes? Is that "star" at the end of your name just for show? Surely you can make your own choices." Icestar answered. He was being delicate, but Dappledshade could see impatience in his eyes.
It was not Dewstar that answered, but her deputy. "That is not the Tussockclan way. We don't expect you to understand us." Harrierwind said sharply as she padded to her leader's side. The brown spotted tabby was much older, and more confident, than Dewstar. A sensible choice to support her. Dappledshade had always thought Dewstar should have stepped down and let Harrierwind take the reins.
"Starclan comes above our individual desires, in such important matters." Dewstar affirmed, looking bolstered by her deputy's presence. The clan were all watching. Dappledshade made note of the lack of mature warriors to be seen. It was well known Boulderstar's relentless attacks on Tussockclan had gravely reduced their number. She couldn't help but wonder if some of this "Starclan has to tell me" was a cover for a natural distrust of Gorseclan. "You will get an answer from me, if and when Starclan offers their guidance. Otherwise I will take their silence as the answer."
Icestar's ears flicked back. "Which is?" The politeness of the question was dragged out of Icestar's tone like a bone scraping teeth.
"No." Dewstar said simply. "My clan will not get involved unless it is Starclan's will. We must focus on protecting ourselves. These rogues have been taking our prey and attacking my cats. They come from nowhere and vanish just as fast; like a sudden summer storm."
"Which is why we should be working together to get rid of them!" Icestar hissed.
"Working together and giving up our autonomy and leadership to you are two very different things." Harrierwind hissed back. "Get lost."
"You're making a mistake. Starclan has made themselves very clear!" Icestar started with a spit. He went off about the prophecy again. Dappledshade found herself tuning him out. She could not be bothered listening to this ranting about Starclan for the hundredth time. That was supposed to be Tussockclan's boring job.
Apparently she was not the only one sick of it. "Oh great stinking boars backsides, here he goes again…"Sheercrag muttered under his breath, surprising Dappledshade as she just caught it since he was standing next to her. Who knew the Icestar's quiet older brother had that in him? Usually it was Waspsting's job.
She turned her attention back to the goings on around her as she saw Icestar's hackles rise in front of her. "I would urge you to reconsider your position." He said, no longer snarling, and instead his voice returning to cool restraint. "Join with me, or your clan will be slowly destroyed by the rogues."
"That sounds an awful lot like a threat." Harrierwind said with narrowed eyes.
"If you insist on being so selfish as to put your pride as leader of a clan over Starclan's will, and the safety of your cats, I may be forced to consider stronger methods of persuasion." His head lowered, but it was not a polite bow of the head. More like he looked ready to pounce. "For your own good."
"I-I think it's time you left our territory." Dewstar said as she stood, trying to give off as much of an air of authority as she could. Her clan had pressed in all around them. The mood had shifted dramatically, and Dappledshde felt on edge having so many cats blocking them in. Tension was thick in the air now, and claws were starting to dig into the warm sand.
"Fine." Icestar said, flicking his tail dismissively. "Sheercrag, leave it." He said sharply as his brother glared at Cragtooth, looking ready to launch at the other senior warrior.
Sheercrag grunted, looking annoyed, but relented and backed off. The patrol moved away ahead of their leader, who lingered behind them. Dappledshade looked back over her shoulder to see Icestar looking Dewstar up and down one last time, sizing her, or perhaps the entire clan up, before leaving them with an ominous warning.
"But I will be back, and next time, you will not be in a position to refuse me."