Windclan-Shadowclan interlude
Wow yesterday must have been a slow day for people especially on A03 :/
As always, ideas are always appreciated cause they help this story along. I would have never written half the stuff I wrote if it weren't for those ideas.
Please review!
Onestar bit back a yawn as he and his small patrol trudged onwards towards Shadowclan territory. It was just him, Ashfoot, his deputy, Kestrelflight, his medicine cat, as well as Crowfeather, one of his trusted warriors. Currently it was about dawn, and he wanted to get an audience with Blackstar as soon as possible without Thunderclan figuring out what he was doing.
He didn't need word of his plan to get back to the ears of the monster roaming Thunderclan's camp.
Crowfeather gave a big yawn. "Why are we leaving at this unholy time of day. Not even the prey is awake yet!"
"The earlier we go, the less chance of Thunderclan finding out," Onestar replied. They were keeping to the shoreline of the lake, where no one could question them going over the border. All cats were allowed to cross territories as long as they kept within a few tail lengths to the shore.
He realized that he should have taken the route through Riverclan territory instead of Thunderclan, where cats could come down to the lake and question why Windclan cats had come through the area.
Oh well, it was too late now.
They made their way into Shadowclan territory, hoping to either come across the camp or a patrol to take them to the camp.
"Halt! Why are you Windclan cats on our territory?" Rowanclaw snarled as he and his patrol ran up to greet them. Onestar dipped his head, as did the other three cats.
"I wish to have an audience with Blackstar. Can you lead us to your camp so I may meet him?"
Rowanclaw flicked his tail, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What could you possibly want to meet Blackstar for?"
"I'll explain when I'm in front of him, no more no less," Onestar bit out. He didn't come all this way to speak to the Shadowclan deputy and give him a message. He needed to speak with Blackstar face to face. He held his tongue as the Shadowclan patrol muttered and debated amongst themselves, wondering if they should lead this patrol of Windclan cats to the heart of their territory.
"...Fine. Come with us," Rowanclaw flicked his tail and signaled for them to follow. "Tigerheart, go on and tell Blackstar we have guests waiting for him." Tigerheart gave a nod and sprang forth, darting through the springy pine floor of Shadowclan territory.
Rowanclaw looked back at the Windclan cats. "Well, let's go."
Blackstar was waiting for them as they entered the camp, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Onestar stopped and sat him front of him, dipping his head.
"Greetings Blackstar."
"Onestar. Why are you in my camp this early in the morning?"
Onestar flicked his ear. "I have something to ask of you."
"Well?" Blackstar pressed.
"I'm asking for Shadowclan to join Windclan in an alliance."
The Shadowclan cats that were watching muttered to themselves, wondering what Onestar was up to. Blackstar gave him a sour look and lashed his tail.
"What brought this on?" he asked sourly.
Onestar looked Blackstar right in the eye. "I need help to get rid of the monster roaming around the lake territories."
The Shadowclan leader frowned. "Monster?"
Onestar nodded. "Firestar."
Shadowclan grew quiet quick, and Blackstar flinched, immediately knowing what this was about. "Firestar?! You want us to go to war with the one cat who can possibly rip us in two?! Are you crazy?!" he growled furiously. "I'm not going to wage war with Thunderclan when they haven't done anything and especially not going to wage war with Firestar when he hasn't done anything."
Onestar curled his lip. "Oh, but he has done something. We fought him at our border. That wasn't the cat I knew; the Firestar I know wouldn't have fought like a wild animal. He wouldn't need his clanmates to stop him from killing someone."
"Are you suggesting that Firestar was ready to kill you?" It didn't sound like the ginger leader at all, who preached peace and unity. It wasn't in Firestar's nature to kill, unless he absolutely had to. Otherwise he adhered to the warrior code.
"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm telling you that Firestar is gone and has been replaced with something else. And the longer we stand around doing nothing, the longer that thing has to sway Thunderclan to its cause. How much longer will it be before it decides to take over the whole lake with its power?"
Blackstar tilted his head, uneasy. "Firestar hasn't done anything to provoke us or show he's a threat," he said slowly.
Rowanclaw stepped forward. "Well, actually..." he gulped, and Blackstar turned to gaze upon his deputy. Rowanclaw sighed. "I was going to report back to you after these Windclan cats had gone, but... at the border we encountered a Thunderclan patrol that Firestar was on. There were two dead foxes at the border and from what we saw and heard, it seems like Firestar was the one to kill them."
Blackstar gaped at him and Onestar wished he could be surprised. "He killed two foxes?"
Rowanclaw nodded. "Without injury it seems."
Onestar turned to face Blackstar again. "Still think it's not a threat?" he uttered.
Blackstar let out a heavy breath. "And what of Riverclan? Is Mistystar in agreement with your alliance?"
Onestar shook his head. "I haven't spoken to her yet. But she may join if she knows that Shadowclan and Windclan are in it together."
There was a contemplating look on Blackstar's face as he weighed his options. Fighting Firestar as he was now would be foolish. He remembered Firestar had only swiped his tail and had left such a deep gouge into the Great Oak. Not even cat's claws could reach that deep. A swing of Firestar's tail could possibly cut a cat in half. And that was just his tail; what could the rest of his body do? He didn't want to find out.
But what if Onestar was right and Firestar was simply biding his time, trying to get used to his new powers and body before forcing them all to submit? It wasn't a far-out possibility if Firestar was truly not acting like himself.
Blackstar shifted his gaze over to Littlecloud, who sat outside his den watching the proceedings with critical eyes. "The half-moon will be soon," he murmured. He switched gazes over to Onestar, who was still waiting for an answer. "I will have Littlecloud speak with Starclan at the half-moon. If Starclan thinks Firestar is a threat, then they will tell us. Depending on what they say, I will give you my answer then and only after the half-moon has passed. But not earlier."
Onestar gave a nod and got to his paws. Blackstar flicked an ear over to Rowanclaw. "Find some cats to escort them out of Shadowclan territory."
As the Windclan cats left, Rowanclaw padded back over to his leader. "I'm not sure if Firestar is really a monster. Monsters wouldn't look guilty over killing two foxes."
"He looked guilty?" Blackstar asked incredulously.
"It's possible that Firestar is just as afraid of his powers as everyone else is."
Blackstar gave a grunt, and padded back into his den. If he did end up joining with Windclan, it had better be worth it. If he lost cats to a pointless battle, or drove out Firestar when he was just as terrified as the rest of them of his powers...
He shuddered. He didn't want to condemn an innocent cat and chase him away from his clan. Firestar wasn't Brokenstar or Tigerstar and hadn't done anything wrong to warrant him getting chased out of Thunderclan. But he couldn't deny that Firestar's apparent transformation had tipped the balance of power in Thunderclan's favor, which was worrying in itself.
He only hoped Starclan would show them the correct path; he better not regret this in the end.
Silly Blackstar, you know Starclan doesn't give out direct answers. Or answers in general...
I'm pretty sure I need a break from writing this fic and should write another chapter for something else but I AM DETERMINED
Tell me how I did.