Do people actually read these author's notes? Because I need to make it clear once again that no, this fic is NOT finished or complete and I will be sure to tell you when it is. There's nothing more annoying than getting a review only for it to be "iS thIs StORy CoMpLeTe yeT?"
Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to update again next week. Then the next I'm off for vacation!
Reviews are appreciated!
He hoped that these arrangements wouldn't be permanent. The clearing had started growing on him, even if it meant being away from his treasures for long periods of time. It was comfortable, big enough to hold him, and provided easy access to and from the skies above. Now he was stuck guarding one of the numerous entrances to the tunnels, while the clan was holed up inside. Granted, they couldn't go too deep down, considering that the storm had flooded a good majority of it.
At least the storm had stopped. All they had to worry about was keeping away from the water, which hopefully wouldn't rise any more than it already had.
The grass under his claws was soaked in water, making it wet and slippery. It squelched irritatingly against his scales, and no matter how much he tossed and turned, he just couldn't get comfortable laying anywhere.
He should have taken his treasures and made the short flight to that cave he found moons ago. They would be dry and happy if he did.
He found himself nodding along to the thought, before he scowled and dug his claws into the wet grass. He couldn't just leave his clan to deal with the flooding by themselves!
The stone pulsed at his chest. 'Be quiet,' he demanded, hoping that it could catch his rising annoyance and irritation. He didn't want to deal with the stone right now. And he wasn't going to abandon his clan or take their leader and two of their warriors away. He imagined that they would be quite cross with him if he did so.
He sighed in disgust as he finally lifted his claws up from the ground, trying his best to shake off wet dirt, mud and grass that clung to his claws.
What was the use? It wasn't just his claws, it was his entire underbelly, and even his tail.
'Bramblestar should have been back by now,' he thought idly, trying to wipe wet stalks of grass off his scales. His hatchling had been worried about how the other clans were doing, considering that Windclan had been so desperate for clean water that they had moved the border and became incredibly hostile to Thunderclan's presence in general.
Had Windclan forgotten his declaration so easily, or was the flooding making them so desperate that they hadn't cared? The urge to protect his treasures and clan would have made him get up and scare Windclan a bit, just to remind them of what he promised on the Gathering Island all those moons ago.
This time he let it slide. This was an unusual situation, and if needed, he could fly off and return with clean water for his clan to drink from.
If the borders weren't restored to their original placements after the lake returned to normal… he supposed that he could pay Onestar a little visit. He ignored the warmth blooming at his chest, the stone sending its agreement into his head.
His ears twitched as he caught voices being carried in the wind. He could hear Shadowclan mourning for Blackstar, but beyond that…
"Is this where you live? It's…er… very nice." He tilted his head at the unfamiliar voice of a she-cat, presumably within Shadowclan territory. Then he heard the voices of his hatchling and the cats that traveled with him to make sure that Riverclan and Shadowclan were okay, teasing the she-cat. Who had his hatchling brought home with him?
He focused in on their pawsteps, listening as they traveled closer and closer towards Thunderclan territory. The she-cat seemed to like to ask them mouse-brained questions. In what right mind would meeting Shadowclan cats be fun?
Finally, the group crossed into Thunderclan territory, overlooking the flooded camp. From atop the slope, he could see where the black water had filled up the hollow. His sharp eyes picked up the shapes of his clanmates and hatchling, who were mulling around the hollow, presumably in shock or grief.
"It's even more flooded than my home!" the she-cat exclaimed. "Where do you live now?"
"You'll see," Bramblestar told her. "It's this way."
"Something wrong, Father?" Squirrelflight asked him, breaking his concentration. She, Daisy, and Purdy were spreading out bundles of wet moss and bracken to dry in the weak sun. Snowpaw, Amberpaw, and Dewpaw were watching Spiderleg and Ivypool demonstrate battle moves with their mentors.
"They're bringing back company with them. A she-cat. I think she's a kittypet they rescued," he rumbled idly. Everyone turned to look at him, and more cats came out of the tunnels at his words.
"They're bringing another mouth to feed?" Berrynose grumbled, his whiskers twitching his displeasure.
"Aren't we going to have to introduce her to Firestar?" he heard Dovewing fret.
"Who's Firestar?" the she-cat asked in confusion.
"You're about to find out," Bramblestar meowed, approaching the slope for all to see. Firestar's black shape was unmistakable and hard to miss. He could see the she-cat pause at the bottom of the slope, squinting up at his figure. Graystripe had to gently nudge her in order for her to continue upwards, and she trekked up the slope hesitantly and warily. He could taste her rising fear scent as she came closer and closer to the top of the slope.
Squirrelflight leaped to her paws as Bramblestar and his patrol reached the top of the slope. "Thank Starclan you're okay! Did you find out about the other clans?"
"Did RiverClan survive?"
"How far do the floods stretch?"
"And who is she?" Spiderleg demanded. "Bramblestar, why have you brought another cat here?"
The she-cat stared around her with huge blue eyes, daunted by the number of cats and the hostility from the two toms. Her eyes landed once again on Firestar, who was doing his best to stay as still as possible as to not frighten her. Considering that her breathing had turned heavy, the way her pupils dilated into pinpricks, and how strong her fear scent was getting, he was probably doing a poor job of not frightening her.
Not to mention that her heartbeat was beginning to grate on his ears.
"Her name is Minty," Bramblestar meowed, his tone cold as he raked his gaze over Spiderleg and Berrynose. "We rescued her from the flooded Twoleg dens near Riverclan territory."
"I-wha- ah-" she garbled, fur puffed up in shock, her legs shakings. Everyone turned to stare at her, but she paid no attention to them, her eyes locked onto Firestar.
Bramblestar's tail twitched uneasily, realizing what was happening. "Um… Minty, this is Firestar," he introduced her to him with a strained smile.
She looked like she was about to scream.
"Look, I know what you're about to do, and before you yowl your lungs out, could you at least go to the other side of the lake and do it there? My hearing is rather sensitive," he tried joking to lighten the mood. He groaned as she yowled, and luckily or unluckily, it seemed like his hearing wasn't the only one that was damaged that day.
.
.
Thankfully Minty seemed to calm down after Bramblestar explained to her that Firestar had no intentions of harming or eating her, and that he had been a normal cat the rest of them before he had been unceremoniously transformed into a dragon.
The next morning Firestar woke to pale dawn light, the skies as dull and gray as the day before. He quietly huffed, wondering when the sun would grace the sky again. His attention was drawn to the feeling of shifting fur by his claws; Bramblestar was beginning to wake, Squirrelflight and Sandstorm sleeping soundly beside him.
Bramblestar gave a grunt as Firestar slowly bent down and washed Bramblestar's pelt in a few quick, but gentle licks. He stopped at the sound of paw steps and cats brushing through the undergrowth. Rosepetal padded up to the dragon-cat pair and dipped her head. "Bramblestar, there are a couple of cats coming up from the direction of Shadowclan."
"Thanks, Rosepetal," he yawned. "Let's see what they want."
Two cats emerged from the sodden undergrowth: Rowanclaw, the Shadowclan deputy, and Littlecloud, their medicine cat.
"Greetings," he meowed, padding forward.
"Greetings, Bramblestar," Littlecloud responded, fearfully casting a glance over at Firestar. He had taken the time to gather his mate and hatchling into his claws, as if protecting them from the world.
"We're on our way to the Moonpool. I don't know if it's escaped the flooding, but it's high up in the mountains, so we're going to take the risk that it's survived." He sighed. "If it hasn't, I fear for the clans..."
"Blackstar lost his ninth life in the storm," Firestar explained bluntly.
"How do you know?" Rowanclaw bristled.
Firestar merely snorted. "I heard it happen," he said, ignoring the Shadowclan cat's sudden alarmed gazes. "But I didn't need to hear what goes on in the clans to know that the medicine cat and deputy don't usually travel to the Moonpool unless the leader is dead."
"May he walk in peace with Starclan then. And may your leadership go well," Bramblestar tried diverting attention away from Firestar. It was clear that while Thunderclan had grown at ease with Firestar's presence, the other clans had not. Their unease was more apparent when Rowanclaw took Bramblestar's blessing as an excuse to leave, his shoulders tensed and bristling fur giving away his fear of the dragon.
A yawn sounded from Firestar's claws, and he retracted them, letting Squirrelflight and Sandstorm get up and stretch our their bodies. Sandstorm raised her head and gave the air a good sniff. "Is that Shadowclan scent?"
"Rowanclaw and Littlecloud were here. They were on their way to the Moonpool," Bramblestar explained.
"I see," she murmured in sympathy.
"I can clean myself, Father," Squirrelflight muttered drowsily, a large tongue swiping over her pelt. He gave her a nudge towards the tunnels as he deemed her clean enough.
"Go on. There's a lot to do today."
"Right," she murmured. "Who's up for a hunting patrol?"
Firestar's hearing is just that good. Also introducingggg MINTY! She has no bearing on the story whatsoever. But did you really think that cats would just be okay with having a dragon breathing down their necks? Thunderclan may love him but everyone else... he's ripping whole cows apart. And he can breath fire. Of course the other clans are still scared to death of him.
I've been considering as to what to do with BrambleSquirrel. Someone said to not put them together again cause it might be triggering for some people, but I also kind of want Alder and Spark to happen? Things to think about. I also want Bramble and Squirrel to yell at Starclan.
Tell me how I did.