Firepaw panted, his scratches stung. He stumbled back a bright light blinding him, before he could regain his balance he was bowled over. He scrambled to his paws in horror at the shadows rising from the ground, dragging ThunderClan cats from their dens and tearing them to shreds. Firepaw lashed out only to stumble as his paw went right through the opposing enemy. A shadow had no problem latching its teeth into his arm sending a blazing feeling through his entire limb. As he struggled to free himself a grief stricken howl rang through the air, chilling him to his bones.
Graypaw?!
He panicked and struggled to his paws searching the chaos for his friend. He rushed forward into the crowd of cats and-
Startled awake at a sharp feeling prodding him in the back.
Firepaw sprung to his paws, ear flattened and fur standing on end. He snarled reflexively, blindly lashing out in the direction he felt the prod. He tried to identify the shadow approaching him, hissing again to warn it to stop. The silhouette froze as Firepaw continued growling as he slowly calmed himself down. When his vision finally cleared, he recognized a startled Tigerclaw with an outstretched paw ready to poke him again to wake him up.
Graypaw had moved away from him at some point, a small notch in his ear that Firepaw instantly felt bad for. Ravenpaw was curled between Dustpaw and Sandpaw, all of whom were wide eyed and just as bristled as he was.
"Are you okay?" asked Tigerclaw after a long moment of silence.
"...I'm fine," Firepaw said, taking a deep breath. He uncurled himself from his protective ball and sheathed his claws. He took another deep breath and straightened up properly. "It was just a dream."
"Are you sure?" Graypaw asked. "That seemed pretty serious."
"Just a dream," Firepaw repeated.
He pushed his way from the den before anyone else could ask anymore questions. He was frightened and tired- it had all felt so real. Graypaw's wail rang through his ears and he shook his head trying to dislodge them. He veered towards Spottedleaf's den- he needed traveling herbs but he was also fairly sure he'd had another Sight. Thankfully she was already waiting outside for him and his friends with their herbs at her paws.
Before he could ask any questions, Ravenpaw and Graypaw caught up to him- he could smell the worry radiating off of them as they pressed closely to him. He resolved to ask when they returned and instead accepted his travel herbs.
"Orayeyasi," Spottedleaf greeted him.
"Oreyeyi," Firepaw responded with a tired smile.
"What does that mean?" Graypaw asked curiously.
Before Firepaw could respond, Ravenpaw explained, "It's a greeting from the kingdoms- it means good morning."
"Yeah," said Firepaw tilting his head. "How'd you know?"
"I'm a diplomat's apprentice," Ravenpaw said, puffing out his chest. "I have to know the basic greetings. Larkwing's been teaching me."
"Oh," said Graypaw. "Oriyayi?"
"Oreyeyasi," corrected Spottedleaf. "Don't worry, it was hard for me to say too."
Graypaw shrugged it off and leaned down to eat his herbs. As soon as the first one touched his tongue, he gagged.
"Yuck!" he said, wrinkling his nose.
Spottedleaf chuckled, "I know but they'll keep you full far longer than a mouse and you'll have to wait until moonhigh to come back. At least you're eating, Bluestar may not eat until after she's spoken with StarClan."
"What?" blinked Ravenpaw. "Isn't the Moonstone a long way away?"
"It's tradition," Spottedleaf explained. "In order to reach the stars, you must be close enough to a spirit for them to hear you and be heard in return."
"So Bluestar has to die?" Firepaw asked, ears shooting up.
"No," Spottedleaf said. "She must be in a spirit-like state, not a complete spirit state."
"That still sounds scary," Ravenpaw said, shivering. "I don't want to be a leader. Even spirit-like is too close."
"Too right," Graypaw laughed. "I'm gonna be a guard captain thank you very much."
"What about you, Firepaw?" asked Ravenpaw.
Firepaw tilted his head, "If someone asked me to then I would. I wouldn't mind being a normal warrior though."
"Well if you were being considered, Bluestar would speak to you," Spottedleaf said. "Speaking of, here she comes with Tigerclaw now."
Firepaw glanced up and sure enough, Bluestar was marching over not a whisker out of place as usual. He swallowed down his herbs only coughing once and then sprinted over to her. He was about a tail away when he skid to a halt, coughing when a wave of herbs tried to asphyxiate him. The smell was so strong, he'd sooner assume she was a walking bush rather than an actual cat.
"Leaders traveling to the Moonstone coat their fur in basil to let other cats know," Bluestar informed as Firepaw shook his head trying to dislodge the smell. Bluestar chuckled when he didn't respond and even Spottedleaf sneezed. She flicked her tail in a "follow me" motion and led them over to the gorse tunnel. Lionheart stopped them just long enough to touch their noses together.
Firepaw had braced himself for another sprint but instead of a desperate run through the forest, Bluestar led them on a laguid stroll through ThunderClan territory. Graypaw and Ravenpaw got in a minor shoving competition while they walked and though Tigerclaw eyed them with disdain, neither Bluestar nor Tigerclaw scolded them. He listened to the birds singing loudly to each other as if they could tell the cats below weren't on the hunt. Mice scampered off and the wind rustled the branches in the trees gently.
By the time they came upon where the WindClan border should be, he was reminded of how beautiful ThunderClan territory was. They crossed the border into WindClan territory without hesitation- with WindClan gone, there was no point in waiting for a patrol after all.
He was shortly overwhelmed by the flash of discomfort that stung him when they stepped out from beneath the tree line. He'd lived under the comfort of the trees his entire life- the loose covering of branches from the kingdom and the soothingly thick canopy in ThunderClan. He hadn't realized how much he depended on the security of the trick branches from the elements to feel safe and secure until nothing but hills and grass stretched before him like an amber ocean. Ravenpaw and Graypaw had ceased their shoving, looking around nervously as they moved closer to Bluestar and Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw's tail lashed anxiously and Bluestar kept glancing at the sky with a slight grimace.
He felt better knowing that he wasn't the only one who felt safer under the trees. They crossed out of WindClan territory as quickly as they could and Firepaw was certain he wasn't the only one disappointed when the trees didn't come back. Despite the shoving match, no one had said a thing. He wondered, abruptly, if the silence was meant for introspection on the way to speak to StarClan- to ensure that his questions were clear and straightforward. Was he supposed to be thinking of questions for the stars this entire time? Had Graypaw and Ravenpaw already settled their questions in mind?
Well he didn't have any questions for StarClan so he decided to think on other things. Like how much he missed his brothers and sisters. WIth every lesson and encouragement from his clanmates to put his family first and every group of siblings romping through the camp, he's reminded that his entire family is a line of trees away. That he could go and see them if he really wanted- but what would that say about his commitment to ThunderClan? He wanted to see his siblings- especially Adihiko who's leaving he missed- but he couldn't without fanning accusations of disloyalty from the more agitating members of the clan. Besides, he probably smelled like a clan cat now- even if members of the kingdom recognized him, it was clear he wasn't quite theirs anymore.
Surrounded by cats who preached family first and yet, to be one of theirs, he had to relinquish his own.
He was so lost in thought- in memories- that he almost collided with Tigerclaw's backside after the patrol stopped walking. He glanced around at the sharp rocks and large gaping hole in the side of the hill, large sharp rocks hanging from the top like teeth in the jaws of an enraged bear. He shivered at the cool, damp earthy air flowing from the entrance and backed away a bit. He glanced around at his patrol as Bluestar settled on the ground.
"Now just wait for moonhigh," she explained.
"There's someone here."
Firepaw glanced up at Tigerclaw who was bristed and glaring towards the taller grass. It wasn't shoulder height but it was tall enough for a clever cat to lead an effective ambush. He yawned, pricking his ears and angling them towards the direction of Tigerclaw's glower. It took him a moment but eventually he did, catching the sounds of dry grass being stepped on and a cheery conversation. Bluestar drew herself to her paws, clearly hearing the noises too. Just as Ravenpaw and Graypaw started preparing to defend themselves, the someones were close enough to understand their conversation.
"-kind cats. I'm sure kina'll be lenient with you," reassured a familiar voice.
"Yeah, Raza is very kind- besides, no one gets in serious trouble for chicken culling unless you kill all of them."
Firepaw caught Tigerclaw tensing and growling, readying to attack pre-emptively.
"Wait!" he called, halting him.
"What?"
Firepaw didn't answer. His yell had been loud and the conversing cats had gone silent. The crunching of dried grass increased abruptly as one of the members began sprinting right towards them. Firepaw ran to meet them as Tigerclaw snarled defensively.
Ahasra skidded out from the tall grass beaming.
"I knew I recognized that voice, Soryn! What are you doing all the way out here? This isn't clan territory!"
"Ahasra!" he cheered and promptly touched noses with her in greeting.
"Your sister?" Bluestar said, instantly calming down. "Greetings your highness."
Ahasra blinked, taken aback by the address, "Oh, uh, hello… Bluestar?"
His leader nodded.
"Biketi ratted us out," Firepaw chuckled. "Bluestar, Graypaw, Ravenpaw and now Tigerclaw know we're heirs now."
"Dang," she sighed. "You never answered me- how come you're all the way out here?"
"We're visiting the Moonstone. Bluestar is going to speak to 'StarClan' and see if they know anything about the problems we're facing in the clans."
"Ah, okay."
"What about you?"
"Detainment mission. There was a chicken killer we had to bring home- I'm leading my first squad."
"Where are they?"
Just as he asked the question, a pair of exhausted cats staggered in panting leading a third who flopped to the ground. Ahasra gestured.
"The yellow one is Hira and the one that looks like she could be our cousin is Nadi- the last guy is the loner we caught, Sparrow."
"You- you can't- cant't just run off like that," panted Hira staggering to her paws. "We thought something was wrong."
Ahasra gave her a weird look, "Do I really come off as dumb enough to charge enemies head on?"
"...no," Nadi admitted. "You're really clever- but all we heard was a shout and then you darted off like lightning."
"We thought you were gonna try to lead them away or something," said Hira.
"Nah, just heard my brother."
"Can we please rest here?" Sparrow begged. "We've been walking all day."
"You shouldn't have run so far out," huffed Nadi. "But a rest would be a good idea. Havoc's pack has been spotted hunting around here and the more energy we have the better."
"Havoc is around here?" Bluestar prompted instantly looking around.
"Yeah," Ahasra grimaced. "He's been poaching sheep and running out here recently. Last we heard, they tore apart some poor ash-brain traveling alone. You should be safe- Havoc is too cowardly to hunt large groups of cats."
"Maybe we should stick together then," Ravenpaw offered, glancing at Bluestar. "Just until we have to return. We can't all go into Mothermouth and it'd be dangerous to leave just two guards out here if Havoc is hunting."
"That's a good point," Bluestar praised turning to Ahasra. "What do you think your highness?"
"That you should just call me Ahasra and yeah it'd be safer," his sister agreed.
Ahasra's squadron sighed in relief, sinking back onto the ground. Graypaw crept a bit closer to Nadi and eagerly pulled her into a conversation. Ravenpaw joined him after a couple times of Graypaw beckoning him over. Firepaw let his sister snuggle into his side as they all waited for moonhigh.
Firepaw yawned as he was gently shaken awake, "it is time."
He stretched his mildly rejuvenated muscles. It had been so long since he'd slept with his sister's warmth and her scent surrounding him. It almost felt like he was back home in the heir's den, after a long day of chores and mischief. Graypaw and Ravenpaw were great but they weren't his sister.
Ravenpaw and Graypaw got up from where they'd shared a mouse together. Hunting was almost unfairly easy around here. The mice were plump and lazy from feeding on the grain- farmers were already full from their chickens and sheep and the packs almost never pursued the small critters, their bellies unsatisfied by their small size.
Ahasra gave him a gentle lick on the shoulder and settled down to begin grooming her pelt. Firepaw clambered to his paws joining Bluestar and Tigerclaw just in the mouth of the entrance.
"Graypaw and Ravenpaw will stay here with her highness, and her patrol as a look out, Tigerclaw and Firepaw will come with me. We will part ways when we leave Mothermouth."
Ahasra rolled her eyes at the formal address but dipped her head respectfully all the same. Ravenpaw and Graypaw exchanged looks of relief and settled into an alert position, sitting up straight and sharp gazed. Nadi and Hira joined them while Sparrow snoozed on, unbothered by the movement around him. At first glance, Tigerclaw seemed unbothered by going into Mothermouth but as Firepaw came closer, a distinct scent of fear filled his mouth. He took a bit of pride in being the only cat unafraid to enter- even Bluestar radiated a nervous energy.
Bluestar finally led them in and Firepaw did his best to suppress his desire to sprint ahead in excitement.
The gentle moonlight rapidly began to fade as if the cave was swallowing it up. Within moments he was navigating entirely by following the sound of his leader's paw steps echoing through the tunnel and her tail tip on his nose. The ground continued sloping farther and farther downward and Firepaw was starting to wonder if the Moonstone was in the heart of the earth.
He sneezed.
The farther they walked, the stronger the fear scent behind him grew as Tigerclaw's pawsteps became hesitant and his movements stiff. Though he was clearly trying to keep calm, the longer they walked in total darkness, the more Firepaw could hear his ragged and uneasy breathing. A flash of admiration filled him for Tigerclaw- he was clearly terrified and desperately resisting the urge to bolt back in the direction he came and yet, he hadn't once vocalized a desire to turn back. Had simply accepted Bluestar's order to come with her.
Steadily the tunnels began to twist and turn seemingly at random and soon Firepaw found himself completely lost, his sense of direction scrambled. All he could do was follow Bluestar deeper and deeper into Mothermouth.
Following your leader into a dark and endless tunnel must be a sign of unconditional loyalty, trust and courage.
To Firepaw's relief, the tunnel finally began to level out and no longer did it seem they were traveling to the heart of the earth. It opened into a large cavern and Firepaw was greeted with a dimly lit open space and a rock he could vaguely pick out of the darkness. It was massive, he'd give it that, but the Moonstone was… underwhelming at this first look.
As Bluestar approached the stone, Firepaw followed Tigerclaw's lead and sat by the entrance to the cavern. He wouldn't expect anyone to attempt an attack this deep into the side of a hill but you could never be certain. Firepaw watched the sky through the hole in the cavern. The moon looked so far away and there was no telling how deep inside they were. He yawned a bit as the silence stretched on. He'd just about dozed off when the clouds had finally cleared from the sky allowing a strand of moonlight to touch the Moonstone.
He jolted as a blinding light filled the cavern. The enormous rock twinkling in the moonlight, glowing sparkling and looking like a proper artifact of the stars. His ear twisted towards the scrambling of paws and Firepaw knew that Tigerclaw had lost his battle with his nerves and retreated.
"Firepaw?" Bluestar called.
"I'm here."
"Tigerclaw is intimidated by the Moonstone's power- I am not surprised, many cats find themselves frightened upon their first visit. How do you feel?"
"I'm curious. I feel calm and I want to learn more- I want to go closer to the Moonstone."
Bluestar laughed, "You are a marvel Firepaw."
Bluestar moved forward, her body obscuring part of the light and laid before the Moonstone pressing her nose to its base. Firepaw wondered if it hurt her eyes to be so close to light even with her eyes closed.
Firepaw settled down to wait for her to reawaken. Eventually the clouds covered the moon but the Moonstone continued to glow. Firepaw finally began to grow nervous when he noticed that her breathing slowed to a point he could've mistaken her for having stopped. Still, he resisted the urge to check on her and stayed put.
It seemed like days but the moon had only moved a tail through the sky when the Moonstone's light finally died. The cavern was once more cast in darkness and Firepaw blinked furious as his eyes readjusted to the light as he loyally waited for Bluestar to awaken.
"Firepaw?" he heard.
"I'm here."
He heard her push herself to her paws and felt her fur brush against him as she darted for the entrance of the cavern, "We must return to camp immediately."
Firepaw quickly leapt to his paws and ran after her as Bluestar's swift and sure steps started to grow faint. She navigated expertly through the tunnels choosing directions seemingly at random and they broke free from the tunnels, the journey out seemed far quicker than the journey in. Sensing her urgency, Graypaw and Ravenpaw stood the second she broke into the moonlight and began a quick exit.
"We must return to camp," she repeated standing at the entrance. "Apologizes for my rudeness, your highness but this is an emergency."
"No harm done," Ahasra reassured. "We're preparing to leave ourselves."
She bounded over and quickly licked his cheek as Bluestar took off, "good luck."
He nuzzled her in response and quickly ran after his leader to the calls of, "May Ashara offer you guidance!" from her squad.
Firepaw found himself once again praising the Sky Kindlers that he's improved as much as he did in his sprints because Bluestar set a truly grueling pace for them. Though there were no tree roots or branches to stumble over, the speed she set was ridiculously fast and though the walk to Mothermouth has been leisurely, it was still a sunhigh to almost moonhigh walk. His paws were sore and his brief nap wasn't enough to fix it all. Bluestar ran like the wind given life and even Tigerclaw was struggling to keep up.
"Ravenpaw!" Tigerclaw tried to snap but it came out as more of a breathless pant. "Keep up!"
The lanky apprentice moaned and pressed harder though he still lagged behind them. At this, Bluestar (who was a full fox ahead of them) seemed to realize that she was leaving her patrol behind and came to a halt. They took the break gratefully gasping as they took in much needed air, willing their hearts to slow. Instead of sprinting away like a boar possessed again, Bluestar set a brisk if impatient walk. Faster than the average walk but slow enough that they wouldn't all begin struggling to breath anymore.
As they crested a hill passing by a fence with goats wandering about, a black and white tom bounded up to meet them.
"Hey!" he called.
"Bala," Bluestar greeted respectfully but didn't stop walking.
"I- your highness," he said immediately, bowing his head to Firepaw.
"Just Soryn is fine Bala," he reassured.
"As you wish my prince," he turned to Bluestar. "I don't see aidasuka around here often- is something wrong?"
"I just don't like being so far from my clan."
Tigerclaw growled from behind Bluestar, "What do you want loner?"
"I am a member of the Sun," Bala said shortly. "I'm just here to warn you you're running directly into Havoc's camp."
"Here?" Bluestar asked, bristled.
"Yes," said Bala. "They killed some of my goats just yesterday."
The patrol exchanged a worried look.
"Thank you for the warning Bala."
"You can cut through the grain field," he suggested. "Be care of ditches. The rats are aggressive around here."
Bluestar just nodded and started padding off in that direction. Firepaw bounded after her and Tigerclaw followed grumbling about foolish loners and stupid dogs. He shook his paw absently, his pads itching from some of the fallen steps scratching his paws. He was going to ask Bluestar about her dream when he heard Ravenpaw yowl in terror.
He whirled around in time to see Ravenpaw sink his teeth into a rat that had sunk its teeth into his leg and flung it into the ditch it had tried to drag him into. He slashed at another that crawled out for an attack.
"It's a trap!" Tigerclaw snarled.
Firepaw buckled under as a heavy weight landed on his back and sharp teeth sank into his shoulder. He twisted around and ripped the rat from his shoulder, snapping its spine and flung it. He saw sparks around Tigerclaw's mouth before the powerful tom leapt into the center of the battle.
Bala came sprinting into the battle clearly having heard Ravenpaw's yowl of distress and intercepting another rat angling for him. Bala raced to the aid of Bluestar as she was quickly overwhelmed with rats that seemed to be intentionally targeting him.
Firepaw took the opportunity to sidle up to Graypaw and dispatch two rats on his flanks. Graypaw quickly took up using himself and his thicker coat as a shield, blocking rats allowing Firepaw the freedom to simply slaughter them. They advanced slowly against the seemingly endless tide of rats managing to claw their way onto a higher position above Ravenpaw. They kept rats from dropping onto their friend as Ravenpaw defended the lower space.
The sea of rats began to falter, realizing quickly that the cats were no longer off balanced and that this battle was pointless. One loud squeal later and the rats began to retreat. Tigerclaw sent one flying into the mass of fleeing pelts which sent the creatures into a panic. As Firepaw and Graypaw lifted Ravenpaw from the ditch he'd finally been forced into, Tigerclaw went flying at Bala.
"You led us right into a trap!" he snarled.
"I warned you!" Bala retorted. "I said the rats in the ditches are bad news!"
Firepaw ignored the arguing cats, spotting Bluestar at the other end of the ditch laying as eerily still as she'd be at the Moonstone. He sprinted over taking stock of her wounds- a series of bleeding bites and scratches and a particularly bad looking gash on her throat oozing a deep red blood. Frazzled, he placed a paw in front of her muzzle like Spottedleaf taught him.
Nothing.
"Tigerclaw!" he called, interrupting the angry tom's argument with Bala. "Bluestar isn't breathing!"
The cats behind him froze and Firepaw found himself shoved aside, as Tigerclaw too placed his paw before her muzzle. He nudged her a few times to no avail, her blank eyes stared lifelessly into Firepaw's soul and he began to tremble. Ravenpaw and Graypaw slid in beside him in silence. Tigerclaw stepped away from her body shaking his head.
"It's in the paws of the Souls now," he said gravely. "We can only hope that Moonsoul hasn't decided it's her time."
Graypaw and Ravenpaw pressed more fiercely against him when Firepaw's legs buckled. He stared intently at Bluestar barely registering Bala waiting quietly by the edge. His heart stopped at the light that ignited in her eyes and he jumped to his paws in awe when the marking on her forehead glowed. Firepaw had just assumed it to be a strange quirk of her fur, but the line from the outer bolt pulled inward making what Firepaw saw as a fan tail shape. He watched in amazement as the gas on her throat slowly but surely stitched itself back together as if moons of healing were taking place. The markings returned to their original placement and settled. A heartbeat later Bluestar blinked than took in a breath.
Firepaw sprinted over to his mentor, nestling into her fur not caring about the blood smearing itself over him. Bluestar paused as if assessing the situation, then he felt her begin licking his ears soothingly. He glanced down at her as she smiled weakly.
"I'm fine Firepaw," she whispered to him. He shook his head and buried his face in her fur.
Bluestar sighed, understanding her apprentice was likely very shaken up and thankfully didn't attempt to remove him from her side. "I've lost a life, my fifth yet."
Nine lives, Firepaw mused to himself shivering. Seeing was most certainly believing.
"Graypaw," Tigerclaw said, turning towards him. "Find burdock root or horsetail."
Graypaw stared blankly for a moment, clearly only remembering what one of those looks like before darting off. Belatedly, Firepaw wondered if either of those plants even grew around here as Tigerclaw then commanded Ravenpaw to find cobwebs. The warrior turned to Bala who was sitting patiently on the edge, waiting. He bared his teeth at the tom who observed him with calm eyes.
"Go," Tigerclaw growled. "You're not allowed near our leader during her time of weakness."
"Of course- this time, avoid the ditches on the way out," Bala said, getting to his paws. He dipped his head to Firepaw as he passed him. "It was an honor to be graced with your presence, your highness."
"I-" Firepaw sighed, a fond smile on his face. "Thank you for your loyalty to the crown even outside of our land Bala. My sister may pass through here later so be on the lookout."
The tom dipped his head respectfully and vanished into the brush with a flick of his tail. Firepaw sighed a little. He'd known when he joined the clans that his duty as a prince wouldn't stop completely but rather, most of his central duties would taper off. Still, it was nice that even the far ends of the kingdom still respected and were kind to him.
"I found horsetail," Graypaw said around the bundle in his mouth. He dropped it in front of Firepaw. "I think anyway. This is horsetail right?"
Firepaw looked at the long green strands and compared it to the memory of Spottedleaf's lessons. He nodded.
"Yeah I think so."
Firepaw took a deep breath and started chewing them. He screwed up his nose as the taste hit his tongue and he gagged a bit but soldered on. He drew on all of his memories and lessons from Spottedleaf, carefully applying the poultice to all of the remaining wounds on her fur. Gratefully accepting the cobwebs from a hobbling Ravenpaw when he returned after. Bluestar gently licked his shoulder when he went over her work nervously.
"If Tigerclaw hadn't pulled that rat from my back, I would've died twice over," she said aloud.
Firepaw shook his head, "That was Bala. Tigerclaw was surrounded on all sides."
"Ah," she said. "I must thank him then."
"Tigerclaw sent him away. He thinks Bala sent us this way as a trap."
"Do you think it was a trap Firepaw?"
"Bala is very loyal to the Crown of the Sun," Firepaw said. "Even if he had reason to trap you, he'd never risk a son of the Sun. And I don't think Bala stands to gain anything from warning us of the rats."
Bluestar hummed her agreement of his assessment, pushing herself to her paws against his protests.
"We must return to camp," she said.
"We should rest," Tigerclaw insisted. "You've lost a life and-"
"And I've wasted enough time recovering," she interrupted. "We must return to camp quickly."
"How many lives is that?" Tigerclaw asked reluctantly.
She paused, stretching a sore limb and cautiously putting her weight on it. When she didn't buckle, she glanced at Tigerclaw.
"That was my fifth."
Bluestar's insistence that they get home was all encompassing. Though it wasn't a full on sprint, they were still running as if Koakidanzi were snapping at his heels. Her anxiousness had bled over into the apprentices, even Graypaw had lost his usually playful demeanor. Tigerclaw sniffed for a ShadowClan patrol as Bluestar rushed by him.
"You won't find ShadowClan here today," she seethed, seeming to move even faster somehow.
Firepaw shook his head attempting to dislodge the acrid tang of ShadowClan scent captured in his nose. He rushed after Bluestar, a new sense of urgency seeping into his bones as her words processed. ShadowClan scent got stronger and stronger the closer they came to the ThunderClan border, stinking up the entirety of Fourtrees and his stomach dropped. Dread was replaced with an abrupt wave of rage.
Tigerclaw all but leaped over the border when they arrived, his ears pulled back and fury rolled off of him like rays of sun. Trees and brushes blurred in his vision as they ran, completely focused on returning to camp. Firepaw didn't even bother to stop when the gorse tunnel- its barriers ripped open- came in sight. The many treks had prepared him and he simply dove in without dropping speed and slid straight into the center of camp, throwing himself onto the back of the first ShadowClan cat he saw.
The tom yelped in surprise and Firepaw's claws sank into his back. He tried dropping to the ground, hoping to crush him beneath his weight but Firepaw just slid off and leapt back on him when he stunned himself. He sank his teeth into the soft skin of the tom below as hard as he could, making him yowl in agony. Then Firepaw shrieked as his mouth began to burn. He scrambled back from the tom, spitting as if he could dislodge the blaze that way.
He glowered up at the tom who'd cloaked himself in a thin layer of black miasma rolling around him. Firepaw grit his teeth.
Soulspark. Well two can play at that game.
The tabby warrior lunged at him and Firepaw danced by. He drew on his Soulspark, and sent it two his teeth.
"Garul!" he snarled and felt the energy flood his mouth. Without hesitation, he snapped at the tom's tail. Unlike the other times he'd tried this without his spark, his teeth clicked together and blooded drenched his tongue. The ShadowClan warrior screamed in pain as Firepaw spat out the small section of his tail that he'd bitten off, with a snarl.
He lashed his now bleeding and shortened tail and tried to lunge at Firepaw again, this time his claws encased in the same stinging miasma. Firepaw dodged, letting him leap right into the thorned gorse bushes that lined their camp. He leapt on the tom as he struggled and squirmed, desperately trying to escape the thorns that tore at his skin and pelt, tangling and tugging. Firepaw clawed away at his soft belly until the ShadowClan warrior cried out a surrender. Firepaw ripped him from the bushes not too gently and allowed the tom to sprint for the exit.
A flash of pride flooded his body and he whirled around to see where he was needed next.
His stomach dropped at the large form of Blackfoot clawing his way into the nursery.
"The kits-!" he tried to warn and was bowled over by a strong looking tortoiseshell snarling. He forced himself to relax in her mouth and the second she lessened her grip, he surged up slamming into her. He smashed his claws down on her chest and heard a slight cracking noise under her scream of pain. He didn't care and sprinted towards the nursery, before skidding to a halt relieved.
Blackfoot was retreating, a large bleeding set of claw marks down his face and a completely shredded right ear. Brightflower stood over the kits snarling angrily in his direction, paw covered in blood. She nodded when she saw Firepaw.
ShadowClan panicked upon seeing their fierce deputy retreating and quickly followed suit. ThunderClan released a cry of triumph and continued chasing them away. Firepaw particularly enjoyed sending a powerful swipe at the tom he recognized as Scrorchwind- pelt torn to shreds, ears mauled and limping.
He panted returning to the nursery as Frostfur came up alongside him, a newly torn ear and cut lip in tow.
"The kits are safe," she announced. "Thanks to Brightflower- Rosetail has been killed though."
Firepaw caught a wince from Dappletail who sat heavily, accepting the comforting licks from One-Eye.
"It was Blackfoot," Firepaw said. "I saw him standing over her. She gave him a good fight though- he was limping and Brightflower did a number on the left side of his face."
Dappletail gave him a slight nod and a smile. Spottedleaf sprinted between them carrying a small leather pouch around her neck and a mouthful of herbs. Followed by a thoroughly distressed looking Graypaw. Firepaw followed their trajectory and his heart dropped at the large lump of bleeding golden fur laying on the ground not moving.
"Lionheart," he whispered, racing over to his friend.
He pressed himself to Graypaw right as Ravenpaw sidled up to his left, one ear split and bleeding lightly. He looked up at Spottedleaf hopefully but she shook her head in defeat, stepping away from his body. Graypaw released an ear piercing wail and Firepaw quickly began licking his ears soothingly as Willowpelt raced over to comfort him. Dread found its way back into his belly as he remembered.
"What will I do without you?"
Firepaw looked up at Bluestar and her sad, heavy eyes. It occurred to him then this was the second time she'd be burying a friend. Another trusted and beloved deputy… gone. He felt conflicted for a moment, watching her slink away looking exhausted as if the stars had placed the weight of the world on her shoulders. He relaxed a bit when Thrushpelt showed himself, gently draping his tail over her back and following her to her den. Firepaw pressed more firmly against Graypaw and let his friend cry into his pelt.
Graypaw was barely functioning. His face was blank and his eyes kept staring off into nothing. Dustpaw had been the only one able to coax him away from Lionheart's body long enough to eat. He didn't even flinch when Spottedleaf was patching his wounds. It was like all of his energy and light had died at once.
This was the first time Firepaw was able to see a burial having been in the medicine cat den the last time. Crushed berry paint made beautiful if sharp bolts and Lionheart had been arranged to appear if he'd simply sprawled a bit in his sleep. A large thunderbolt had been painted onto his forehead- so StarClan knows which clan he served.
The moon was just beginning to set when Bluestar re-emerged from her den with Thrushpelt. For a moment, Firepaw thought that maybe Thrushpelt had been made deputy.
"Lionheart was an amazing deputy," Bluestar began. "He was a courageous cat who saw potential in everyone. He was wise and kind, taken from us before his time. He would've made a fine leader in my stead but Moonsoul has seen it fit to welcome him into the stars. I hope as he watches that he approves of my choice."
The cats glanced among each other, Firepaw noticed a few cats (Longtail and Darkstripe) looking at Tigerclaw expectantly. Firepaw followed Bluestar's gaze.
"Whitestorm, are you willing to take on the position of deputy? Of the responsibilities that you will hold?"
The powerful tom raised his head, "It would be an honor to serve this clan as their voice and deputy."
The clan cheered Whitestorm's name as Bluestar nodded her approval and carefully climbed down from the Highrock.
"He's furious."
Firepaw turned his head in confusion at Ravenpaw's whispered comment. HIs friend was staring, frightened at Tigerclaw. Sure enough, the dark russet tom was glaring across the clearing, claws sunk deep into the earth scoring marks in the sand. Darkstripe and Longtail had pressed against him soothingly, shooting annoyed expressions in Whitestorm's direction.
"I don't know why," Firepaw mumbled to his friend. "Tigerclaw's never had an apprentice. He can't be deputy."
"That doesn't matter," Ravenpaw mumbled. "Tigerclaw's wanted to be deputy since he was an apprentice."
Firepaw shook his head, "He's done a lot of good recently. Both Speckletail and Frostfur's kits are about ready to be apprenticed. Goldenflower's too."
"I'd hate to be his apprentice," Ravenpaw sighed. "He's going to be angry at the stars for moons. I don't know what he was expecting though. The Souls don't reward murderers."
Firepaw blinked, taken aback, "Murderers?"
Ravenpaw's eyes went wide, as if he' hadn't meant for that last part to slip out.
"I-I mean, he's been really rough in battles," he stammered. "He's probably killed at least one cat now. By accident."
"...that's not what you were referring to."
Instead of responding, Ravenpaw leapt to his paws and sprinted off towards the apprentice's den leaving Firepaw to dwell on everything he'd heard. Unbidden, his thoughts went back to the story Ravenpaw told at the Gathering.
What's going on here?
