Fun fact: Among larger felines, the Tiger is actually the best swimmer. They can cross rivers as wide as 18 miles (29 kilometers), and use it both as transportation and a hunting advantage!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Lionheart stood at the edge of the forest, eyeing Graypaw and the kittypet curiously, though the fear-scent coming from the kittypet wasn't as strong as he expected.
"Lionheart!" Graypaw mewed raggedly. "I was hunting when I found this intruder..."
"Yes, I was watching." Lionheart interrupted, eyes still locked on the young orange tom.
For his part, he was still standing ready to fight, even in the face of a much larger enemy. Brave, but foolish.
"Do you have a name?" Lionheart asked suddenly.
The kittypet seemed startled and shuffled his paws nervously.
"R-Rusty. My name is Rusty." He replied hesitantly.
"And why were you hunting on our territory?" Lionheart asked, though the question was loaded.
The mouse had been beyond the border, but if the kittypet had chased it, he likely would have crossed without even knowing what he had done. His tail flicked curiously as he waited for an answer.
"I... I wanted to feel what it was like to hunt." He answered. "I've heard stories about cats that live in the forest but... I always thought they were just that. Stories."
"I see." Lionheart rumbled, eyes narrowing slightly as he got to his paws, padding slowly towards Rusty.
The kittypet stiffened, trembling in place as Lionheart circled him like a piece of prey. The golden warrior noted that he wasn't like other kittypets. None would ever dream of hunting, let alone fighting a Clan cat. Perhaps...
"Would you like to learn more about us?" He asked suddenly, stopping I front of Rusty.
Both he and Graypaw seemed shocked at the question.
"Y-you mean there are more of you? In the forest?" Rusty asked, looking past Lionheart's shoulder and into the dark forest beyond.
"There are. More than you can imagine." Lionheart answered.
"Would I have to leave? My home, I mean..." Rusty asked.
"Yes. The life of a kittypet and a Clan cat are very different. You will hunt for the Clan, you will fight for the Clan, and in return the Clan will protect you." He replied.
"Clan? Kittypet?" Rusty tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"
"A kittypet is a cat who lives with Twolegs." Lionheart jerked his head in the direction of the fence and the Twoleg nests beyond. "Graypaw and I are Clan cats. We protect our territory from threats, including other Clans... It may be too much for you to handle."
Rusty bristled slightly, but seemed to understand there was more at stake than he originally thought. After a moment, Lionheart spoke again.
"If you wish to leave your current life, I will meet you here at sunhigh tomorrow." He offered.
Not waiting for a reply, he turned and flicked his tail- a signal to follow- as he and Graypaw disappeared back into the trees. As they returned to fetch Graypaw's prey, the gray tom spoke softly.
"Lionheart, are you sure that was a good idea?" He asked tentatively.
"You fought him, Graypaw. Do you think he would do well in ThunderClan?" Lionheart returned with a question of his own.
Graypaw seemed stumped for a long moment before he replied.
"Usually kittypets just run." He started. "But he was hunting when I ran into him..."
Lionheart stayed silent, waiting for Graypaw to come to his own conclusion.
"If he does join, I'll be able to pay him back for the scratches he gave me." He finished, tail flicking in excitement.
Lionheart chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest.
"That's good, but I will need to speak to Bluestar about this. And your assessment as well." he mewed.
Graypaw's excitement melted away, replaced by nervousness.
"Don't worry, you did very well." Lionheart reassured him, flicking his shoulder with his tail affectionately.
Graypaw's mood birghtened at that small bit of praise. It didn't take long for them to retrieve his fresh-kill and return to camp, though Graypaw was understandable exhausted. Immediately after depositing his catch on the fresh-kill pile, he made his way to rest in the Apprentice's Den. Lionheart hadn't meant for the assessment to last so long. It was already sundown and he hadn't assigned the evening patrol. However, the lack of cats in the clearing told him that they had managed without him. A pang of guilt passed through him, but he shook it off. If they hadn't encountered that kittypet, Rusty, they would have returned much earlier. He pushed the guilt to the back of his mind, padding over towards Bluestar's den.
"Bluestar, may I enter? I have something I wish to discuss with you." He mewed softly.
"Ah, Lionheart. Please, come in." Her reply echoed faintly from inside.
The golden warrior pushed past the draping lichen, though he paused when he noticed Bluestar wasn't alone. Tigerclaw was with her, gazing at him with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
"Tigerclaw was just informing me that the WindClan border near Fourtrees smells as though it hasn't been renewed recently." She explained.
"Is that cause for concern?" Lionheart questioned, worry starting to prickle at him.
"Perhaps... perhaps not. It requires more looking into." She replied, flicking her tail.
Tigerclaw apparently took that as his cue to leave, brushing shoulders with Lionheart on the way out. Once they were alone, Bluestar wrapped her tail around her paws and moved her piercing gaze onto her new deputy.
"Now then, what is it you wanted to speak to me about?" She asked.
Lionheart settled himself on his paws before he replied,
"I gave Graypaw an assessment today. He's improving quickly. He managed to catch two pieces of fresh-kill, and he would have caught a third, but we ran into a kittypet at the border near Twolegplace." He began.
Bluestar's ears flicked in interest, but she didn't interrupt his report.
"Graypaw chased him, but to our surprise, the kittypet turned to fight! The scuffle only lasted a moment before I intervened, but still, the kittypet held his ground. He was young, perhaps the same age as Graypaw. He was actually trying to hunt a mouse when we first saw him."
Her tail twitched slightly and Lionheart paused momentarily.
"Based on that... and his scuffle with Graypaw, I invited him to join ThunderClan." He stopped finally, awaiting Bluestar's reaction.
She was silent for a long moment, and Lionheart began to think she might be angry, when she finally replied.
"It's good to hear of Graypaw's progress, though I don't think he's ready to become a warrior yet. As for this kittypet... I wish you had discussed it with me before making the offer."
He could see her eyes narrow the slightest bit and he dipped his head in apology.
"I know, I'm sorry." He raised his head after a moment. "I did tell him about the risks, and if he does wish to join, I would meet him in the same place tomorrow at sunhigh."
He felt as though Bluestar's piercing gaze could see through his very fur and bones, and he briefly wondered if that's all she saw when she looked at him... but then she blinked and the intensity was gone.
"That was generous of you... Very well. We will see if this kittypet has what it takes to become an Apprentice of ThunderClan. However, this will reflect on you, Lionheart. He will be your responsibility." She warned.
"Of course, but what about Graypaw?" He asked.
"You are still his mentor. Until we can decide on this kittypet, however, you and Tigerclaw will share his training." She answered.
"I will inform Tigerclaw immediately." Lionheart mewed, dipping his head respectfully.
Bluestar returned with a nod, apparently pleased with Lionheart's decision, dismissing the golden warrior with a flick of her tail. He turned and made his way out of her den, though he couldn't enjoy the warm night air. He quickly padded over to the Warrior's Den, poking his head inside and looking around until he spotted a familiar patch of dark tabby fur.
"Tigerclaw, I need to speak with you." Lionheart rumbled softly.
Amber eyes opened and narrowed at him, but Lionheart backed out of the den, taking a few pawsteps away as Tigerclaw emerged and sat next to him.
"What do you want? I just got comfotable." Tigerclaw asked irritably, tail lashing back and forth.
If he was already in a bad mood, he would be absolutely livid by the time Lionheart was finished... but he pressed on.
"Graypaw and I encountered a kittypet today." He got straight to the point. "I asked him to join ThunderClan."
"YOU WHAT?!" The response wasn't unexpected, but it was rather loud.
"Keep it down!" Lionheart hissed, followed by a sigh. "Yes, a kittypet. I know how you feel about them-"
"You have no idea how I feel!" Tigerclaw snapped, his volume only slightly lower than it was before. "Of all the mouse-brained, irresponsible..." He stopped, growling angrily.
"ThunderClan needs warriors." Lionheart said a bit resignedly. "And this kittypet didn't run, he fought."
"So, this is how far we've fallen? Asking kittypets for help?!" He spat. "ThunderClan doesn't need their weakness! They're soft and untrustworthy!"
"Do you trust then any less than the other Clans?" Lionheart replied pointedly. "We have helped each other in the past, in times of crisis. What difference does it make if he's a kittypet?"
Tigerclaw's eyes blazed with fury as he stood nose-to-nose with the golden warrior.
"I. Don't. Care. If he joins, fine. He won't last long. Just keep him away from me!" He whipped around, planning to stalk back to the Warrior's Den.
Lionheart was in front of him in an instant, staring him down.
"If he does join, Bluestar wants us to share his training. At least untilhe gets a mentor of his own."
Tigerclaw's rage was moments from bowling over, but Lionheart's comment about a mentor made him scoff.
"Ha! As if any Clan cat worth anything would want to train a kittypet! Even Ravenpaw is better than having a filthy Twoleg pet as an apprentice." He sneered.
"Say what you want, it's still Bluestar's orders." Lionheart stated with a sense of finality, eyes flashing and hackles raised.
For a moment, Tigerclaw saw a fiery mane surrounding Lionheart, and he stumbled back in surprise. When he blinked, it was gone, and he curled his lip at the golden warrior.
"Fine... have it your way." He growled, shoving past Lionheart and finally returning to his nest.
Lionheart watched him go, letting out a heavy sigh as the tension melted from his body. That went about as well as he expected. He shouldn't have been surprised, considering... He shook his head, making his way to the Warrior's Den as well. He slipped inside, settling himself a few nests away from the dark tabby warrior. He knew Tigerclaw wouldn't want to be anywhere near him tonight.
Lionheart stirred as he heard a faint rustling nearby. He yawned, eyes opening slowly as he blinked the sleep away. The first thing he noticed was moonlight still streaming into the camp. Who would be awake at this hour? His question was answered as a dark figure moved across his vision, and he caught the familiar glint of amber eyes just outside the den. Tigerclaw? His eyes blinked twice more as he watched the dark tabby trot across the clearing. Probably going to the dirtplace... but he veered suddenly and ducked into Spottedleaf's den.
Now mostly awake, Lionheart pulled himself to his paws and made his way out of the den as quietly as he could. Dawn was still a ways off, so why was Tigerclaw visiting Spottedleaf? Perhaps he was visiting Ravenpaw, to see if he would be ready for dawn patrol... He padded along the same path that Tigerclaw took. However, as he approched Spottedleaf's den, he heard faint hissing from inside. His ears perked at the aggressive tone and he instinctively ducked into the shadows, huddled just outside as he listened closely.
"...useless apprentice!" That was undoubtedly Tigerclaw, and it sounded like he was berating Ravenpaw.
Lionheart stiffened slightly. It seemed like Spottedleaf wasn't there. He vaguely remembered her discussing something with Bluestar, about herbs or flowers that could only be harvested at night. She was probably out gathering them, but he quickly focused his attention back on Tigerclaw's hushed mewing.
"...wounds are healed! I don't care what Spottedleaf says! At first light, you're going on a very special hunting trip... into ShadowClan territory. Maybe then you can prove you aren't useless!" He snarled.
Lionheart's eyes widened. Hunting on another Clan's territory?! Had he gone mad? Not only was that extremely dangerous, ShadowClan would undoubtedly see it as an act of aggression. They had just had a border skirmish with RiverClan, they didn't need to antagonize ShadowClan as well. He was about to confront Tigerclaw, but the dark warrior's next words froze him in place and sent a chill down his spine.
"But if you disappoint me again... a little accident on the Thunderpath isn't uncommon. Remember that." He growled.
He heard Tigerclaw approaching and pushed himself as close to the rock as possible. Luckily, Tigerclaw didn't seem to notice, making his way back to the Warrior's Den without even a glance over his shoulder. Lionheart relaxed slightly, though his hackles were still raised, eyes narrowed as he watched Tigerclaw's retreating form. Immediately, Lionheart ducked into Spottedleaf's den, searching for the black form of Ravenpaw. It took a moment in the darkness, but he eventually spotted the small apprentice, shaking violently in his nest.
"Ravenpaw." He mewed quietly, causing him to flinch suddenly. "It's Lionheart... are you alright?"
Ravenpaw seemed to relax slightly as he turned to look at the golden warrior.
"Oh thank StarClan, I thought you were-" He clamped his mouth shut, suddenly afraid to say anymore.
However, Lionheart already knew what he was going to say.
"I know... I heard everything." He mewed grimly.
Ravenpaw's eyes widened and he started shaking again.
"Wh-what am I g-going to d-do?" He stuttered terribly.
Lionheart pondered for a moment.
"Tigerclaw can be harsh, but threatening an apprentice is inexcusable. We will speak with Bluestar at sunrise and get this straightened out." He nodded.
However, Ravenpaw didn't look happy. Instead, he curled tightly in on himself and whimpered. Lionhear had a sinking feeling in his gut.
"This isn't the first time he's threatened you... is it?" He questioned.
Ravenpaw shook his head. Lionheart could feel anger bubbling up inside him, but he pushed it down. Ravenpaw needed comfort, not more yowling.
"Don't worry, I'll stay with you. But Bluestar needs to hear about this." He pressed.
Ravenpaw jerked his head up suddenly, eyes wide with fear.
"I- I- I can't!" He shook his head vehemently. "Tigerclaw, he'll- he'll- he'll kill me if I tell anyone!"
Lionheart's jaw dropped, aghast. Murder?! He had heard Tigerclaw's thinly veiled threat, but to go that far... There must be a reason.
"Why... why would he want to kill you?" Lionheart questioned, uneasiness quickly changing to dread.
There was something else happening here. Something that Ravenpaw knew... but he was so afraid of Tigerclaw, of what he might do, that he wouldn't tell his own leader.
"Ravenpaw... what do you know?" His voice was little more than a whisper.
Ravenpaw was clearly torn, uncertain. He looked around, as though he expected Tigerclaw to leap out of the shadows at any moment... When he was convinced him and Lionheart were alone, he slowly began to speak.
"Th-the battle at Sunningrocks..." He started, soft and unsure.
"R-RiverClan ambushed us. O-Oakheart was there. He fought with Redtail. I- I hid in a crevice... I was so scared! Th-then I heard something crashing a-and falling. Dust was everywhere! And th-then I hear Redtail yowling that Oakheart was d-dead!"
Ravenpaw's mews were coming more quickly, more desperately, all the pent-up memoeries and emotions flowing out of him at once. Fear, excitement, disbelief... Lionheart couldn't believe what he was hearing. It didn't make sense. Redtail killed Oakheart? No, he wouldn't... but he remembered that day. The day Ravenpaw barreled into camp, when he first tried to tell the story. He said one of the Sunningrocks collapsed! Could it be that... one of them actually fell on top of Oakheart? Was that a possibility? He snapped out of his reverie, listening to the rest of Ravenpaw's explanation.
"I- I came out from my hiding spot. R-Redtail called for a retreat. Th-then a RiverClan warrior jumped on him. T-Tigerclaw told me to run! I did... at first. B-but I wanted to make sure Redtail was okay! R-RiverClan outnumbered us... I didn't want him to g-get hurt! S-so I turned around, to go b-back to the battle but... It was over. I was hiding in the trees a-and I saw Redtail. He was okay! B-but then..."
Ravenpaw stopped, swallowing thickly, his whole body shaking as he forced himself forward.
"T-Tigerclaw came out of nowhere and j-jumped on Redtail! He didn't... He couldn't f-fight back. I ran. I ran as f-far and as f-fast as I could. I d-don't know if he saw me, b-but now... I think he w-wants to kill me! Because of what I saw that day."
His voice was hoarse as he finished the story, trembling as he fell into silence. Lionheart didn't know how to feel. Angry, frustrated, betrayed... Ravenpaw was famous for inventing stories. He could often be found around the nursery, telling tall tales to the kits. But this... this wasn't a story. This one was real. It happened. Warrior died. Redtail died... no, he was killed. Killed by his own Clanmate. Killed by Tigerclaw. Betrayed. Why? Why did he do it?! The answer came to him all to quickly.
"Dear StarClan... he wanted to be Deputy." The realization hit Lionheart harder than a monster on the Thunderpath. "Tigerclaw murdered Redtail because he thought Bluestar would make him Deputy!" He growled.
He couldn't stay quiet anymore. The sheer impossibility of what he just heard, and yet he in his heart he knew... he knew it was true. Ravenpaw's reaction was a clear testament to that fact. The truth... the truth he was hiding had been revealed. But he didn't look hapy or relieved. He looked afraid. Lionheart could see the apprentice was constantly looking over his shoulder, looking behind him... Looking for Tigerclaw. It was clear in his eyes. He felt hunted. Lionheart felt sick to his stomach. This couldn't wait until morning. This needed to be resolved NOW. He turned and stalked out of Spottedleaf's den, nearly running into the Medicine Cat on his way out. She gave him a curious look, but the look he gave in return was all the answer she needed. She ducked her head and disappeared into her den as Lionheart prowled to the bottom of the Highrock. He took a moment to get his emotions under control before he pushed his way inside. He didn't have time, nor was he in the mood, for proper etiquette. He watched Bluestar, resting peacefully in her nest. Her eyes suddenly opened, her piercing gaze meeting the fire in his own eyes as she slowly pulled herself to her paws.
"Bluestar...something terrible has happened."
