Here we are again! I just want to say, I really love Torrentrunner (owned by Nightmask). I think she's the only reader submitted character to come preloaded with character traits so that makes it a little easier to fit her in and paint her actions when it comes to her role in the story. Another character I love that was reader submitted was Wolfheart (owned by starrysunsets). She's so simple, but I have big plans for her for this story and she will have a huge role in No Wings to Fly, (when I get around to it that is). I'm still figuring out how to go about with Thunderpaw's plotlines. We already have an established ending (as seen with the most recent oneshot series I put out). The issue is, how long is it going to take to get there? That's probably the hardest part about scripting for this story. I know what I want the beginning and end to be, but the middle is all open and blank.
This chapter isn't nearly as exciting as other chapters and it has lots of dialogue and character exchanges. We do fill in a lot of blanks from the previous couple scenes and it also connects to the Dawnflight's Sons oneshot series though.
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"I want you to help me assassinate Falconstar."
Dawnflight let the other warrior's words ring in her ears for a few heartbeats. She blinked her dark, amber eyes slowly, letting the realization of the request sink into her mind and heart. Then suddenly like a flash of lightning, the silvery she cat felt the fur on her back and shoulders prickle and stand upright. Her ears and pelt felt hot with a rage that bubbled in her belly like crow food. The burning anger manifested into a snarl that plastered onto the RiverClan cat's lips. Dawnflight's breath came out in a ragged rasp.
Who does this cat think she is? Just because she's a deputy doesn't mean she has the right to demand me to kill another cat!
"You want me to help you kill your leader?! Are you insane?! We'd be going against the Warrior Code!" Dawnflight hissed. Torrentrunner stood before the gray cat, her posture straightened as she stood up, resolute. Her bright eyes seemed to glow with an eerie determination under the full moon's pale gleam.
"It's for the good of both of our clans, Dawnflight," The black tabby mewed unblinking, "we have to do this or else both RiverClan and ShadowClan are doomed."
Dawnflight threw her white tipped ears back against her head. She crouched a bit, feeling indignant and a bit insulted.
"I just lost my kits less than a quarter moon ago and received my warrior name just days ago. What in StarClan's name made you think that I'm in any condition to kill another cat and just as easily break the Code? Why should I trust you? For all I know, you could just want Falconstar gone so you can become leader."
Torrentrunner stood rigid, unmoved by Dawnflight's reasoning. She narrowed her eyes at the RiverClan warrior in front of her. Her ears and tail twitched erratically, showing a few glimpses of frustration from the normally stoic cat.
"Let me ask you this, fishface. When was the last time you saw a ShadowClan warrior or apprentice smile or laugh? When was the last time you saw Mapleleaf and Applepaw well rested and calm?"
Torrentrunner screwed up her face into a scowl. Dawnflight just huffed back at her. The silvery she cat was slightly taken aback by the "fishface" insult. It had been moons since anyone had called her that. But the black and white she cat's words made Dawnflight ponder for a moment. When was the last time Applepaw or Emberheart seemed happy? Both of them always seemed tense or worried about something. Emberheart seemed to have a permanent mask of tension on his face when she saw him at the border or on night patrols. Applepaw was a cat she barely ever saw outside of Gatherings. The few times Dawnflight had seen Applepaw, she was always in a rush with herbs in her jaws or following her mentor. Come to think of it, Dawnflight had noticed (alongside her clanmates) that the ShadowClan border patrols lingered unusually long by the border, as if they did not want to return to their own camp. The behavior had present for seasons. Dawnflight could recall all throughout her apprenticeship that ShadowClan warriors seemed jumpy and anxious after they marked the border and seemed relatively calm before and during when they marked. As a younger cat, Dawnflight just assumed this was part of their character. Was there something else hidden in ShadowClan's pine tree filled home that was going on? Still wary, Dawnflight said nothing. Torrentrunner continued her part.
"Don't come to me with the Warrior Code fox dung excuse," Torrentrunner's lip showed a fang, "I know that you're good friends with Emberheart and Applepaw. I also know that you cross the border by the lake to cover your scent and that you go into ThunderClan territory as well."
Dawnflight's eyes widened with shock! How had Torrentrunner known about her personal life? Has this cat been spying on her? Dawnflight guiltily averted her gaze for a heartbeat then looked back at the she cat before her. Torrentrunner had a small smirk and a shine appeared in her bright, amber eyes.
"Don't worry, I won't tell. I see you a lot because I just so happen to dislike being in my camp for long periods of time, especially when I have to share it with my hardheaded, brute of a mate. In fact, your habits made me think you were the perfect cat to help me. I know you care about your friends in other clans. I knew you'd care enough about them to make sure they're safe."
Torrentrunner's confidence returned in full. She stood tall and commanding. Dawnflight couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated, but she resisted the urge to lower herself even more.
"I do care about them," Dawnflight started, "but I also care about myself and my clan. I just lost my kits and I'm not in fighting shape at all, Torrentrunner. I still can't trust you to not plan something against RiverClan after you become leader."
Torrentrunner frowned at Dawnflight's meow. She took a breath before speaking again.
"Can't you see? I'm doing this for RiverClan just as much as I am for ShadowClan! If Falconstar survives the battle and RiverClan loses their territory, you'll lose much more than just those kits; you'll lose your clan too. He'll try to take every piece of territory he can get and he won't have any remorse for the cats who die in the process."
Dawnflight stared hard at the ShadowClan deputy, who stared back with equal resolve. Torrentrunner let a tiny squeak of desperation.
"You saw Falconstar the day we came into your camp. There's something wrong with him, Dawnflight. There's been something wrong with him for seasons. Cats are punished almost daily for speaking out opinions against his rule. If he tries to take ThunderClan's territory too, cats will die! His own warriors are afraid of him! He's even exiled a cat for disagreeing with him! He's not my kits' father anymore."
Dawnflight stood up a bit and relented. She could see the desperation and hopelessness that hung on the she cat's face. Dawnflight felt pity for ShadowClan and for Torrentrunner. Internally, the gray she cat was surprised Torrentrunner and Falconstar were mates. She knew the ShadowClan warrior had two litters over the moons, but she never knew Falconstar was their father. Dawnflight couldn't imagine the pain Torrentrunner had been in, watching her own mate rule with an iron claw over the clan. Dawnflight came to the sudden realization that she had seen the glimmer of insanity and illness in Falconstar's eyes. She remembered the night at the Gathering as well, when Falconstar gazed down at cats below the Great Tree and how both Torrentrunner and Mapleleaf scrambled to hide Falconstar's obvious weakness. There was something unstable and unsettling in his leafy green eyes. It was at that heartbeat, when Dawnflight understood. Falconstar was not fit to be leader of ShadowClan. But one aspect puzzled Dawnflight a little. If Falconstar and Torrentrunner were mates, why was she so intent on eliminating him? Wasn't Torrentrunner supposed to love Falconstar? Dawnflight twitched her whiskers with uncertainty.
"Wait, do you even love him?" the gray and white she cat asked. The ShadowClan deputy in front of her stared for a moment, silent. Then, she shook her head.
"No. I can't say I ever did. He was my friend. Well, he was my friend before all this. I had kits with him because he was smitten with me and I also did it out of respect for him and our clan. Luckily, our kits seemed to respect that."
Dawnflight noticed a tiny flicker of grief in the other cat's bright, amber eyes. Then, it faded as quickly as it came. A fire of determination and cold outrage replaced it. It almost made Dawnflight shudder but she squashed the feeling.
"Once, Falconstar was a kindhearted, noble warrior who treated ever cat, regardless of origins, respect," Torrentrunner continued, "ShadowClan was not in shambles. After losing life after life back to back from sickness and then a battle shortly after, something in Falconstar changed. He became this thing. At that point, he was no longer my friend and leader. I've waited too long to do something about this, Dawnflight. If we don't do something soon, RiverClan will fall as well."
The black tabby wistfully gazed off past Dawnflight for a moment before returning. Dawnflight nodded at her.
"I'll do what I can," she vowed, "but I need to train before the battle. I've been out of practice for moons. I dare say my apprenticeship wasn't even finished!"
Torrentrunner softened a bit and nodded in understanding.
"I'll train you. Starting tomorrow night up until the battle, I'll show you how ShadowClan fights. Just promise me you won't share this with your clan and don't share this with anyone in any other clans."
"You have my word and honor as a warrior."
"Good. I have the other ShadowClan warriors aware of the plan. They will make way for you to help achieve the goal. Once Falconstar goes down, ShadowClan will retreat. You also have my word and honor as a warrior that ShadowClan will not be plotting against RiverClan."
Torrentrunner stretched herself and shook her black, striped pelt. Dawnflight gave her chest a few licks before standing up straight. Anxiety prickled beneath her skin. What if she wasn't strong enough to make the kill? What if she got too injured in a skirmish to finish the job? What if she wasn't even chosen for the battle party? What about Thunderpaw and his negative feelings towards her? What would Timberclaw, Blackwing and her family say if they knew she was making plans with the ShadowClan deputy? Thinking of Blackwing, Dawnflight hadn't talked to her since she was in the nursery.
I'll visit her tomorrow.
Dawnflight's mind swam with all the thoughts and plans she now had to accomplish before the battle.
I have a lot to do now. StarClan, give me strength.
Torrentrunner's mew brought Dawnflight back to the border.
"For what it's worth, Dawnflight, I'm sorry about your kits. I know what it's like to lose a kit during birth." Torrentrunner's gentle tone surprised the silvery cat, but she was glad for the sympathy nonetheless.
"I-it's alright. StarClan will raise them better than I can." Dawnflight said quietly. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Torrentrunner approached the younger cat and gave her a lick on the cheek thoughtfully.
"It's ok to cry. You'll see them again in StarClan. They will always know you as their true mother. We'll end Falconstar's reign so the kits of the future can have a safe home to grow up in."
Dawnflight purred a little, blinking back her now wet eyes. The ShadowClan warrior before her returned to her proud posture.
"I knew I picked the right warrior to set things right." Torrentrunner meowed approvingly.