I got Hawkwing's Journey! I am so happy! I am reading and crying and loving and breaking and a wide variety of emotions that send pain through my heart! And now...now I have to wait for about...four? Five months for the next book of 'Vision of Shadows' to come out! It's a nerd girl problem people! But I will survive! Also review, fav, follow, etc…
Also look up xMysticWolf78x on Deviantarts! She has drawn a pic of my oc, Brindle-(full name hasn't been decided yet, seeing as my poll is still up...but Brindlefur is in the lead!) so look her up! XD love that she went and created that for me! Really sweet!
Also sorry for the delay, my aunt had recently died the first of the new year. Also I was snowbound at a friends house, so sorry about that! I hope that this chapter would be worth it to you!
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Watery shafts of light sliced through the bare trees as Fireheart scouted ahead of her traveling party. Trying to focus her senses alert in case one of the dogs had caught any of the ThunderClan cats in their desperate race for the gorge. So far, to Fireheart's relief, she had found nothing. Padding back the way she had come, she meet the party of three. Her eyes instantly went to the lifeless body of her leader, Bluestar.
It was almost unreal, like she was an outsider, a rogue, looking on at this tragic scene with no real part in it. But she was, the event at the gorge replayed over and over again in her head. Distracting her when she should be more cautious and alert than ever. But still, she saw the slavering jaws of the dog who led the pack, and felt its sharp teeth imbedded in her tail. She remembered how Tigerstar had come from practically nowhere and had managed to get the dog off her and Bluestar-
Her fearless leader, had came to both their rescue. Flinging herself on the dog, driving it-and herself-over the edge of the gorge and into the river. She flinched at the sight of Bluestar's limp body, being supported by both Mistyfoot and Stonefur, her RiverClan children. She recalled how the strong current bashed herself around in a fruitless attempt to rescue her leader, in reality hindering both Bluestar's and her own survival while Tigerstar tried to bring the two to land. But then, when Fireheart had feared that they would drown, Mistyfoot and Stonefur appeared.
But the main thing Fireheart recalled in her dismay and disbelieving mind, was crouching down beside her leader on the riverbank, and realized that she had sacrificed her life to save her and all of ThunderClan from the dog pack.
"The trail is all clear," Fireheart meowed, gesturing for Stonefur and Mistyfoot to follow. Tigerstar taking up the rear, his sharp ears alert as he kept costain. Fireheart was jealous of his level head in a time of such grievance and sadness. But she also couldn't help but draw off his strength, glad for someone that would keep their head above the need to crawl in a nest and never come out.
"I haven't found anything but broken undergrowth," Fireheart meowed quietly as Tigerstar picked up his pace to walk alongside her. "I think that the remaining dogs have fled the forest." she hoped that was the case at least, that the terror of losing their leader would leave and the forest could once again belong to the four Clans of wild cats. Her Clan had lived through three terrible moons, when they had become prey in their own territory, but they had survived.
"It seems that way," Tigerstar replied back, his narrowed amber eyes surveying their surroundings. "But it would be a safe choice to send out a patrol of warriors to make certain that they are really gone for good. No use of putting yourself into a false state of security if they hadn't, and get yourself into more danger."
"I'll be sure to do that," Fireheart meowed, it was easy to simply imagine Tigerstar being apart of ThunderClan. That instead of Fireheart being deputy it would still be Tigerclaw, risking his life the way he did for ThunderClan and for Fireheart and his kits. That was the brave warrior she knew. But he's not, he's ShadowClan's leader. Her mind scolded, she was going to be ThunderClan's leader now. A foreign thought that she didn't actually believe she would live long enough to take up. "I want to check that the camp is safe before the Clan comes back." Fireheart meowed, shaking her head to clear her troubled mind.
Fireheart and Tigerstar, and the two RiverClan warriors trudge through the trees. Fireheart swelling with mixed feelings at the moment, grief, fear, helplessness, relief, and hope. She was thankful for Tigerstar, who kept on alert because she was struggling with herself. She almost jumped out of her fur when Tigerstar all of a sudden dropped into a defensive stance. His teeth bared into a snarl as his claws slide out.
There was an answering hiss and Fireheart could see the dark gray spike's of fur from the bushes just ahead. "Cinderpelt!" Fireheart meowed, padding over towards the bush. Cinderpelt was slowly relaxing her fur back down when she saw Fireheart. But her eyes were still narrowed on Tigerstar.
"What are you doing here?" Fireheart demanded, but was thankful to see her former apprentice safe. If not a bit ruffled.
"I didn't want to go to Sunningrocks without knowing what happened," Cinderpelt replied, her blue eyes flashing. "So I stayed behind. I thought I would wait for a bit, if you didn't show. I thought I would go looking for you and I'm glad to see you! Did you take care of the dogs? Wha-" Cinderpelt trailed off, her gaze finally falling onto Bluestar's dead body.
"Oh, Bluestar…" Cinderpelt whispered, her eyes clouding over with pain.
"She died saving her Clan, and us," Fireheart meowed, making Cinderpelt tear her eyes away from Bluestar's body and focus on Tigerstar.
"And just what are you doing on our territory?" Cinderpelt demanded, her voice sparked with fire as she challenged the noble ShadowClan leader. Despite Tigerstar's skill, bulk, and experience none of that seemed to matter compared to Cinderpelt's courage and stamina. Tigerstar, most unlike himself in Fireheart's realization, dipped his massive head looking thoughtful at the young dark gray she-cat warrior.
"I don't mean any disrespect, and I know I shouldn't be on ThunderClan's territory. But-" Tigerstar trailed off as he turned to look at Fireheart.
"You did it for Fireheart," Cinderpelt finished for him. Despite her hostility, she had a glint of respect in her eyes for the ShadowClan leader.
"He helped pull Bluestar from the water," Fireheart added, quickly telling Cinderpelt what had happened. From the dog catching her, from Tigerstar saving her and Bluestar's interference and risking their lives to save the drowning ThunderClan leader and being pulled out of the water by the RiverClan cats to Bluestar's death, to finally now.
"I suppose I can let it slide...but only this once. For Fireheart. And for helping Bluestar in her last moments." Cinderpelt's voice dropped low, she didn't seem to like Tigerstar being here. And Fireheart didn't expect her too, but she was willing to put up with him.
"We're on our way to camp," Fireheart meowed.
"Then I'll come with you." Cinderpelt meowed, dropping back to replace Mistyfoot in helping drag Bluestar back to camp. The pentad group made their way back in silence, until finally they reached the ravine. At the top of the ravine that led down to the camp entrance, Fireheart paused. She briefly remembered the early morning, when she and her warriors had set out to find the illustrious evil that ran through the forest, terrorizing the cats that lived there. What they found was a group of vicious dogs unlike Twoleg dogs. But now everything seemed peaceful, and when Fireheart tasted the air again she could detect only cat scent coming from the camp.
"Wait here," she meowed. "I'm going to take a look."
"Let me come with you," Cinderpelt meowed, taking a pace forward as her eyes shined with courage.
"No," Tigerstar steady meow drew Cinderpelt to a stop. Fireheart turned to see the dark massive tabby looking intensely at Fireheart, his amber eyes glowing with silent understanding. "This is something Fireheart feels the need to do alone. And we should respect it."
Fireheart flashed the ShadowClan leader a thankful look, her spirits lifting a little at the realization that Tigerstar seems to still understood her. She began picking her way down the ravine, her ears prickled for any sound of trouble ahead. But the strange silence still reigned over the forest.
As she emerged from the gorse tunnel into the clearing, Fireheart paused to glance warily around. It was possible that one or more of the dogs had never made it to the gorge, or find disembodied members of her Clan who were unlucky enough to be snatched by the dogs. It sent a shiver down her spine and her fur began to rise. But nothing happened, it was quiet and nothing stirred. The strangeness that emerged from seeing the camp deserted like this sent more shivers down her spine, yet there was no sign of danger, and still no scent of dogs or blood.
To be sure the camp was safe, she rapidly checked the dens and the nursery. Memories unbidden: the bewilderment of the Clan as she told them about the dog pack, the heart pounding terror of the chase through the forest with the breath of the pack leader hot on her fur. At the foot of the Highrock, listening to the time Tigerstar had stood there, boldly facing his Clan as they discovered the true depth of his treachery. And every painful moment it took Fireheart to reveal to all his evil deeds. But he had changed since then, hadn't he?
Last of all Fireheart prowled cautiously through the fern tunnel to Spottedleaf's den. Glancing through the entrance, she saw the medicine cat's healing herbs neatly ranged beside the wall. The strongest memory yet flooded over her, of Yellowfang, the old banished ShadowClan medicine cat who was rude and snapped at Fireheart at every turn. Who came to be one of Fireheart's closest friends and supporters, who saw Fireheart as her daughter and most of all how Fireheart wished that it possibly be true. Yellowfang was a cat that Fireheart grateful admired and to had her respect, love and care, it was overwhelming. Her loss mingled with her grief for her leader, the she-cat that she looked up too as a role model.
Bluestar is dead, Fireheart thought silently. Is she up there in StarClan with you, Yellowfang?
Retracing her steps along the fern tunnel, she returned to the top of the ravine. Tigerstar was standing watch while Mistyfoot and Stonefur gently groomed the dead leader's body. Cinderpelt was silently padding back and forth, eagerly awaiting Fireheart's return.
"Everything's fine," Fireheart announced. "Cinderpelt, I want you to go to Sunningrocks now. Tell the Clan that Bluestar is dead, but nothing more. I'll explain everything when I see them. Just let them know that it's safe to come home."
Cinderpelt's blue eyes brightened. "On my way, Fireheart." the dark gray she-cat turned on her paws and tore off through the forest, heading for Sunningrocks. The hideout ThunderClan was using to hide from the dogs.
Tigerstar let out a low rumble, one that Fireheart detected as an amused purr deep within in his throat. "You're former apprentices is just as I remember her as." Tigerstar replied at Fireheart's questioning look.
"I guess some things just never change," Fireheart replied, connecting her eyes with his.
"No, I suppose not." Tigerstar agreed, blinking slowly as he gazed at her. Fireheart was momentarily distracted, before the weight and grief of the situation caught up to her.
Fireheart turned away from Tigerstar's intense comforting eyes. And with a nod of acknowledgment to the RiverClan warriors. Fireheart took up Bluestar's body, and with help from the two RiverClan cats maneuvered her body down the ravine and into the camp. Tigerstar following closely behind, on guard for Fireheart's Clanmates. At last they could lay her down in her den beneath the Highrock, where she would remain until her Clan had said farewell to her and buried her with all the honor that such a wise and noble leader deserved.
"Thank you for your help," Fireheart meowed to both the RiverClan warriors and Tigerstar. Hesitating for a moment, knowing only too well the significance of her invitation, she added, "Would you like to stay for Bluestar's burial ceremony?"
"That is a very generous offer," Stonefur replied, showing only a flicker of surprise that Fireheart should admit members of a rival Clan to something so private. "But we have duties in our own Clan . We must be getting back."
"The same goes for myself," Tigerstar meowed, his amber eyes a mixture of surprise and warmth. "And I don't believe ThunderClan would be very welcomed to that invitation." He added on more quietly, so that Stonefur and Mistyfoot wouldn't hear.
Fireheart felt with a flicker of disappointment that what Tigerstar had said was true. Even though Tigerstar had saved Bluestar from drowning, they would never accept him in joining in on the burial and mourning ceremony.
"Thank you, Fireheart," meowed Mistyfoot, drawing Fireheart's attention to her. "That means a lot to us. But your Clan will think it's strange if we stay. They don't know, do they, that Bluestar was our mother?"
"No," Fireheart told her. "Only Graystripe and Tigerstar, and your secret…" Fireheart flashed Tigerstar a warning glance. "Is safe with us, no other cat will know."
Stonefur and Mistyfoot exchanged a glance. Then Stonefur drew himself up, his blue eyes gleaming with a determined resolve. "I'm not going to hide from the truth, Bluestar was our mother and we're not ashamed of her. She was a noble leader-and our father was a great deputy. I'll tell RiverClan myself today."
"Yes," Mistyfoot agreed. "No cat can argue with that, even if they did come from different Clans." Their courage and determination reminded Fireheart of their mother, Bluestar. She had given them up to their father, Oakheart, the RiverClan deputy, and the two cats had grown up believing that they had been born in RiverClan. At first they had hated Bluestar when they learned the truth, but this morning, as she lay dying on the riverbank, they had found it in their hearts to forgive her. IN the midst of her own pain, Fireheart was relieved beyond words that her leader had been reconciled with her kits before she went to StarClan.
She alone of all the ThunderClan cats knew how much Bluestar had suffered, watching them grow up in another Clan. Just like I have to watch Hawkpaw and Tawnypaw grow up in ShadowClan, oh, why did they want to leave?
"If you do," Tigerstar spoke up, slowly drawing the words out. "Then you will have to live with suspicious looks and talks behind your backs for the rest of your lives. You might even regret it." Fireheart felt a spark of irritation at the ShadowClan leader, but held herself back, it wasn't in her place to defend the two RiverClan cats.
"I only regret that we'd known her better," Stonefur retorted, a mixture of grief and defiance shining in them. And as if he could read Fireheart's thoughts. "And the both of you have been lucky to have grown up in her Clan and been her deputy." Stonefur didn't pull up the fact that Tigerstar was no longer apart of ThunderClan, or his mysterious Clan change.
"I know." Fireheart looked down sorrowfully at the blue-gray she-cat lying so still on the sandy floor of the clearing. Bluestar looked small and helpless now that her noble spirit had left hr body and gone to hunt with StarClan. Tigerstar didn't reply, wisely staying quiet in respect of Bluestar.
"May we say goodbye to her alone?" Mistyfoot asked tentatively. "Just for a few moments?"
"Of course," Fireheart replied. She signaled with her tail for Tigerstar to follow as she padded out of the den, leaving Stonefur and Mistyfoot alone to crouch down beside Bluestar's body and share tongues with their mother for the first and last time.
As they skirted the Highrock Fireheart heard the sound of cats approaching through the gorse tunnel. Hurrying forward, she saw Frostfur and Speckletail creep timidly into the clearing, hesitating in the shelter of the tunnel before they dared venture back into the camp. WIth the same wariness, Brackenfur, Sandstorm and Goldenflower followed.
Pain stabbed Fireheart's heart to see her cats so wary of their own home, and her eyes sought out her kits-Squirrelpaw was just pawsteps behind Brackenfur and her mentor Sandstorm. She spotted Leafpaw's tabby fur among the center, Thornclaw practically stuck to her fur.
Fireheart saw her nephew, Cloudtail' the white warrior was escorting the elders along, Swifttail among them, who was gently nudging along Spottedpaw, Fireheart's youngest daughter who was horribly traumatized by the dog pack that almost destroyed the entire Clan.
Next camp Spottedleaf along with her apprentice, Mothpaw. They came through the camp entrance with a bundle of herbs in each of the she-cats mouths; and pushing eagerly behind her were Willowpelt's three kits, Sorrelkit, Rainkit and Sootkit being supervised by Fireheart's oldest son, Bramblepaw. The three kits were scampering circles around Bramblepaw, happily unaware of the crisis their Clan had endured.
Fireheart's spirits rose as she watched Graystripe pad right from behind them, and Fireheart swiftly came to greet her oldest Friend. "You made it!" Fireheart meowed happily, touching noses to her gray friend who looked just as relieved.
"Those dogs were huge! I got stuck in between some branches, and I thought for sure that they would come back for me!" Graystripe admitted, his ears twitching with embarrassment and slight fright.
"I know, I never been as scared in my life!" Fireheart agreed.
Graystripe nodded before peering around the clearing and looked around, his expression clouding. "Where is Bluestar? Cinderpelt told us she was dead."
"Yes," Fireheart replied. "I tried to save her, but the struggle in the river was too much for her. She's in her den." She hesitated before adding, "Mistyfoot and Stonefur are with her."
Graystripe's eyes widened in surprise, looking baffled. "Why are they here?" he meowed, his voice echoing his look of surprise.
"They helped me and Tigerstar pull Bluestar out of the river," Fireheart explained. Fireheart was about to continue, but a cry of surprise lit up the clearing followed by angry hissing. Fireheart's head whipped around, and to her shock realized she forgot all about Tigerstar being here.
Although surrounded by a hostile Clan full of warriors that would give a couple of rat tails to kill him themselves, Tigerstar stayed perfectly calm. The only tell sign that he was on guard was the light prick tips of claws barely peeking out of their sheaths. If Fireheart didn't interfere, Tigerstar might get seriously hurt or end up losing a life.
"That's enough," Fireheart meowed, coming to shove her way through Cloudtail and Dustpelt. "Tigerstar isn't an enemy. He helped save, Bluestar." Fireheart raised her voice, gaining the disbelieving looks of her warriors.
"And how can we believe that?" Dappletail called out from the back, gaining similar agreements.
"Because Tigerstar helped save me from the dogs when I was caught, and helped pull Bluestar from the river when he didn't have too." Fireheart remarked, her head drawn up as her voice carried. Their was murmurs of disbelief going around, along with confusion. Fireheart spotted Squirrelpaw looking at her father with admiration, her green eyes sparkling with awe.
"It's true!" Cinderpelt meowed from where she stood beside Brightheart, her eyes flashing in support of Fireheart. "Tigerstar has changed! And without him we wouldn't have a deputy and new leader or even a body to mourn!" there was still unrest amongst the cats, but Fireheart's eyes locked with Spottedleaf who was assuring the cats around her.
"All cats can change. And Tigerstar is one of them," Fireheart added, watching as the murmurs died down more.
"I believe I should go," Tigerstar meowed, his voice low as his eyes slowly scanned the thong of cats. Fireheart could see his gaze linger onto his kits, Cloudtail and Darkstripe.
"I think it's for the best." Fireheart reluctantly agreed, she didn't want him to go. Despite all that has happened in these previous days, but she knew that his presence would only cause trouble amongst the Clan.
"I'll see you at the next Gathering then." Tigerstar said, before making his way through the path that was opened for him. Disappearing through the gorse tunnel, and possibly back to ShadowClan territory. Fireheart glanced around making certain that her Clan was okay. the Clan had all returned and had gathered in a ragged circle around Fireheart. Fireheart spotted her apprentice, Fernpaw, talking excitedly with her brother, Ashpaw. Fernpaw, Fireheart's apprentice, was the one who had begun the race to lure the dogs away from the camp and she couldn't be more relieved to see that she was safe and unharmed.
"I'm proud of you, Fernpaw," Fireheart meowed, eyes glittering with approval and relief.
The young she-cat let out a purr. "I hid in the hazel thicket where you told me too, and jumped out as soon as I saw the dogs," Fernpaw replied proudly. "I was scared at how big they were, but I knew I had to keep them away from the camp."
"You were very brave," Fireheart praised her. Fernpaw's green eyes lit up and Fireheart was reminded of her mother, Brindleface. Brindleface had been the cat who had nursed Cloudtail, Fireheart's nephew. And had also been a main support and friend when she was pregnant and had her seven kits to raise. Fireheart missed her very much, and could see Brindleface shining in her apprentices eyes whenever she looked into them. "I'm proud of you-and your mother would be proud, too."
Ashpaw suddenly looked small compared to his sister. "I-I was terrified when I didn't see Fernpaw amongst the others. I-I thought for sure that the dogs had gotten her when my back was turned," His eyes shined for a moment with sadness. "I was terrified," he admitted, looking frail as a kit. "I already lost my mother, I don't think I could stand it if I lost my sister too."
"I'll always come back for you, hairball," Fernpaw meowed, nudging his side. But there was a tenderness towards her brother in the gesture, echoing her brothers own thoughts and fears.
"He wasn't the only one terrified," Dustpelt meowed as he came up and gave Fernpaw a gentle lick. "I've never run so fast in my life. You did brilliantly, Fernpaw." the warmth in Dustpelt's gaze was directed at solely on Fernpaw, and Fireheart couldn't have stopped scolding herself for being so mouse-brained as to not have seen it from the very beginning. Fireheart barely managed to hide her amusement. The brown tabby warrior's affection for her apprentice was no secret.
"You did well, too, Dustpelt," Fireheart meowed. "The Clan owes thanks to all of you."
Dustpelt held Fireheart's gaze for a moment before he gave her a little nod of acknowledgement. As he turned away, Fireheart spotted Swifttail again gently guiding Spottedpaw past and stopped them to ask, "Are you okay, Spottedpaw?"
"I'm fine," the young she-cat replied, though she glanced around nervously, her tail fidgeting around her in a strange twist. "Are you sure none of the dogs got this far?"
"Don't worry, I checked the whole camp myself," Fireheart assured her daughter, lightly licking the tips of her ears. "There's no sign of any dogs."
"She was very brave at Sunningrocks," meowed Swifttail, touching his muzzle to Spottedpaw's cheek. "She helped me keep an eye on our Clanmates, and also signs of trouble. She even managed to calm down Rainkit when Bramblepaw was distracted with Sorrelkit."
Spottedpaw shuffled her paws in embarrassment as she meowed. "It was nothing really, Rainkit is easy to calm down as long as he hears a good story."
"Well done," Fireheart meowed, proud of her daughter. "You too, Swifttail. I was right to rely on you."
"She certainly has," Spottedleaf, ThunderClan's medicine cat. And one of Fireheart's closets friends spoke up, Fireheart turned to see the pretty tortoiseshell she-cat being followed by both her apprentice, Mothpaw and Longtail just a paw-step behind. "Her and the rest of the Clan stayed perfectly ordered and calm, no one panicked, not even when we heard the pack howling."
"And every cat's okay?" Fireheart asked anxiously.
"They're all fine." The medicine cat's calming amber eyes glowed with relief. "Longtail tore a claw and some of his fur when he was running from the dogs, but that's all. Come on, Longtail, I'll give you something for it."
As Fireheart watched them go, she realized that Whitestorm had appeared beside her. "Can I have a word with you?"
"Of course." Fireheart meowed, sounding surprised and wondering what the older warrior would want.
"I'm sorry." Whitestorm's eyes were full of anguish. "I know you asked me to take care of Bluestar when we were fleeing from the dogs. But she slipped away from Sunningrocks before I realized she'd gone. It's my fault she's dead."
Fireheart narrowed her eyes at the older warrior. For the first time she noticed how exhausted he looked. Although Whitestorm was the senior warrior of ThunderClan, he had always seemed strong and vigorous, his white coat sleek and well-groomed. Now he looked a hundred season older than the cat who had left camp that morning.
"That's ridiculous!" Fireheart insisted. "Even if you had noticed that Bluestar had gone, what could you have done? She was your leader-you couldn't have made her stay."
Whitestorm blinked. "I didn't dare send another cat after her-not with the pack loose. ALl we could do was sit up in the trees around Sunningrocks and listen to the howling…" A shudder ran through his body. "But I should have done something."
"You did everything," Fireheart told him. "You stayed with the CLan and kept them safe. Bluestar made her own decision in the end. It was the will of StarClan that she died to save us."
Whitestorm nodded slowly, though his eyes were still troubled as he murmured, "Even though she had lost all faith in StarClan."
Fireheart was aware of the secret they shared, that in her last moons Bluestar's mind had begun to give way. Shocked to the core by the discovery of Tigerstar's treachery, Bluestar had begun to believe that she was at war with her warrior ancestors. Fireheart and Whitestorm, with Spottedleaf's help, had managed for the most part to keep the knowledge of their leader's weakness from the rest of the Clan. But Fireheart also knew that Bluestar's feeling shad changed during the last moments of her life.
"No, Whitestorm," Fireheart replied, thankful that there was some comfort she could offer the gallant old warrior. "She made her peace with StarClan before she died. She knew exactly what she was doing, and why. Her mind was clear again, and her faith was strong."
Joy tempered the pain in Whitestorm's eyes, and he bowed his head. Fireheart realized how devastating Bluestar's death must be for him, Bluestar had been his aunt and as far as Fireheart knew. She practically raised him.
By now the rest of the Clan had crept into the circle around Fireheart. She could see the traces of their terrible experience still in their eyes, along with fear for the future. Swallowing uncomfortably, she realized that it was her duty now to calm those fears.
"Fireheart," Brackenfur asked hesitantly, sharing a look at his mate, Sandstorm. Who stood closely beside him, "is it true that Bluestar's dead?"
Fireheart nodded. "Yes, it's true. She...she died saving me, and all of us." For a moment she thought her voice would fail completely, and she swallowed hard. "You all know that I was the last cat on the trail to lead the dogs to the gorge. When I was almost at the edge, my tail was caught by the lead dog and I almost died, if it weren't for Tigerstar that is. But the rest of the dog pack was nearly on us, and the lead dog was near the edge of the cliff. Bluestar came out of nowhere and threw herself at the dog, right on the edge of the gorge, and...and they both went over. And if it hadn't been for her bravery...the dogs would still be loose in the forest."
She could see a ripple of distress sweeping across her Clan mates, like wind stirring the trees.
"What happened then?" Frostfur asked quietly.
"Me and Tigerstar went in after her, but even then...we couldn't save her." Briefly Fireheart closed her eyes, remembering the churning water and her hopeless struggles to keep her leader afloat and not drag all three of them down. "We were being dragged downriver, Tigerstar was doing all he could to get us to shore. But it wasn't working, then Mistyfoot and Stonefur from RiverClan came to our aid when we had been swept clear of the gorge," she went on. "Bluestar was alive when we got her out but it was too late. Her ninth life wa over, and she left us to join StarClan."
A yowl of grief came from somewhere among the circle of cats. Fireheart realized that many of the cats had not even been born when Bluestar became leader, and losing her now must feel as if the four great oaks of Fourtrees had been torn up overnight.
She raised her voice, forcing it not to shake. "Bluestar isn't gone, you know. She's already watching over us from StarClan...her spirit is here with us now." Or in her den, she thought privately, sharing tongues with Mistyfoot and Stonefur.
"I would like to see Bluestar now," meowed Speckletail. "Where is she-in her den?" She turned toward the entrance, flanked by Dappletail and Smallear.
"I'll come with you," Frostfur offered, springing to her paws.
Alarm shot through Fireheart. She had hoped to give Mistyfoot and Stonefur as much time as possible with their dead mother, but she suddenly realized that apart from Graystripe and Cinderpelt, no cats even knew that the two RiverClan warriors were in the camp. Even Fireheart had briefly forgotten the two RiverClan cats were still in camp. I should really keep track of who I let into camp, Fireheart thought. And remember that they are here!
"Wait-" she began, shouldering her way through the circle. It was too late. Speckletail and Frostfur were already standing in the entrance to Bluestar's den, their fur bristling and their tails fluffed out to twice their normal size as they confronted the strange cats, almost as bad as when they found Tigerstar. A menacing snarl came from Frostfur. "I know about Tigerstar, but what are you doing here?"
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Okay, not as long as I hoped it would be. But I haven't posted a chapter in forever! And really wanted to give you guys something for your patience...I hope you liked it nonetheless! Anyway, be patient with me, things have been hectic these last few weeks! And I have a lot more crap to go through, but I will get another chapter up soon! Also got any questions? Love to hear them! Review~