Hello readers! Another update! I hope you enjoy! Also got another book! And also 'A Vision of Shadows' Shattered Sky! XD well look up:
The rope trick by Lloyd Alexander
Wonderful book, you'll not regret reading it! XD
Also I hope you like the chapter! Fav, Review on so on!
And omg! I love Shattered sky! I felt so sorry for Needletail but I love her now...I mean at first when she turned traitor and all….but now I hate Sleekwhisker more than I do any other cat...well Darktail but you get the main point! Here is the hate list: Darktail, Rain, Sleekwhisker, rest of the rogues!
And here is my like list: Twigpaw, Alderheart, Violetpaw, Hawkwing, Leafstar, Needletail! XD
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Neither Firestar nor Tigerstar said anything as they climbed to the top of the Great Rock, and sat side by side in silence. Together watching the dawn light spread above the forest, still and silent, it almost took her thoughts away from the ever present danger lurking just across the Thunderpath.
"Your troubled," Tigerstar's voice came out as a low rumble. One that Firestar acknowledged with a twitch of her ear.
"Don't pretend that you aren't," Firestar meowed dryly, cause of course he would be. ShadowClan was driven out of their home, forced to seek shelter in a another Clan, and on the brink of destruction if they fail to defeat their foes in the upcoming battle.
"I never said I wasn't," Tigerstar meowed honestly, both of them lapsing into silence before Tigerstar broke it again. "One of my lives given by StarClan was tranquility, and I use it now to think about what choice I come to make." Firestar was startled that Tigerstar would reveal such a sacred secret with StarClan to her, but his words drew her in, mesmerising as she found it hard to imagine Tigerstar going through the same things she had.
"The choices I made, then," Tigerstar's tail flickered behind him, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Are different from the ones I am making now. It took time, but I understand...that the things I have done and the outcome of those actions, had shown me to who I honestly want to be. I want to be respected for the right reasons, by being honest, trustworthy, loyal and considerate and show compassion towards others that I never would have in the past...I believe that these new views...have come from my time spent with you."
Firestar's eyes widened as Tigerstar's own amber one's turned on her. They were clear and sincere with no veil of deceit or lies to be seen. "And that may be something I will probably never be able to repay you for. I want to be the warrior you always thought I could be, I want to be that and more, for StarClan, for ShadowClan, for our kits and for you."
"I-I know that you can, Tigerstar." Firestar's throat clenched, making her choke on her words. But she still felt an ever burning honesty in them, cause she knows that Tigerstar can and will become a great leader for ShadowClan, and do it right by the warrior code and StarClan.
They fell silent once more, Tigerstar turning his head to stare ahead, although Firestar saw his eyes flickering towards her from time to time. Firestar herself stared ahead, the clearing now quiet from the last Gathering, where Scourge had threatened all four…
Firestar jolted backwards, her jade green eyes wide with surprise and ears pricked when the thought struck her. She had forgotten, just across the river was RiverClan, who just like the rest of the forest cats had been threatened to leave or be slaughtered. Leopardstar wasn't there the moment Tallstar and Firestar agreed to fight alongside each other against BloodClan, nor know that ShadowClan has also joined in aid. Leopardstar must be in fear at the thought of fighting BloodClan alone, unaware of the combined efforts of the rest of the Clans.
"Firestar, what is it?" Tigerstar's meow of curiosity mixed with concern filtered through to her thoughts and Firestar hastily told him of what she had keenly overlooked.
"RiverClan is in the same predicament as the rest of us, if we told her we all are standing together, as one Clan against Scourge. There is no way we could lose!" Firestar meowed in excitement.
"I don't see why they shouldn't disagree, if there is a way to take down Scourge and BloodClan and keep our home. Then Leopardstar just very well agree to contribute." Tigerstar agreed, his eyes thoughtful with the ever calculating glint.
"Four shall become one…" Firestar meowed softly, clammering to her paws as the first glittering rays of sun appeared above the horizon. "We should get back to camp, we have to speak to RiverClan as soon as possible." Firestar leaped down from the rock and raced towards home, Tigerstar only a few pawsteps behind, but they came up short when a yowl was heard and four warriors, three ThunderClan and one ShadowClan approached.
"Firestar! Where had you been?" Sandstorm meowed crossly as she picked her way towards both leaders. "We've been worried sick."
"Thought a badger or fox had gotten you," Brackenfur said lightly, coming up from behind his mate. Cloudtail and the ShadowClan warrior, Boulder just behind. "Although not to worried, Whitestorm seemed said you would be okay, and truthfully I trust his word and we all know you can take care of yourself." although the golden-brown tabby tom did cast Tigerstar a suspicious glance.
"What took you so long?" Cloudtail meowed, coming up to touch noses with his aunt. Though the white warrior didn't acknowledge Tigerstar, Cloudtail's head did tilt in his general direction, inquiry.
"I needed time to think," Firestar meowed briskly. "And I'm glad I've run into you. I'm going over into RiverClan territory, and it'll look better if I take some warriors with me."
"RiverClan?" Boulder meowed, his ears pricked with surprise. "What do you want with RiverClan."
"We plan to recruit them into fighting alongside us against Scourge and his warriors, four Clan's are stronger instead of three alone." Tigerstar meowed, regarding each assembled cat with a blink of an eye.
"Exactly," Firestar agreed, "Will you come with us?"
"Of course, although I don't know how Leopardstar is going to react to us barging in unannounced." Cloudtail meowed, shaking his head in astonishment. "The things you come up with."
"I always have faith in your plans, Firestar." Sandstorm meowed, blinking green eyes that filled with delight. "Let's go."
Firestar's ears twitched with gratitude as she signaled the patrol, and Tigerstar, to follow her. Firestar padded through the forest at a quick trot, slowing down to carefully slip down the bank towards the stepping-stones with her warriors behind. As she led the way across she kept alert for movement on the opposite side of the river, but she saw nothing. There had not even been a RiverClan patrol, though by now the sun was well above the horizon.
Reaching the far bank, Firestar turned upriver toward the RiverClan camp. Before she reached it she heard a quick warning before being bawled over by a dark gray mass. Staggering, Firestar rolled until the attacker quickly let go, jumping to her paws Firestar came face to face with Mistyfoot. Who looked surprised to see the flamed ThunderClan leader and her patrol.
"Firestar! What are you doing here? I was expecting BloodClan." Mistyfoot meowed, looking over the tense patrol.
"We've come to speak to Leopardstar," Firestar meowed quickly, explaining to the she-cat their request. "We think it's best to fight together." Firestar finished, and was happy to see the thoughtful and excited look Mistyfoot had gotten in her eyes.
"That sounds like a great idea...although," Mistyfoot's whiskers twitched uneasily. "Leopardstar hasn't been the same since the Gathering, none of us have. It's like we're all waiting around for BloodClan to come rushing into camp."
"Then its best to join with us to fight for your home," Firestar meowed, then quickly added. "Can you take us to Leopardstar?"
"Of course!" Mistyfoot meowed, flicking her tail for the group to follow. Tigerstar padded at her shoulder while the rest of the patrol was just a paw step behind as they followed after Mistyfoot. As they padded along Firestar flashed Tigerstar a look, the giant tabby looked on ahead, but through his calm exterior Firestar saw his ears pricked. Neither of them knew how Leopardstar would react to their alliance.
The patrol padded into the reeds and wadded through the water in order to reach the island that made up RiverClan's camp. Two cats were on guard, they merely looked at the patrol and Firestar understood what Mistyfoot was talking about. RiverClan looked like they gave up before the battle even began. Mistyfoot paid the cats on guard no mind as she lead the group into camp.
Firestar scanned the place, cats were huddled into little groups, their eyes blank and looked lost without purpose. Leopardstar was sitting near the base of a willow tree, Stonefur and another warrior she recognized as Blackclaw was sitting with her.
"Leopardstar," Mistyfoot called out, gaining the attention of her leader and brother. Stonefur instantly jumped to his paws but Leopardstar stayed where she sat. not making a move to great the patrol. "Firestar has come to see you."
"Why?" Stonefur asked, his tone challenging but his eyes held no anger or threat.
"What does it matter?" Leopardstar rasped, speaking at last. "Let them come and speak, not like there is much they can do that BloodClan already plans to."
Stonefur glanced at his leader in bewilderment and slight annoyance, but he flicked his tail for Firestar to come forward.
"Leopardstar, we've come to ask you to fight alongside the rest of the Clans." Firestar meowed, her eyes trained completely on the RiverClan leader. "We believe we have a chance together."
"Firestar has a good point," Mistyfoot meowed, her voice hopeful. "Together we are much stronger then on our own."
"What's the point? BloodClan will slaughter us all." Leopardstar spurted out mocking laughter.
"You mustn't think like that. Together we can drive out BloodClan." Firestar urged.
A wild light shone in Leopardstar's eyes. "You mouse-brained fool!" she spat. "Drive out BloodClan? He'll drive us all out, he did with ShadowClan and their known for their fighting ability!"
"I know," Firestar replied steadily, hiding the shiver of sheer dread that ran through her sleek fur. "But BloodClan has no honor and caught ShadowClan unaware and fought like the rogues that they are. ShadowClan fought alone against BloodClan. We can join together as one to fight him so that afterward we can be four Clans again, according to the warrior code."
A sneering look crossed Leopardstar's face and she made no reply.
"What do you plan to do then?" Tigerstar demanded, coming to join the other two leaders. "Hide in your dens and hope that BloodClan doesn't find you? Or turn tail and run from the forest that has been your hope for generations."
Leopardstar hesitated, tossing her head from side to side as if the effort of talking irritated her. "I sent a scouting party to look for places beyond Highstones," she admitted. "But we have young kits, and two of our elders are ill. Not every cat can go, and the ones that stay will die."
"They don't have to die," Firestar promised her desperately. "The rest of the Clans are going to fight. Stand with us."
She expected further mockery, but Leopardstar was looking at her more intently now. Her trusted deputy, Stonefur, who sat just a few mouse-lengths away next to his sister, came to give his own advice. "Leopardstar, Firestar is right. We must fight for our home and our Clanmates that can't leave."
"I'm not ready to give up just yet-" Leopardstar said defensively. "Not if there's a chance of driving out BloodClan. All right," she meowed, facing Firestar again. "What's your plan?"
Firestar wished she had some clever trick to offer, some way of driving out BloodClan that wouldn't risk the lives of every cat in the forest. But there was no trick; the path to victory, if there were one, would be hard and painful.
"At dawn tomorrow," she replied, "All three Clans will meet BloodClan at Fourtrees. If RiverClan joins us, we'll be complete and stronger than we were before."
"And who will lead us?" asked Leopardstar. Reluctantly she added, "I haven't the strength now to take my cats into battle."
Firestar blinked in surprise. She had expected Leopardstar to demand authority over the other Clans. She wasn't at all sure just who would lead the attack.
"Firestar shall lead us to victory," Tigerstar's strong confident voice spoke up, making her turn her head in surprise. But Tigerstar looked to have meant what he had said. "You can have full confidence that she will honor your Clan in this battle, stand with us Leopardstar. For the sake of both the forest and your Clan."
"Are you sure about this Leopardstar?" Blackclaw demanded, eyeing both Tigerstar and Firestar. "Do you think that risking everything on an uncertain battle is the right choice?"
"I don't know," Leopardstar meowed. "Maybe the battle is already lost. I need time to think."
"There's not much time left," Sandstorm pointed out.
Firestar gathered her patrol together with a sweep of her tail and beckoned them over to the side of the clearing. "Think now, Leopardstar," she meowed. "We'll wait."
The RiverClan leader flashed her a defiant glance, as if she were going to insist that she would take as much time as she needed, but she said nothing, only drawing Stonefur, Mistyfoot and two more RiverClan warriors closer to her and speaking to them in a low, urgent voice. The rest of RiverClan stayed in their frozen, wretched silence, and Firestar couldn't help wondering what kind of fighting force they would make.
"How mouse-brained can they be?" growled Cloudtail. "What's to discuss? Leopardstar says they can't leave safely-what else can they do but fight?"
"Be quiet, Cloudtail," Tigerstar said sternly. "Leopardstar has a choice to make for duty to her Clan, she wants to be cautious of the choice she will make. This battle won't be an easy one, and I fear-no, I know, that cats will be severely hurt and possibly die."
That shut Cloudtail up, his blue eyes gazing at the ShadowClan leader for a moment. Before giving a single nod of acceptance.
"I just wish they would hurry up," Brackenfur meowed, his paws shuffling in place. Firestar couldn't help but agree to the younger warriors words, but she was instantly turning to the sound of her name being called, and she turned to see that Leopardstar was padding toward her across the clearing.
"I have made my decision," she told her.
Firestar felt her heart began to pound. She hoped beyond everything that Leopardstar would agree, RiverClan would be a much needed company in order to drive off BloodClan. The few heartbeats before Leopardstar reached her seemed to stretch out to a moon.
"RiverClan will fight against BloodClan tomorrow," she announced. Even though Firestar was relieved that the RiverClan leader had chosen to fight, she noticed some doubtful looks among the other cats. Firestar hoped that they would fight regardless.
"Thank you, Leopardstar, you're doing a very honorable and brave request for the future of the forest," Firestar meowed, her jade green eyes shining in thanks that RiverClan had agreed to fight.
Leopardstar took a step forward till she was just a mouse-length away. "I swear by StarClan that we will meet you at dawn tomorrow at Fourtrees. We will fight with you and the rest of the Clans against BloodClan." more briskly she added, "Stonefur, will you send out hunting parols? We'll need all our strength for tomorrow."
The RiverClan deputy dipped his head, calling out to some of their warriors he began assembling patrols. "Thank you, once again Leopardstar." Firestar drew her own followers away. She had succeeded in what she set out to do, and she could not help admiring Leopardstar's courage, but instead of satisfaction she felt a dark surge of foreboding as she cast one last glance at the RiverClan cats in the clearing. What if I condemned them all to death? She wondered.
Beside her, Tigerstar let out a deep sigh and Firestar turned her attention towards him. A questioning look on her face. "Now that the every Clan is fighting, I think me might be able to win...but not without loss." Tigerstar replied, his eyes hardened and narrowed. "I wonder how this terrible situation had occurred, what brought BloodClan to attention about the forest? I don't get it."
"Maybe they overheard some stories about it?" Firestar supplied, looking thoughtful. "But it doesn't really matter does it? The main focus is that they are here now, and must be chased off as soon as possible."
"You're right," Tigerstar agreed. "We must focus on defeating them." Firestar padded beside him, occasionally their fur touching as they walked behind the patrol, Sandstorm and Brackenfur had their heads close together and tails intertwined. While Cloudtail and Boulder were sharing words between each other.
"Tigerstar, I promise that I will do all that I can for the forest, and you." Firestar whispered, not looking at Tigerstar.
"And I'll do the same, for you and our kits." Tigerstar replied just as softly.
That comment sent a thrill of warmth through Firestar's body, but before she could say anything else meows of delight sounded from the ravine, and the next thing Firestar knew Tigerstar was knocked off his paws under the strain of his kits.
"Squirrelpaw, Leafpaw, Tawnypaw, you're going to smother Tigerstar to death!" Firestar meowed, her whiskers twitching in amusement. All three she-cats instantly jumped from their father, looking a bit guilty but they looked expectantly.
"We ran into Cloudtail, is it true that RiverClan agreed to join us?" Squirrelpaw demanded, hoping to and from as if she couldn't stand still for even a moment.
"It's true," Tigerstar replied to his daughter, his pale yellow eyes shining with warmth for each kit. "How has your training going?"
"I sat on Rowanpaw!" Squirrelpaw meowed without any shame. "He deserved it too!"
"I'm sure." Tigerstar replied, blinking softly at the bushy tailed apprentice.
"I tripped up my own mentor!" Tawnypaw boosted, her green forest eyes sparkling. "And Leafpaw helped me take down both Russetfur and cedarpaw!"
"I'm proud of you all." Firestar meowed, her eyes gleaming at how her kits were becoming such strong and active warriors. "How about your other siblings?"
"Hawkpaw has been helping out in camp, while Bramblepaw has been training with Brightheart and Ferncloud." Squirrelpaw piped up.
"And Spottedpaw has been training with Swifttail this entire time." Leafpaw added.
"I'm glad to see all of you dedicated in your training and working hard." Firestar purred with pride, watching Squirrelpaw as she puffed out her chest.
"We'll show BloodClan just how strong we are!" Squirrelpaw assured.
"We sure will! I'm ready to sink my claws into those dirty fighting mangy-pelts!" Tawnypaw growled, flexing her claws in front of her.
"We all do." Leafpaw agreed, the five of them heading down the ravine together and into camp. Already the patrols were winding down as cats began to gather around and eat. Firestar glanced around, finding both Goldenflower and Tallpoppy with the excited kits, sharing tongues. Blackfoot was having a discussion with Whitestorm, Russetfur and Graystripe, no doubt about how the training has come along.
"We should get something to eat," Firestar decided, flicking her tail to her three daughters. "Why don't you go fetch yourselves something, and find your brothers and sister while you're at it."
"We will!" Leafpaw meowed, following after both Tawnypaw and Squirrelpaw towards the apprentices den.
"Want to share?" Tigerstar asked, already coming back with a rabbit.
"I would like that," Firestar meowed as she followed Tigerstar towards the growing shadows underneath the Highrock. Together they crouched, eating the rabbit in silence, fur brushing and by the time they finished the warriors were beginning to go to sleep. "It's going to be a tough day tomorrow, we should get our sleep." Firestar declared quietly, eyeing Tigerstar out of the corner of her eye.
"I agree," Tigerstar meowed, his eyes flashing towards Firestar as he rose to his paws. "Goodnight, Firestar." but something didn't sit right with her, like desperation turning low in her stomach.
not before Tigerstar took a single step she found herself blurting out. "Don't go," Tigerstar froze, his body tense and rigid before he turned a questioning look at her. "Stay with me, I don't want to be alone. Not by myself, this might…" Firestar couldn't finish the rest, but Tigerstar got the meaning.
Silently, he nodded his head. A warmth bloomed in Firestar's chest as she blinked thankfully at him. Together they padded into Firestar's den, and settled together in her nest. Neither saying anything for a long while, the day turning into night as they listened to the sounds of night time creatures.
Tigerstar was the one to lift up his head as small shapes padded into the den, and small meows softly exchanged. Firestar herself turned, finding with surprise all seven of their kits crowding inside.
"You all should be sleeping," Tigerstar meowed through a yawn. "What are you doing up?"
"We couldn't sleep." Spottedpaw meowed, crouching beside Mothpaw.
"I couldn't stand sleeping in the same den with Rowanpaw." Squirrelpaw declared, although something in her eyes said differently.
"We wanted to stay with you tonight...if you'd let us." Mothpaw meowed warily, gaze turning between both their parents.
"Of course you can." Firestar meowed softly, although the nest was much smaller, and her kits were much bigger than they used to be. Both Firestar made room for them, Firestar and Tigerstar curled around the bracken and moss while their kits shared the nest, piled on top of each other. Though none of them complained, taking comfort in each of their siblings and parents close by.
"I love this family." Spottedpaw meowed drowsily, a chorus of agreeing meows followed her statement.
"And we love you." Tigerstar meowed softly, his pale yellow eyes glowing in the dark as they found Firestar's jade ones in the dark. The den was warm with the pile of warm fur surrounding them, but Firestar liked to think it was the warmth of their family bond. Slowly, sleep came to her as she listened to each of her kits heart beats.
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Emotional or what? Next chapter will be the battle! I swear by StarClan it will have more deaths in it! Another thing is I love Shattered Sky, I felt really happy when Twigpaw found her father! And also it hinted greatly that Alderheart might become SkyClan's medicine cat! XD I hope so!
Anyway, some fun facts!
Tigerstar would have never chose Darkstripe as deputy over how hostile he was towards Fireheart. Instead he would have chosen Whitestorm or one of the rogues.
...that's about it on the fun facts! XD also review! I want reviews! Next chapter will be the final battle! Then onto multitasking between 'Firestar's quest' and Daughter of Fire and Tiger'