Hello, my fellow readers! I hope you enjoy Hope of Fire series! And the following series, 'Daughter of Fire and Tiger' and also Firestar's quest part of the 'Spark of Fire' series as well! I really love hearing feedback, so review! Also I wish to state although Needletail was a real...jerk during the second book, I just like to point out she is really amazing in the third! So enjoy this chapter! Review!
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Firestar steered awake by the gentle probing of a large paw. Her eyes blinking open to meet Tigerstar's, he wore a grim look. One that Firestar easily matched, they both knew that today would bring nothing but blood and death.
Firestar's gaze then traveled towards her kits, Squirrelpaw was piled atop of Hawkpaw. While Tawnypaw and Leafpaw where using each other as headrests. Spottedpaw was curled up by herself pressed against Hawkpaw's back, while Bramblepaw titered on the edge of the nest. Only Mothpaw wasn't present.
Sharing an agreeing glance with Tigerstar, they both crept silently out of the den, leaving their kits to rest peacefully just a while longer. The clearing was empty, but she could hear the faint sounds of warriors waking up. Frost glittered on the ground, meaning both ShadowClan and ThunderClan had squeezed into the warriors den all together last night to avoid the chill. And above both leaders head's Silverpelt flowed like a river across the horizon with milky streaks of light.
Pausing to drink in the cool air filled with the mixed scents of many familiar and guest cats, Firestar felt every hair on her pelt prickled up. This could be the last morning she would ever spend in camp. It could be the last morning she would ever spend with any of her friends, Sandstorm, Graystripe, Cinderpelt, Ferncloud, Spottedleaf, Brackenfur, this could be the last morning she would have all her kits together again, Tawnypaw, Hawkpaw, Squirrelpaw, Leafpaw, Mothpaw, Spottedpaw, Bramblepaw and even Cloudtail who she always felt like her son. It could possibly be the last morning for any Clan. She felt as if everything were spinning out of her control, but when she looked for strength in the knowledge that StarClan controlled her fate, she found only uncertainty.
"We will win," Tigerstar's voice came out as a soothing rumble, his tail wrapped around his massive paws as he sat outside the entrance to the den. "You must believe in ourselves to prevail, Firestar."
"It's harder to think when this might be the last time we'll see all our Clanmates together." Firestar sighed, her chest constricting with emotional pain.
"I want you to know," Tigerstar began, his pale yellow eyes gleaming as light began to filter out into the camp. "I always have your back, and I'll always follow you into battle. No matter what. I would have done so regardless, even if the circumstances weren't so dire as this one. And you are the fire that shall blaze through the forest."
Firestar blinked gratefully and in slight shock at the massive tabby, but did not reply with words. She gently touched her nose to his cheek, before shaking out her pelt and walking over to the fern tunnel that led to Spottedleaf's den, Tigerstar did not follow. The medicine cats were all awake, bustling about, both apprentices, Mothpaw and Littlecloud, were dragging herbs and berries into the clearing, where both Runningnose and Spottedleaf were making them into bundles ready to carry.
"Is everything ready?" Firestar asked, her eyes drifting to Mothpaw who glanced up briefly to flash her mother a tender look before going back to work.
"I believe so." Spottedleaf replied, sharing a look with Runningnose who nodded. "It's just that we might need some more cats to carry all this up to Fourtrees, we're supplying for both ThunderClan and ShadowClan and we'd need the extra paws. I don't think the four of us can manage on our own."
"You can have all the apprentices," Firestar meowed. "Mothpaw, could you go and tell your siblings? And the ShadowClan apprentices too."
The golden-dappled she-cat dipped her head and hurried off.
"Once we get there, the other apprentices will be needed to fight," Firestar went on. "But I think you can all can manage by then. Fine somewhere well out of the way. I think there's a sheltered hollow on the other side of the stream-"
Runningnose gave a loud snort of disbelief. While Spottedleaf looked taken back, before squaring her shoulders to confront her leader. "Now listen, Firestar." Spottedleaf began in a stern voice. "I have seen many battles in my life, and I know for a fact that standing on the sidelines will only hinder our skill as medicine cats. We need to be where the fighting is happening. We're we'll be useful."
"But what if something were to happen too you?" Firestar pointed out. "If you were to get injured, what will happen to the rest of us?"
"Oh, Firestar," Spottedleaf shook her head softly, blinking warm amber eyes at her friend. "We're not some helpless kit or defenseless elder, some of us have been training to be warriors before StarClan even sent us a sign to be medicine cats. I still know quite a bit about fighting when I trained as a warrior when I was an apprentice, and Littlecloud here was a warrior himself before he became a medicine cats apprentice. We'll be fine."
Firestar wanted to protest some more, but the logic in her friend's words made sense. Spottedleaf and the rest of the medicine cats could look after themselves. Sighing, she padded up to the dark tortoiseshell medicine cat and touched noses with her. "Have it your own way," she meowed. "I know I can't say anything to change your mind, but please...all of you, be careful."
Spottedleaf let out a soft purr. "Don't worry, I know we have it in us to run off some BloodClan warriors if we need too."
"I know you can," Firestar meowed softly. Before adding. "Have StarClan spoken to you about the battle?" Firestar asked, her worries creeping out into the open.
"Only that this day shall bring much sadness and death," Spottedleaf said gravely. "But truthfully I don't think that there is any need for an omen that is so obvious to all already."
Firestar hesitated for a moment, before leaning closer to whisper into Spottedleaf's ear. "I...I had a dream from them, Spottedleaf," Firestar told her hesitantly, "but I'm not sure I understand it, and there isn't time to tell you all of it now. I just hope it means something good for us."
There was curiosity in Spottedleaf's glowing amber eyes as she spoke of her dream at Sunningrocks, but she did not question her leader. The medicine cat simply nodded her head as Firestar turned, and returned through the fern tunnel and crossed the clearing to the elders den.
On the way she passed both Brackenfur and Sandstorm, who sat side by side on watch, and waved a greeting with her tail to both of her friends.
When she reached the fallen tree, charred by the fire that had swept through the camp last greenleaf, Firestar found all the elders still sleeping except for Speckletail, who sat with her tail curled around her paws.
The she-cat rose to her paws as Firestar came toward her old nursery den mate. "Is it time?" Speckeltail questioned.
"Yes," Firestar replied. "We'll be leaving soon….but you're not coming with us, Speckletail."
"What?" The fur on Speckletail's shoulders stiffened with annoyance. "Why not? We may be elders, but we're not useless. Do you really think we're going to sit back and-"
"Speckletail, listen. This is important. If you're honest, you know that Smallear and One-eye would barely make it to Fourtrees, and neither could ShadowClan's elders and never mind fight when they got there. And you know Dappletail's getting very frail. I can't lead them into battle against Scourge."
"And what about me?"
"I know you're a fighter, Speckletail." Firestar had thought carefully about what she was going to say, but with the elder glaring at her she felt just as intimidating as she had been in the nursery with her. "That's why I need you here. There'll be the other elders here that need a strong leadership while the rest of us are away. And Willowpelt and Tallpoppy's kits need someone to protect and look after them. They've learned some defensive moves but they're not ready for battle. I'm putting you in charge of the camp and to look after the cats here."
"But I-Oh." Speckletail broke off as she understood what Firestar was asking her to do. Slowly the fur on her shoulders lay flat again. "I see. All right, Firestar. You can count on me."
"I know I can." Firestar blinked her gratitude at the older she-cat. "If the battle goes badly, we'll try to fall back here and reinforce you, but we might not make it. If BloodClan comes here, you'll be all that's left of ThunderClan." Her jade green eyes met Speckletail's. "You'll need to get the kits and elders away. Try to cross the river, then head for Barley's farm."
"Right." Speckletail gave her a brisk nod. "I'll do the best I can." then the pale gray she-cat hesitated for a moment, before adding. "I know I'm not the most nicest of cats, I snap at practically everything and complain just as much. But I want you to know that I think you're a wonderful leader, so you best fulfil my expectations and lead up through this, because I believe you can."
Firestar suddenly felt humbled by the older she-cats words, it's not every day that she heard someone as proud as Speckletail to give praise to just anyone. Speckletail was giving her trust in Firestar and Firestar felt warmed by the elders faith.
Choked with renewed emotion, Firestar dipped her head respectfully in farewell to Speckletail. Firestar walked back out into the clearing. By now the other cats had begun to emerge from their dens. The apprentices, Rowanpaw, Cederpaw and Firestar's own kits, were clustered around both Spottedleaf and Runningnose, each carrying a bundle of herbs. Swifttail had also came to sit beside Spottedpaw, both sharing quite words.
Ferncloud, Ashfur and Dustpelt huddled together the three of them speaking amongst themselves. Closer to the warriors den, Brightheart had joined Cloudtail, while Mousefur and Longtail stalked around each other in a final practice of their fighting moves. As Firestar watched, Graystripe and Cinderpelt slipped out from between the branches of the den with Thornclaw, Blackfoot, Russetfur and Oakfur just behind. Whitestorm came up and urged the cats toward the nettle patch for a piece of fresh-kill.
Firestar felt a rush of pride. These were both her cats and Tigerstar joining together, brave and loyal, every one of them, dedicated to protect their homes and Clans.
Above her, the outlines of bare branches had begun to show black against the sky. Firestar felt a moment of sheer terror at the reminder of the approaching sunrise. She forced herself to stride confidently across the clearing until she joined Whitestorm beside the fresh-kill pile.
"This is it," the white warrior meowed.
Firestar took a vole from the pile of fresh-kill. Her belly was churning with tension, but she forced herself to swallow a few mouthfuls. "Firestar," whitestorm continued after a moment. "I just wanted to say that Bluestar could not have led us better in these terrible days. I've been proud to serve as your deputy."
Firestar stared at him. "Whitestorm, you're talking as if…" She couldn't put what she was afraid to say into words. The older warrior's respect meant more to her than she could say, and she couldn't imagine how she would cope if Whitestorm did not come back from the battle.
Whitestorm concentrated on the blackbird he was eating, avoiding her eyes, and didn't say any more.
The camp was still dark when Speckletail emerged with the other elders to see the warriors off. Willowpelt's kits and Tallpoppy's rushed out of the nursery to say goodbye to both biological and adoptive mother's and Sandstorm. Sorrelkit rushed forward to throw herself at Bramblepaw, her eyes shining with glee. Reminding Firestar of how young they were, excited as they were, they didn't fully understand what the Clan was going to face.
"Well, Firestar," Cloudtail meowed. "Is everything ready?" The tip of his white tail twitched nervously as he admitted. "I'll be a lot happier when we're on the move."
"There is no need to show fear, Cloudtail," Tigerstar's voice came from behind Firestar. Making her jump slightly in surprise. "As my son, you'll show great courage in this battle, like a true warrior."
Cloudtail's blue eyes glimmered as Tigerstar came into Firestar's view. And Cloudtail held himself with more pride. Firestar hastily gulped down the remainder of her vole, before speaking. "I agree," Firestar meowed. "Let's go."
Rising to her paws, she gathered the Clans together with a flick of her tail. Her gaze turning towards Tigerstar, she felt strengthened to see his amber eyes glow with trust and love. "Will you lead beside me, Tigerstar?" she asked, and Tigerstar came to stand right at her shoulder.
"Cats of ThunderClan and ShadowClan," Firestar called, "We go now to fight against BloodClan. But we're not alone. Remember there are four Clans in the forest, and always will be, and the other two Clans will fight with us today. We will drive out these evil cats!"
A caterwaul of voices yowled their agreement. One that sent a pang of pride through her chest. Then she turned, and together with Tigerstar began to lead them through the gorse tunnel and up the ravine toward Fourtrees.
When she paused at the top for a last glance back at the camp, she did not know if she would ever see her beloved home again. But she knew that she had no time to waste, swiftly she carried on, cats following behind while Tigerstar kept in step with her.
It was the first faint streaks of dawn that were showing as Firestar approached Fourtrees. Pausing on the bank of the stream, she glanced back at the warriors who followed her. Her heart swelled with pride as she gaze traveled over each one. Cinderpelt, her first apprentice, Graystripe, who was the first forest cat she had ever meet, Sandstorm the most reliable and trusted friend she could ever hope to find, Brackenfur, sensible and loyal; Whitestorm, her wise deputy; Thornclaw, one of her most trusted warriors looking tense and eager at the prospect of battle; Longtail, who had discovered at last where his heart lay; Frostfur and Mousefur, a formidable pair of she-cats; Dustpelt, reserved but true-hearted, Ashfur and Ferncloud a wonderful and brave pair of siblings; Squirrelpaw, Leafpaw, Bramblepaw, Tawnypaw, Hawkpaw, Spottedpaw and Mothpaw, her own beloved kits who looked already the spitting image of strong warriors; Brightheart, Swifttail and Cloudtail amazing skilled warriors from the very beginning, and my her side, Tigerstar. Pain like claws tore at Firestar's heart as she realized how much they meant to her, and what fearful danger they were facing now.
She raised her voice so that they could all hear her. "You know what lies ahead of us," she meowed. "I only want to say one thing. Ever since StarClan placed the four Clans in the forest, no leader ever had a band of warriors like you. Whatever happens, I want you to remember that."
"And ShadowClan," Tigerstar also raised his voice, his amber eyes flashing towards his deputy who raised his head, then to Russetfur then gazed around at the rest. "I am proud to lead you all. Even for a short while as leader, I am more proud of you then you could ever put into words."
Yowls of approval sounded from all their warriors. And Firestar couldn't be prouder to be leading them now. And Firestar could only resolve to do her best to live up to her friends trust in her.
Crossing the stream, she heard a whisper of movement from the direction of the river and glanced down the slope to see the shining pelts of RiverClan, slipping quietly toward the meeting place. Firestar signaled a greeting with her tail as the warriors thronged around hers and Tigerstar, swelling the ranks of their own forces.
Firestar spotted Mistyfoot and Stonefur along with both Featherpaw and Stormpaw, both apprentices looked nervous yet determined as they flanked both their respected mentors. Mudfur, RiverClan's medicine cat arrived, with an apprentice by his siad carrying his supplies, the RiverClan medicine cat pushed his way through the throng of cats until he found both Runningnose and Spottedleaf, the apprentice trailing behind. The three united Clans went on to Fourtrees together, with Firestar, Leopardstar and Tigerstar in the lead.
When they came to the top of the hollow, everything was silent. The breeze was blowing away from them, toward ShadowClan territory, and Firestar felt her pelt prickled with dread. Their scent would be carried to the waiting BloodClan, while they themselves had no idea where their enemies might be.
"Boulder, Mousefur," she whispered, signaling to the two warriors. "Scout around the hollow. Don't show yourselves. If you see any cats, come back and tell me."
The two cats slid off in opposite directions, barely visible shadows in the gray light. Firestar waited, trying to appear calm and confident, thankful for the presence of Whitestorm and Tigerstar close beside, while Sandstorm stood just behind. She had barely time to think about what might happen next when Mousefur returned with another cat close behind her. It was Tallstar.
"Greetings, Firestar," he murmured. "WindClan are here. All our warriors-and your friends, Barley and Ravenpaw."
The loners came up as the WindClan leader spoke their names. "We came to help as we promised," Ravenpaw meowed, twining his tail with Firestar's in greeting. "We'll fight alongside you if you'll have us."
"If we'll have you?" Firestar echoed, a purr of gratitude welling up inside her. "You're welcome, you know that."
"We're proud to fight with you," Barley mewed. Sandstorm came up to greet her former Clan mate, and the two loners took position beside her. But not before Ravenpaw gave Tigerstar a surprising nudge to Tigerstar's side.
"Who would have thought that I would be fighting side by side with Tigerstar?" Ravenpaw meowed, his eyes locking with Tigerstar's for a few moments, before Tigerstar dipped his head.
"After this, I will personally scout all of ShadowClan territory for a flying vole." Tigerstar replied, but all in good humor.
Firestar wanted to snort at their exchange, but found the situation to serious at the moment. "Do you know where BloodClan is?" Firestar asked Tallstar.
Tallstar's eyes were bleak as he gazed across the hollow to the ShadowClan territory. "Somewhere out there, watching us, I'd guess."
His voice was steady, and Firestar began to envy his calm, unshaken courage, until she caught the WindClan leader's fear-scent and heard him mutter under his breath, "StarClan help us! Show us an enemy we can fight!"
Somehow the knowledge that Tallstar wa as afraid as she was herself only increased Firestar's respect for the older and more experienced leader. Tallstar would never show fear in front of his Clan. He would put aside his own feelings to do his duty as leader; Firestar only hoped that she could do the same.
She peered into the shadows, looking for a sign that Boulder was on his way back. Almost at once she caught sight of him bounding toward her, and in the same heartbeat there was movement in the clearing below. Dark shapes appeared from the bushes at the foot of the opposite slope as BloodClan advanced in a single menacing line. Firestar's belly clenched in fear when the small figure of Scourge stepped out.
"I know you're there!" the BloodClan leader called. "Come and give me your answer."
Firestar paused for a heartbeat, and glanced at the cats behind her. Though she knew how terrified they must be, she could see nothing but fierce determination in their faces. They were ready for battle.
"Go on, Firestar," Leopardstar mewed quietly. Her fur was bristling and her ears flat against her head in a mixture of fear and defiance. "Lead us."
Firestar looked at Tallstar, who nodded. "You spoke for us before," he meowed. "You're the one who should lead us no. We all trust you."
And Finally she looked at Tigerstar. His amber eyes staring at her already. "Always." was the only word he spoke.
Firestar led the united Clans down into the clearing. Scourge was waiting for her near the base of the Great Rock. His black pelt was neatly groomed and he sat with his paws tucked under him. His eyes were chips of ice, and the rising sun glinted on the teeth that studded his kittypet collar.
"Greetings," he meowed. He swiped his tongue around his jaws as if he were tasting a succulent piece of prey. "Have you decided to leave? Or do you presume you can fight against BloodClan?"
"We don't have to fight," Firestar replied steadily. To her surprise she felt icily calm. "We will let you go bak to Twlegplace in peace."
Scourge let out a cold marrow of laughter. "Go back? Do you really think we're such cowards? No, this is our home now."
Feeling the last spark of hope drain out of her paws, Firestar looked pase Scourge at the ranks of his BloodClan warriors. These were lean, tough cats, most of them wearing collars studded with teeth like Scourge, the trophies of earlies battles. Some were flexing claws strengthened with dogs teeth, and Firestar remembered those claws were used to take away Tigerstar's first life. Their eyes glittered as they waited for the order to attack.
"The forest is ours," Firestar told the black cat. "We rule here by the will of StarClan."
"StarClan!" Scourge sneered. "Tales for kits. Forest fools, StarClan won't help you now." He sprang to his paws, his fur suddenly bristling out so that he looked twice his size. "Attack!" he snarled.
The line of BloodClan warriors surged forward.
"FireClan, attack!" Firestar yowled
She sprang toward Scourge, but the BloodClan leader dodged nimbly to one side. A huge tabby tom leaped into his place, hitting Firestar in the flank, knocking her off her paws. The clearing was silent no longer. As Firestar battered with her hind paws at the BloodClan warrior, she heard cats crashing through the undergrowth all around the hollow.
Tigerstar was the first cat to race down into the clearing, his loud battle cry roaring as he looked like his name sake. A powerful, majestic tiger. Leopardstar bounded out of the bushes with Tallstar; Blackfoot raced forward at the head of a tight knot of ShadowClan warriors; and Whitestorm ran at the lead of cats of ThunderClan, as all four forest Clans poured into the clearing and fell snarling on their enemies.
Firestar managed to throw off the BloodClan cat and scrambled to her paws. Scourge had vanished. Firestar was surrounded by a heaving mass of cats; she was amazed at how swiftly chaos had descended. She spotted Graystripe battling bravely with a huge black tom, and Cinderpelt was rolling on the ground, her teeth locked in the shoulder of a BloodClan warrior. Longtail was nearby, too, squirming helplessly under the weight of two BloodClan warriors. Firestar bunched her muscles to hurl herself at the unfair numbering, but was knocked off her paws by a familiar calico. Snarling as she bit into Firestar's shoulder.
With a snarl of rage, Firestar returned the favor and snatched a hold of the she-cats own shoulder, and harshly rolled her over. The maneuver seemed to stun the calico, weighed down by Firestar. But as Firestar raised a paw to strike, she hesitated. Because she noticed something about this calico, Vixen as she recalled the name, and the scent she carried. Vixen was pregnant with kits.
"This isn't the place for you!" Firestar snarled at Vixen, who looked at Firestar with terrified eyes. "Leave, and don't come back." she loosened her paws, and without so much as a swipe of a claw, Vixen weaved her way out of the battling cats and disappeared up the hollow. And Firestar hoped that she would find somewhere more peaceful for herself and kits.
Firestar then whipped around, in search of Longtail. And was relieved to see that Swifttail had come to his aid. The pale tabby and his former apprentice had driven off the attackers, but Longtail was bleeding deeply from his shoulder and flank. Swifttail gave his mentor a gentle probe in the direction that Spottedleaf was coming from, before the white-and-black warrior disappeared again in the battle. And she watched as Spottedleaf supported Longtail, staggering away from the thick of the fight.
Firestar sprang back into the battle. Onewhisker flashed past her, pursuing a BloodClan warrior, his apprentice, Gorsepaw a paw-step behind his teeth bared and claws outstretched. And she caught a glimpse of Mistyfoot fighting shoulder to shoulder with both Featherpaw and Stormpaw.
Ferncloud was using the battle move both Brightheart and Bramblepaw had recently invented. She used her weight against a much bigger warrior to pull him onto his side, pressing her front paws firmly his foreleg and shoulder, her back paws standing firmly on his flank, weighing him down and keeping him immobile. Then out of nowhere Dustpelt flashed in, cuffing the BloodClan warrior over his head until he squealed in defeat. Ferncloud jumped off of him, and sent the BloodClan warrior running with a swipe to his rear end.
Ferncloud gave a yowl of triumph, before sharing a look with Dustpelt and flung herself back into the whirling mob of cats, Dustpelt right behind her.
Not far away, Barley and Ravenpaw were battling side by side against a pair of identical gray tomcats, lean warriors whose collars bristled with teeth. "I know you!" one of them spat at Barley. "You didn't have the courage to stay with Scourge."
"At least I had the courage to leave," Barley hissed back at him, rearing up to swipe both forepaws at the gray warrior's ears. "It's your turn to run. You don't belong here."
Ravenpaw pressed forward beside him, and the two BloodClan warriors were gradually forced back into the bushes. A white BloodClan warrior burst into the open just beside them, Morningflower and Whitetail slashing fiercely at his haunches as he fled from them. A wail of grief suddenly rose, and Firestar instantly felt chilled to the bone, turning her head in one direction she saw Spottedpaw, her sister Mothpaw urgently nudging her to her paws and the feeling of horror as she saw, lying in a pool of his own blood, Swifttail. It shocked Firestar, for just a few moments before she saw the young white-and-black warrior come to aid Longtail.
She wanted to run to her kits, but Tigerstar was already there, his giant paws sinking into another BloodClan warrior who was preparing to harm their kits. And Firestar had the utmost trust that he would protect them as she turned around to look for Scourge. There could be no victory until the BloodClan leader was dead, and in a moment's breath she glanced around the battle raging on.
But the BloodClan leader was nowhere to be seen. Fighting her way toward the base of the Great Rock, lashing out with teeth and claws, Firestar came face-to-face with a skinny gray she-cat. Her green eyes glinted with hatred as she launched herself at Firestar, her teeth and claws digging into the ThunderClan leader's shoulder. Firestar felt her tooth-studded collar crushing her face as the BloodClan she-cat bit down. Firestar twisted, tearing her neck fur gree of the BloodClan warrior's teeth and launched herself at her unprotected belly, to score her claws down it. The she-cat sprang back and fled into the bushes.
Firestar stood panting, blood welling from her shoulder. How long could she keep this up, she wondered, before she grew too weak to carry on? There seemed as many BloodClan warriors as ever in the hollow, all strong and healthy and skilled in combat. Would the battle never end?
A BloodClan tortoiseshell loomed up in front of her, its face distorted with a screech of hatred. In the same heartbeat a dark shape shot out of the bushes, barreling into the tortoiseshell's side and shoving her away from Firestar. Astonished, Firestar recognized Darkstripe. Had the dark warrior decided at last that his loyalties belonged to ThunderClan?
A moment later she realized how wrong she was. Darkstripe whirled to face her, hissing, "You're mine, kittypet. It's time for you to die."
Firestar braced herself for the attack. She should've known that he was nothing but a heartless piece of fox-dung. "I should've known you'd go crawling to the nearest stink hole you could find. That's just as I expected, fighting alongside the cats that are trying to chase us out of our own home." she snarled. "You're nothing but a disloyal traitor to the Clans, your nothing but a liar and a murder, Dirtstripe."
"Stop yapping, kittypet," Darkstripe snarled, his eyes narrowed in anger. "Every cat in the forest can turn to crowfood for all I care. All I want is to see you dead."
Firestar slipped to one side as Darkstripe leaped toward her, but one of the dark warriors paws caught her on the side of the head and she lost her footing. Darkstripe landed on top of her and pinned her down. Firestar twisted, trying to free her hind paws. She scrabbled furiously at Darkstripe's belly but could not shake him off. The warrior bared his teeth, aiming for Firestar's neck. Firestar braced herself for a last desperate effort.
Suddenly Darkstripe's body rolled off her. Firestar got to her paws to see Graystripe struggling with his old Clan mate in a screeching knot of fur and claws. Graystripe's pelt was torn and his shoulder glistened with blood from an earlier wound, but before Firestar could move to help him he flung Darkstripe to the ground and landed on top of him, panting.
"Traitor!" he hissed.
Darkstripe writhed violently, scoring deep gorges in the earth, but he couldn't throw off the gray warrior. "Fox dung!" he spat. He twisted his head, trying to sink his teeth into Graystripe's neck.
Graystripe lashed out with a forepaw. His claws pierced Darkstripe's throat and blood gushed out. The dark tabby gave one convulsive shudder. His jaws parted as he fought for breath. "There's nothing left…" he choked out. "It's all dark-everything's gone…" Firestar saw his eyes glazing, a terrible emptiness in them. His struggles faded and his body went limp.
Spitting contemptuously, Graystripe scrambled off him. "One less traitor in the forest." he snarled.
Firestar touched her nose to Graystripe's shoulder. Suddenly Graystripe went rigid, staring past his leader. "Firestar…" he rasped.
Firestar whirled around to see Sandstorm and Brackenfur fighting side by side at the edge of the battle. They didn't seem to need her help, and at first she couldn't understand what had distressed Graystripe. Then the mass of cats parted briefly to reveal Bone, the huge BloodClan deputy, crouched over another cat who moved feebly beneath him. So much blood clotted the victim's fur that Firestar could hardly make out its color, and it took her a couple of heartbeats to recognize Whitestorm.
"No!" she yowled, and hurled herself at Bone with Graystripe hard on her paws.
Bone sprang backward, only to cannon into Bramblepaw and Hawkpaw, who came charging across the clearing at the same moment. Firestar watched her sons as Bramblepaw jumped onto the huge deputy's back, while Hawkpaw sank his teeth deep into his his hind leg. His paws lashing down his opponents sides.
Confident in the siblings skills and how they worked together Firestar shook off her mother instincts in favor of crouching beside Whitestorm, her deputy, and friend, almost oblivious to the battle that surged around them. Recognition glimmered in the white warrior's eyes when he saw Firestar, and the top of his tail twitched. "Good-bye, Firestar," he rasped.
"Whitestorm, now isn't the time to talk." Firestar said urgently, her insides clenching at the sight of him. She should never had brought her deputy into this battle, when all along the white warrior had seemed to know that it would be his last. Did he always know? Firestar wondered. "Graystripe, find Spottedleaf."
"Too late," Whitestorm breathed. "I go to hunt with StarClan."
"You can't-the Clan needs you! I need you!" Youre one of my best friends! Firestar thought with despair, how many will she loose? Already she had lost one of her youngest and bravest warriors, now she would lose one of her oldest friends?
"You will find others…" The white warrior's gaze , growing rapidly dimmer, flickered to Graystripe and back again. "Trust your heart, Firestar. You have always know that Graystripe is the cat StarClan destined to be your deputy..." Whitestorm's eyes fluttered, and Firestar could barely make out his last whisper. "When the time comes, name Sorrelkit, Sorreltail...she will go far in life…" then his eyes shut completely.
"I will…" Firestar promised quietly, her voice choked with grief. For a heartbeat she pushed her nose into her deputy's blood-soaked fur, the only mourning ritual that the battle allowed.
Then she turned to Graystripe, who was staring in shock at the old warrior's body. "You heard what he said," Firestar meowed. "He chose you." Rising to her paws, she lifted her voice above the tumult of battle. "I say these words before the body of Whitestorm, that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Graystripe will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
A yowl of agreement from behind startled her, and Firestar turned to see Cinderpelt and Ashfur pausing to nod briefly at Graystripe before dashing back into the battle again.
Graystripe had not moved, his yellow eyes fixed on Firestar. "Are you...are you sure?"
Firestar hesitated for a moment, she thought it best not to lower Graystripe's moral by telling him that she had always considered having Sandstorm as her deputy, but Graystripe also would make a great deputy. "Never surer," Firestar meowed. "Now, Graystripe!"
Out of the corner of her jade eye, she saw the BloodClan deputy struggling free from Bramblepaw and Hawkpaw. Before Firestar could spring at him, a screech of defiance sounded above the noise of battle and several more apprentices hurtled across the clearing. Bone was barely visible under the writhing heap of furious young cats. Bramblepaw and Hawkpaw were there, with Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw and Tawnypaw, the siblings fighting alongside each other. Within a few heartbeats Bone had stopped trying to defend himself; his body went into a series of spasms, ending in his twitching tail, and as Firestar watched the twitching stopped. Hawkpaw let out a hoarse cry of triumph.
At the same instant Jaggedtooth appeared out of nowhere. Firestar felt her fur stand on end. Once a rogue, then a member of ShadowClan, and now part of the insult to the warrior code that was BloodClan. The massive warrior flung himself on the apprentices and fastened his teeth in the nearest-Hawkpaw-dragging him off of Bone's body. At once Squirrelpaw launched herself at the rouge with snarling teeth and outstretched claws, she looked like a ginger Tigerstar. "Let go of my brother, fox-heart!" she spat. The rest of her siblings came streamed after, and Jaggedtooth abruptly dropped Hawkpaw, turning tail and fleeing across the clearing with all of them in pursuit.
Breathing hard, Firestar glanced around, and her stomach turned over as she tried to judge how the battle was going. Though Darkstripe and Bone were dead, and Jaggedtooth had been driven off, the clearing still seemed full of BloodClan warriors, and yet more were racing down the slope. ThunderClan had lost Whitestorm and Swifttail, and between the battling cats Firestar caught a glimpse of Stoneclaw from RiverClan lying motionless. Thornclaw and Mousefur fought side by side, but Thornclaw was limping and Mousefur had deep claw marks stretching all along one side.
At the edge of the clearing Frostfur was dragging herself into the bushes, with Mothpaw helping her, and not far away Runningnose, the ShadowClan medicine cat, was pressing cobwebs on a wound in Blackfoot's shoulder, until the ShadowClan deputy shook him off and threw himself back into the fray. Leopardstar appeared briefly, yowling hoarse encouragement to her warriors, before she vanished again in a surge of BloodClan cats.
We're losing, Firestar thought, fighting panic. I must find Scourge! With the BloodClan leader's death, she knew the battle would be over. The cats from Twolegplace had no sense of tradition or loyalty to the warrior code. Scourge held them together, and without him they would be nothing.
Firestar felt her fur begin to bristle as her gaze found Scourge at last. The small black cat was crouched at the base of the Great Rock, his claws slicing at a warrior he had trapped there. Firestar's belly lurched as she recognized Onewhisker.
With a yowl of defiance she leaped across the clearing. Scourge whipped around, leaving Onewhisker to crawl away, bleeding.
The BloodClan leader bared his teeth in a snarl. "Firestar!"
Without warning, he leaped. Firestar rolled with the impact and landed on top of the smaller cat, planting on paw on his neck. But before she could bite down, Scourge wriggled away with the speed of a snake. The dog's teeth on his claws flashed as he raked them across Firestar's shoulder.
Excruciating pain lanced through Firestar's body. She forced herself not to flinch but leaped forward again, sending Scourge flying back against the Great Rock. Briefly the black tom was stunned, and Firestar managed to bite down on his foreleg. Pain like fire seared through her again with another blow from the BloodClan leader's claws, and in the shock of it Firestar lost her grip on Scourge.
The BloodClan leader reared back, his paw raised for the death blow. Firestar scrabbled to get away, but she was not fast enough. Agony exploded in her head as the reinforced claws struck down. Flame washed over her eyes, fading to leave nothing but darkness. A soft, black tide was rising to engulf her; she made one final effort to get up, but her paws would not support her, and she fell back into nothingness.
0o0o0o
Cliffy! Next chapter will be out shortly! XD then onto Firestar's quest and Daughter of Fire and Tiger (i might do them at the same time! So keep a look out!)
Facts!
Originally I was thinking about making Brackenfur the deputy, but then realized that he doesn't have an apprentice anymore now that Tawnypaw is in ShadowClan!
Firestar's first choice of deputy would have been Sandstorm, probably if things were different she would be, but Firestar knows that Sandstorm has a different path she would want then being deputy (like being mates with Brackenfur, having kits, etc…) so she decided to go with her second choice, Graystripe!
Whitestorm knew about his death (I bet it is like Cinderpelt's situation in cannon!) and he wanted to at least know what his only daughters warrior name will be!
Firestar name's Sorrelkit after what her father, Whitestorm, has requested.
Whitestorm knows that Sorrelkit has a great and important destiny ahead of her, her brothers however…
Swifttail died protecting Spottedpaw!
Stonefur was killed by either Scourge or Bone!
This will not be the last time Vixen will be mentioned, she has an important...sort of...role for Daughter of Tiger and Fire...concerns her kits!
Those kits are Scourges...if you haven't already guessed by now! (I know in canon he was neutered, but come on, we all want to see some Scourge babies!)
Firestar would never hurt a pregnant, or nursing queen!
My fav characters so far in my story, Tigerstar, Firestar, Cinderpelt, Ferncloud, and the kits! (especially Squirrelpaw, Hawkpaw, Spottedpaw, and Leafpaw!)
Really thought about having Bramblepaw kill Dirtstripe, but then was like...naw...although always imagined it! XD
So review! Fav, follow, etc...