Chapter 17
"Crashing Waves."
8/10/16
Every cat in ThunderClan was tense and curious about the three RiverClan visitors.
Thornstar came out of the nursery with Sweetflower in toe and approaches Cloudheart's patrol.
"Cloudheart," he addressed the RiverClan deputy. "What can I do for you?"
Cloudheart opened his mouth to speak, but Dustclaw said,
"We know you're stealing our prey!"
Stealthfire heard Sweetflower gasp and glanced at her briefly as cats began to hiss in Dustclaw's direction.
Thornstar flicked his ear.
"Do you have any proof?"
Dustclaw opened his mouth but Cloudheart smacks his tail across the dark brown tabby's muzzle.
"Our warriors picked up ThunderClan scent on salmon bones in our stream. We know that you forest cats always have trouble with prey, it was obvious as blue as the sky."
"Then why don't you go after ShadowClan?" Eaglecry countered.
"They live in woodlands too."
Cloudheart snorted and ignored the ThunderClan deputy.
"Ivystar sent us to give you a warning: Either you admit your guilt or suffer the consequences of your arrogance."
The ThunderClan cats yowled at the RiverClan deputy in outrage.
"How dare he call us arrogant!"
"We're not afraid of those fish eaters!"
Stealthfire was looking around the crowd. She's seen the rivalry between this and ShadowClan, but a full blown fight over speculation about prey.
"Cloudheart." Thornstar said steadily. "You can tell Ivystar that we're not going to admit something we did not do."
Cloudheart growled as he turned around.
"Then consider yourselves good as dead by sundown."
ThunderClan cats sneered at the retreating RiverClan cats, but Stealthfire sees Dustclaw whispering to Birdwish before stalking out, leaving the pale grey she cat infuriated.
"Cats of ThunderClan!" Thornstar exclaimed. "We have been challenged by RiverClan! As much as I hate to say it, we will fight them and show them that ThunderClan will not be accused of wrongdoing! Mark my words, we will win this fight!"
"ThunderClan! ThunderClan! ThunderClan!"
That evening, cats were practicing battle moves and getting their strength up, but Stealthfire was a little reluctant to participate. She found Thornstar talking quietly to Seabreeze as she licked his ears before going back in the nursery.
"Thornstar, I need to talk to you."
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Thornstar listened.
"I think this is a mistake." Stealthfire said.
"Are you nervous? It's okay to have jitters…"
Stealthfire shook her head.
"No. I just think that maybe we should talk to Ivystar and get her side of the story. Then we could compare both of your stories to find a flaw, then maybe we don't have to fight."
Thornstar laid his tail on her shoulder.
"Stealthfire, I'm afraid there's no talking around with what's happening. Sometimes we have to do things we're reluctant to do in order to protect honor."
"Thornstar!"
The golden brown tom quickly bid Stealthfire goodbye and left to see to Badgerleap and Volefang. Stealthfire's legs trembled when she realized that every cat had the same mindset, except for her.
But still! Is risking lives worth it?!
"Stealthfire?" The golden she cat sees Stoatfrost staring at her. "Are you worried?"
Why does everyone assume that?!... Oh, right.
"Nothing you should be worried about." Stealthfire replied shortly before padding away. She saw Duckheart and Flameclaw mock fighting near the thorn barrier.
Oh no, not Duckheart too!
Stealthfire could always rely on the fluffy she cat's calm nature, but even she was agreeing to fight. Stealthfire swallowed her apprehension.
I took an oath that I'd fight for ThunderClan. I'm going to stick to it.
Thornstar assigned his chosen cats: Eaglecry, Leopardstrike, Volefang, Blazefrost, Fallencloud, Stealthfire, Stoatfrost, Flameclaw and Duckheart, and left for the Twoleg place, where RiverClan's territory is close to.
"This feels like a few cats…" She whispered to Stoatfrost, who was standing next to her.
"Thornstar is hoping that Ivystar will back off." He replied. Stealthfire sees a silver head in the distance. Ivystar brought several cats to match Thornstar's, and she looked angry.
The warriors were hissing, but kept still, waiting for their leader's command.
"This is your last chance, Thornstar." She said. "Admit your mistakes and accept your humiliation."
Thornstar raised his head up.
"I won't stand to be accused of something so simple."
Ivystar narrowed her green eyes and yowled, "RiverClan! Attack!"
The sleek furred cats charged. Thornstar and ThunderClan charged and met them with teeth and claws. Stealthfire's heart raced when she looks at the madness.
A ginger tom managed to pin down Duckheart when Flameclaw head butts the warrior and gave him a murderous glare.
"Do that again, I dare you!" He snarled.
The tom quickly bailed without a second thought. Stealthfire lost sight of Flameclaw and Duckheart with the chaotic scene unfolding.
The sounds. The screams. The violence.
Snap out of it! Stay focused and watch your back!
Is that you, Deerheart?
Yes, yes! But now's not the time for pleasantries - duck!
Stealthfire dropped down as a black tom leaped over her head. She instantly recognized him as Darkwater. The handsome, black tom leered at her with amber eyes.
"If it isn't the little cat who tried to swim."
Stealthfire dodged his bite, and she raked her claws on his eye. Darkwater jerked back with a smirk.
"I like my she cats fiery ~!"
Darkwater smacked his paw across Stealthfire's muzzle and knocked her in the water. Darkwater dove in after her as she sank. Stealthfire swipes her claws, but Darkwater swam away and raked her flank.
This isn't fair! He's RiverClan - of course he has an advantage!
When Darkwater raised his other paw, Stealthfire reared her hind legs and kicked his jaw. She swam up and gasped for air, the sounds of the battle returning to her ears.
Stealthfire quickly pulled herself out of the water and felt a paw pin her head.
"Get off me!" She spat, fighting Darkwater's grip.
"Why? This is much more fun." He said. Darkwater's weight suddenly disappeared.
Stealthfire sees a white tom clawing Darkwater's muzzle viciously.
"Is that how you pick up she cats?! By harassing and beating them up?!" Stoatfrost spat. Darkwater kicked Stoatfrost off.
"You're dead prey now, runt!" Darkwater lunged and bites into Stoatfrost's and tore it open and claws his flank.
"NO!" Stealthfire went off like a rocket and barreled Darkwater over. She clawed his chest, stomach and muzzle and bites his ears until she ripped it off.
Then she gets off and lashed her tail.
"Get lost! Don't make me do something I'll regret!"
Darkwater hissed and ran back to his camp. Stealthfire quickly turned to the heavily bleeding Stoatfrost. The blood poured from his neck as he laid on his back, struggling to breath, his leg was scarred.
"Stoatfrost, Stoatfrost listen to me!" She begged. The white tom laid his blue eyes on Stealthfire.
"Hey… Are you okay?" He whispered.
"Y-Yes."
Stoatfrost smiled. "Good… I'll be back, I'm gonna visit Icefoot for a while…"
Stealthfire nudged his head. "No! Stoatfrost don't close your eyes!"
Stealthfire heard a yowl. She sees two limp bodies lying next to each other.
"Thornstar!" Eaglecry exclaimed.
"Ivystar!" Cried Cloudheart.
What felt like hours, both Ivystar and Thornstar slowly regained consciousness and got to their paws. Their deputies used themselves to help support their leader's unsteady paw steps.
"This is over." Thornstar growled. Ivystar flattened her ears. "Agreed."
The RiverClan and ThunderClan warriors went back to their respective Clan.
Stealthfire licked Stoatfrost's wound as Volefang approaches her.
"Is he still breathing?" He asked resting his ear on Stoatfrost's chest.
"I don't know! He just said that he was visiting Icefoot…"
Volefang removed his head as Thornstar and Eaglecry pads toward her with Flameclaw and Duckheart.
"He's still breathing. We need to take him to Palewhisker."
"I'll do it." Flameclaw volunteers. Flameclaw and Volefang each carried Stoatfrost's body to camp. Duckheart touched her nose on Stealthfire's muzzle.
"It'll be okay…"
"He fought Darkwater for me." Stealthfire whispered, shuddering.
"He didn't have to do that…"
"But he did, because he wanted to." Duckheart replied.
"Palewhisker will help him."
"But… Who's Icefoot?"
Duckheart frowned. "Icefoot was his mother. She died in a battle with WindClan when he was five moons old."
"So he-!"
"Don't think that way." Duckheart warned her. "You have to believe in Stoatfrost, and in StarClan."
Stealthfire followed Duckheart to camp, but she was numb. Even when nighttime came she couldn't sleep. Stealthfire snuck out and enters the medicine cat den.
She found Stoatfrost lying in the nest, unmoving and the blood on his neck and leg drying.
She quietly laid next to his nest and watches his flank rise and fall. Stealthfire rests her head on his flank and bit her lip to keep a sob from escaping as she slowly falls asleep.
PLEASE DON'T COME AFTER ME WITH PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES!
This is all for the sake of plot, surely you can understand-?
(A barrage of pitchforks suddenly rain down on Kyubi in a shape of a skull cross)
… Wow, you didn't even try to hit me. Trust me, Stoatfrost isn't dying. I love him too much for that to happen...
So put down your weapons, especially that dude in the back row with the crossbow!
