Chapter 22
"A Clan in Ruins."
8/15/16 - 8/16/16
Stealthfire refused to believe that her Clan was driven out. After she and Ashcloud buried Mooneye, they search the ThunderClan territory for them.
She doesn't think about why Ashcloud is insisting on going with her instead of returning to RiverClan, she's more focused on finding her Clanmates.
"What about the abandoned Twoleg nest?" She suddenly asks him.
"It's just down the dirt path to Moonpool. They could be hiding there until it's safe to go back."
Stealthfire and Ashcloud go down the dirt path and come across the abandoned house. She pauses to a sound of soft growling. She sees two gleaming eyes that flashed with light, briefly.
She tensed herself and saw Duckheart appear.
"Stealthfire?"
The gold she cat brightened when she saw Duckheart. She bounds up the stairs with Ashcloud and bumped her head with Duckheart.
"Thank StartClan!" Duckheart exclaimed. "Everyone thought you were dead-!"
The fluffy she cat noticed Ashcloud next to Stealthfire.
"Why is a RiverClan cat with you?"
Stealthfire shrugged.
"He has reasons." Stealthfire saw Ashcloud pad past her and further into the house.
I probably already know what he's gonna do.
"Everyone was worried sick when we thought you were killed." Duckheart explained. She and Stealthfire pad into living room, and she sees all of ThunderClan either sleeping on the floor and couch and chairs.
Thornstar was making sure Seabreeze was comfortable when he saw Stealthfire. ThunderClan cats finally took notice of Stealthfire's presence, half of them rushed to her and frantically asked questions.
"Great StarClan, you're alive!"
"Are you okay?"
"You look tired."
Stealthfire shook her fur as she pads through the crowd. She sees Ashcloud sitting next to Sweetflower, earning glares from several ThunderClan warriors.
Sweetflower was obvious as she purrs at her RiverClan mate.
"Stealthfire." She says when she approached her. "I'm glad to see you safe."
Sweetflower lowered her voice.
"Ashcloud is going to ask Thornstar to join ThunderClan."
Stealthfire nods.
"That's good-."
"Join ThunderClan?" Duckheart said. "Sweetflower, what are you talking about?"
Stealthfire immediately prepared to defend Sweetflower, but Duckheart held her paw up to her.
"No. I need to hear it from Sweetflower. Why don't you find Yellowflower to check yourself for wounds. She's in the other den."
Stealthfire nods and realized she meant the kitchen. Yellowflower was bending over Palewhisker, who was laying on her side. The bright ginger apprentice looks over her shoulder to Stealthfire.
"Stealthfire! Thank StarClan you're alright!" Yellowflower brushed her muzzle with Stealthfire's own, and stepped back.
"What happened to Palewhisker?"
Yellowflower curled her lip and lashed her tail.
"LionClan is a disgrace to the Ancient Clans." Yellowflower pads to Palewhisker and showed a deep scar on her shoulder and flank.
"They had her pinned, five against one. It wasn't even a fair fight."
"Is she okay…?" Stealthfire asks her.
"Yes. She had her eyes open and was talking for a few minutes before you came back." Yellowflower replied. She shuddered.
"I'm scared… Palewhisker was a mother to me when my own left me for my loner father, I don't know what I'll do if she dies…"
Stealthfire licks Yellowflower's shoulder in comfort. First the time, Stealthfire notices the queens and kits under the table. A dark gold kit was the first to notice her.
"Stealthfire!" Tigerkit ran towards her and stares at her with sadness and fear.
"I thought they killed you! I'm sorry you got hurt-!"
"It's fine." Stealthfire traces her paw on Tigerkit's head. Thrushwing called Tigerkit back, Stealthfire didn't miss the raw guilt in her green eyes when she briefly locks gazes with her.
Of course. Her so called mate probably doesn't even care about her.
Stealthfire steps out the kitchen and meets Thornstar and Eaglecry.
"Welcome back, Stealthfire." Thornstar rumbled.
"It's good to have you back, young one." Eaglecry purred.
"Stoatfrost is searching the entire territory for you, you know."
"I ended up in the Horseplace. I had to go through RiverClan territory-."
"And Ivystar allowed you?" Thornstar said.
"Well, no, I got caught by Cloudheart and his patrol. They took me in their camp and Ivystar made me stay until this morning."
"Thornstar, somebody's been stealing their food." Stealthfire puts in.
"She was so skinny I could see her ribs, even the queens were starving."
Eaglecry looks at Thornstar.
"That doesn't sound good."
"I even gave one of their escorts a rabbit to compensate."
Thornstar stared at her.
"I see… I'm glad you showed compassion, but we might need that kind of prey once we get back."
"Just… How did you guys get chased out?"
"LionClan chased us out." Thornstar replied. "They somehow disguised themselves in RiverClan scent to draw us in. We retreated to camp, but they still chased us in. Practically the entire LionClan was there, and we barely escaped through our teeth."
"No," Stealthfire said. "I found Mooneye dead, me and Ashcloud buried him."
Thornstar bowed his head.
"Mooneye was a wise elder. He will be missed, but did you say Ashcloud from RiverClan?"
Stealthfire flattened her ears.
Oops.
Stoatfrost's paws ached. He searched the whole lake territory for any sign of Stealthfire.
What was it that old she cat said? That she left yesterday? That means Stealthfire's alive!
Stoatfrost made it back to the abandoned Twoleg nest as Rainstorm approached him with a smile.
"Stealthfire came back!"
Stoatfrost's head perked up. "She did?!"
"Yeah. She's with Seabreeze right now."
Stealthfire told Seabreeze about Mooneye's fate. The pale silver she cat bowed her head. "Mooneye… He never gave up on me, even though everyone else did. I was hoping to introduce him to my kits when they arrive."
Seabreeze touched her nose on Stealthfire's forehead.
"I guess he was a good influence on you."
Stealthfire heard claws scraping on the wooden floor and saw white fur engulf her vision as she was knocked over.
Stoatfrost was frantically licking Stealthfire's ears until Rainstorm nudged him away.
"Take it easy, you almost crushed her." He told Stoatfrost.
Stoatfrost ignored him and purred.
"What kind of magic tricks are you pulling?" He asked Stealthfire. "Care to share your secrets?"
Thornstar gathered all of his cats as he stood on a sofa (which Stealthfire found hilarious) and gazed at them.
"As we're aware, Stealthfire has returned to us."
"Stealthfire! Stealthfire! Stealthfire!"
The golden she cat scratches her nose with her tail tip sitting next to Stoatfrost.
"And she has given names of her attackers: Crowstar and Lionstar of LionClan."
The ThunderClan cats hissed.
"They're a disgrace to the name!"
Thornstar nods.
"LionClan think they've won the battle, but it was nothing more than a stab while our backs were turned. They are cowards! They bring disgrace to the warrior code and what it stands for. One way or another, we will not back down to mere rogues.
We'll stand together and fight!"
"ThunderClan! ThunderClan! ThunderClan!"
Hallowstar and Deerheart gazed into the Moonpool, watching the ThunderClan cats.
"I hope you're happy." He told her. Deerheart fluffed her fur. "This the only way to stop him."
"I'm not criticizing you. I'm just worried for my Clanmates."
"I am too." Deerheart told him. "Lionstar has taken too many lives to feed his power, he must be stopped or he'll destroy WindClan, ShadowClan and ThunderClan."
Hallowstar nods in agreement. His eyes suddenly narrowed when he looked at the sky. Deerheart followed his gaze and sees four, tiny stars glistening in the pitch black sky.
"They're not supposed to be there." Deerheart whispered with fright.
"We can't control these things." Hallowstar told her, although he was equally as fearful. "All we can do is see how Stealthfire can do."
I bet you can guess what they're talking about. ^^
