Chapter 6, Shaddered
Firehearts whole being felt ravaged. He was running for his life from the pack. He didn't know what he did or why. He lead… haa… the pack…
A gorge! It… He could lead the pack to the gorge, just inside Riverclan territory. His mind finally formed a whole thought. Cats had drowned there before. Even Riverclan cats, who were know for swimming. It… swift current and rocks… the dogs wouldn't stand much a chance either! It…
It wasn't … haaa… he hadn't noticed. He was… running… the wrong way. But not my much. Just… he rounded left, almost knocking straight into a tree. Haaa….
The barking rushed at his heels. He almost toppled over, and it was hard to get running again. He had ran half way across the territory. But he could tell. His pursuers were wearing down. The excited barking may have been rushing him, but with seemingly every breath he took, there were less dog sounds and more rough panting. But that didn't make his sprint any li.
He inhaled deeply. Everything in him was under a heavy assault. His lungs and body were completely ablaze with the never-ending run. He was becoming light-headed, and his vision was blurring. He no longer actively avoid trees, but maneuvered around them none the less. The noisy dogs kept his ears fried, even with their failing voices. His paws seemed to vibrate with pain, instead of feeling it. But he had to keep going. There wasn't another option. It was hard, yes… very… but… he had to make it to the gorge!
Daring a glance over his shoulder, he was surprised to see he was outpacing the pack… slightly. His training with trees had left him strong, and fast. It wasn't enough. Even with the jumping and climbing he had to do, he still couldn't outrun the pack. But…
He broke the tree line. With everything set to running, Fireheart hadn't known he had crossed the territorial marker. He was in Riverclan territory… An in sight of his target! Only now did he wonder what he would do when he got there. Could he make it across? Would he… have to go in himself?… … … Whatever had to be done… he would do it.
But, like a sudden spring breeze, Something hit into Firehearts side, hard, throwing him over his paws and onto the ground. Something landed on him, pinning him on the exposed ground. One paw drove his face into the ground, and he coughed up dirt as it jumped in. "Say hello to Star clan for me, Fireheart!" The voice was unmistakable, and Fireheart looked up at the soulless amber gaze. "Only after you!" He said through a face full of dirt. Surprisingly, Tigerstar let go of him. Fireheart struggled to his paws as he helplessly watched Tigerstar scrambled up a near by tree.
Fireheart stood, and the barking instantly started again. He looked back at the pack. The leader was no more than a wiskerlength away, his jaws open and reaching for Fireheart. With no time to run, Fireheart closed his eyes and prepared to meet Starclan. Teeth met his scruff, and he was lifted into the air. He was shook back and forth, and he waved his limbs around helplessly, trying to claw something, anything! Eyes, jowl, tongue. But they struck was the air. He was no more than a toy to the dogs now… . His plan didn't work. He had failed Thunder clan. He was slipping…
Fireheart was suddenly thrown onto the ground roughly. He regained his scenes. The leader… His leader! Bluestar had thrown herself at the large dog that had Fireheart, forcing it to and over the edge of to gorge. What was she doing here?! The two dogs following it, dumb to what was happening and following their leader, blindly charged over the gorge with it, not able to pull back in time. Bluestar stood on the edge of the gorge, watching the dogs fall in. Fireheart could hardly focus. Suddenly, the jaws from one of the dogs twisted up towards Bluestar, trying to find something to grab. He locked his teeth around one of her forelegs, pulling her over as well. Fireheart trembled to move, trying to go pull her back. But his beaten body wasn't fast enough.
The rest of the pack, about five in total, nervously pacing the side of the gorge. They were whining with surprisingly high-pitched voices. What they saw scared them. Then, in near unison, they pulled back, and ran off towards the two-legged place. Fireheart was sure they were headed home, back where they came from. They were helpless now. And so was Bluestar! He forced himself all his strength to stand and pull himself to the edge. His eye focus sharpened and he looked in, trying to spot the familiar deep blue-grey pelt.
He could see the dogs. They were being thrown around in the rapid tide. They were no more than things for the water to toss. The largest one hit a rock, then sunk under. Where was she!? Fireheart swayed for a moment. He forced himself to focus harder. He had to find Bluestar!
A small, silver-grey head poked out of the surface. A pair of weathered paws were working relentlessly against the water. Bluestar was struggling to keep air in her lungs, and it was a loosing battle. She was frail, and, more importantly, on her last life! "Hold on, Bluestar, I'm coming!" Fireheart yelled. He ran downstream along the side of the gorge, then launched himself down at the struggling she-cat.
Fireheart swam with the current towards her. She was just sinking, her strength failing. She went under. Forcing himself to take a huge breath, he dived under to grab her…
Bluestar was… dieing. She could feel it. She couldn't breath. She didn't try… she had… knocked one dog in… others had followed… it wasn't so chaotic down here. She couldn't make it. She didn't try. Her time had come…
She felt… slightly cold… her eyes were open in slits… she was surrounded with rushing blues… and greens… the river was pulling her… it was… soothing… at the bottom… slower than on top… it was easier to die… everything was… gone… smoothed…
Was Starclan… even after… … Oakheart? Mosskit? She felt… her kit… gently hold to her mind… she was ready… … …
… what?… you… … not… here to take me…?
… stay…
…
F..ina..l … wi..s..h.?
To… p..roph…ic…y…
…
Bluestar had already let go of her life… but Mosskit… was holding on to it for her. In place, like a medicine cat with herbs. It was torment, being held to life like this. She opened her eyes wider… she could see the sun burn through the water…
A paw… from the sun… for… me? Someone was reaching for her… Oakheart? Was he here to claim her? A figure became evident in the sunlight, and with fast movements it danced towards her. She reached a paw slowly through the fast water to touch it. The face that pulled forward when the paw shot back was anything but welcoming… more… strained… and terrified… green eyes…
It… he… bit down on Bluestar's paw and leg. It was hard… he was…
She was being pulled up… away from her cold shelter. Into the sun…
Fireheart rushed for the surface. His main concern was air for himself and Bluestar. It was hard to pull Bluestar up to the surface with her leg, but he had to take all that was offered. He burst to the surface, and breathed heavily though his nose to relieve his pressed lungs. It a split idea, Fireheart twisted Bluestar's foreleg downward. With the moving waters, Fireheart went under, but Bluestar's head surfaced, and he felt Bluestar's chest hit him as she started breathing. She was alive!
He let go of her paw. The current slowed. He drifted right into her broadside, and swam upward to get more air and Bluestar's scruff. When he finally had it fastened between his teeth, he struck out for land. He… struggled against the water and Bluestar. With her as limp as a branch, her weight was his. Fireheart swam madly away from the center of the river. If he could get away from it, then he would surly make it.
But he was worn down. With everything, he was spent. Never in his warrior years or his time as a rogue had ever prepared him for this. How did he make it so far. He had been rushing around since he first went to the snake rocks to catch an adder. His legs couldn't support him and Bluestar in the water.
Then… he didn't have to support Bluestar. She suddenly became lighter. "Let go of her. We can take her to land." A voice told him from his side. He obeyed without hesitating, or thinking. Without Bluestar, he could weakly swim on his own, and pulled his head higher above the water. He focused on the source of the voice. It was Mistyfoot! He looked to the other side, and saw Stonefur. He had his paws along her back, ready to push her. Mistyfoot took Firehearts place. Together, the two siblings pushed her towards the closest bank. Fireheart splashed behind them, just barely able to hold out till he could feel ground under his paws.
Fireheart dragged himself to shore, and, finally out of the grip of death, collapsed on the bank. His hind legs were still in the water, but he didn't move them. Then he remembered Bluestar. Mistyfoot placed her on the ground a few fox lengths away from the edge of the river. Stonefur put down his side of the leader, then turned to Fireheart. "You'll catch a cold if you stay in the water like that. Do you need me to drag you over here?"
Fireheart let the remark drift off. Pulling himself up, he found a resting position on his paws, and, after a short rest, finally attempted to walk. It was hard. Real hard. He had to brace himself with every step. The whole world was shaky. But he continued to force himself forward. He had just pulled himself together when he approached Bluestar. She wasn't moving. He could hardly tell that she was breathing, and even harder telling if she was alive. "Bluestar?" he placed his paw on her exposed shoulder, and shook it gently.
Fireheart pressed a little harder, trying to rouse her. "Bluestar? I'm here! Your going to be okay. Quickly, one of you go get you medicine cat!" he ordered
"Its too late." Stonefur said. "She is already on her way to Star clan" Mistyfoot finished.
"NO" he shouted. "Bluestar! Hold on!" He begged.
Fireheart could here paw pads against wood. Tigerstar ran across the bridge, then stopped at the end. Rage lent Fireheart strength. Thunder clans leader was dieing on the bank of River clan. And Tigerstar was to blame! He snarled with all the rage he could muster. Even warn out, it was pretty intimidating. Stonefur even flinched. Tigerstar took a step back. "Fireheart! Bluestar's alive!" Mistyfoot said to him. He glared at Tigerstar. "Take one more step, and I'll throw you in with the dogs!"
Bluestar's breathing was shallow, stronger than before, though, and he could hear bubbling in her throat. "Bluestar? Bluestar!" Fireheart called to his leader. She shifted slightly, and coughed up a lot of water. Fireheart glanced at the two River clan cats. Bluestar slowly lifted her head to look at her him. "Is that you Fireheart?"
"Yes." He said, relived that she wasn't dead yet. "Mistyfoot and Stonefur are here, too."
Bluestar looked at them. Her eyes brightened, if only in lighting. "There is so much I want to say to you two." she said slowly. "Shhh. Save your breath, Bluestar." Mistyfoot said. Bluestar continued, ignoring the request as though it never was. "I want to thank Greypool… for caring for you when you were kits. And Oakheart, for seeing you through in River clan." she said. "If I hadn't given you up, you would have given… you strength to Thunder clan. I am… sorry" she said, every word an effort. The siblings looked at each other. " She suffered much from her decision. Please forgive her" Fireheart added.
"We forgive you, Bluestar." Mistyfoot said at last.
"We forgive you." Stonefur echoed. Bluestar purred her thanks, as light as it was. She feeble turned to Fireheart. "Fireheart. I want you… to forgive me... Too. You were the most loyal warrior I ever had. All you ever wanted was peace. Even in the face of… the worst." She was probably remembering Thistleclaw. "Bluestar" Fireheart interjected. "Please save you breath. We need you alive" She ignored him, and coughed slightly with the short break. "Fire alone will save our clan." she muttered. He instantly remembered back to when the beautiful medicine cat Spottedleaf had told him the same prophecy so long ago, and he was again mesmerized with what meaning it could hold.
"You never understood, did you. Not even when I gave you your apprentice name, Firepaw. Even I had my doubts, when Fire swept through our clan. But now I see it again, as a saw it back then. You, Fireheart, are the fire that will save the clan." she said. "You will be Firstar, the greatest leader Thunder clan will ever know."
"Bluestar, I can't. You have to lead…" Fireheart knew that leaders rose and fall. But he didn't want to accept this "I have fought my last battle, and I must leave you and join Star clan." she said. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Fireheart could see the shine of Starpelt in her gaze. She looked at a point past Fireheart's shoulder "Oakheart, Have you come for me, now? I'm ready." she said slowly. "Bluestar, please don't go…" Fireheart said.
"I'm sorry, Fireheart, I can't… stay…" her flash of strength ebbed, and life flowed out of her excretion. "I'm… Truly…" her head dropped back to the ground. she sighed. Her eyes closed for the last time. "Bluestar." Fireheart's heart pulled in grief. "Bluestar! …. Bluestar!"
Mistyfoot make a mournful cooing sound, then she and Stonefur bent their heads to share tongue with their mother for the first and last time. Fireheart turned to look at the cause of this. Tigerstar was running in Shadowclan's direction. He had probably heard everything, as he wasn't far. He had know that a pair of Thunder clan kits had been taken to River clan seasons ago, but he didn't know who they were or who their mother was until now. Fireheart let him go. Revenge would wait till later. But no one in Thunderclan would ever forget what he had done.
Fireheart felt lost. Bluestar had faith in him. She wanted him to defend the clan, to save it. But… he couldn't. She had forgotten a critical detail. He was not only not the deputy, but also not a part of the clan, ether. She had given nothing on either. He couldn't return. He couldn't lead it.
"Fireheart. Let us help you carry Bluestar back. We would like to see her buried in her clan." Mistyfoot cut into his thoughts. "We would like to have known her better. This is the least we can do." Stonefur added. He nodded his thanks. "She really loved you, no matter what happened." He told them.
"We know." Mistyfoot said. "And it makes me sad that when we learned the truth, we only spat venom at her." she said slowly.
"I'm sure she understands. No one wants to be told that their mother gave them up, or who they think is their mother really isn't… Your going to have to take her back to camp on your own. I… I don't think I can do it, now. I'm exhausted." Fireheart asked "Don't worry about hostility form Thunderclan. Tell them what happened."
"Can you guarantee our safely?" Stonefur asked. "No… but I believe that, in spirit, Bluestar will protect you."…
The sliver moon was visible through a thin layer of clouds, the light sparsely skimming the ground. The two legged nest had strange light coming out of it, and loud, two leg noises were crashing about in their two legged manner. Two cats, a big, dark coated, and a smaller, grey cat were sliding carefully around the row of nests. Tigerstar almost spat his hatred at the nest. He hated everything to with two legs. But it would all be worth it in the end. The smaller cat, bolder, quietly lead the way from nest to nest, always warning Tigerstar of potential threats and the danger that he was getting himself into. But Tigerstar would shrug it off, saying that he could deal with it when the time came.
Eventually, Bolder stopped in front of a dark alleyway, and the scent of several cats reached Tigerstar. He couldn't see into it very far, but his time in shadow clan had taught him how to size up an opponent, just by scent. Bolder was shivering, and had hid himself behind some Two leg garbage just around the corner. Tigerstar decided to let the shivering tom wait behind. He would deal with the negotiations with blood clan…
Authors note. I'm board, so I would like you all to know that this story will extent way beyond the darkest hour, and into the power of three, maybe the fourth apprentice. But, in no way or affiliation is this story a part of my main story, Fireblood, nor do I own any characters or story in this passage. The characters belong to the Erin Hunters. The story revolves around that original concept. The adaptations are my own creation, but I don't own them. Fireheart does!