Author's Note: All right, my bad, the author lied to you. This isn't the final part to "Ravenpaw's Secret". It will have maybe three or four other chapters. Heh. My bad. In this chapter, I just wanted you to know how Tigerclaw managed to keep Ravenpaw quiet. Dear Erin portrayed him as a coward, but I wanted Ravenpaw to have some bravery in him in this story. I make Goldenflower his mother because in "Into the Wild", when Ravenpaw collapsed back at the ThunderClan camp, Goldenflower was the one who padded forward, licked his cheek, and called for Spottedleaf. And thanks to my reviewers! You guys are great! Tigerclaw plushies for all of you!
Chapter Two: Tigerclaw's Second Murder
Tigerclaw's amber eyes burned as he stepped away from Redtail's body and stalked towards his apprentice. Ravenpaw stood statue still, his green eyes wild with fear, shaking. Tigerclaw would kill him now for what he had seen. Oh, if only he had gone back to camp when his mentor told him too: and even if Tigerclaw didn't kill him, he would have to bear the burden of this horrible secret.
The massive tabby let out a snarl and leapt at Ravenpaw, his teeth bared. The apprentice was frozen with panic and didn't try to escape from the tabby's strong hold.
"I thought I'd told you to get back to camp!" Tigerclaw snarled, amber eyes ablaze. The tabby's fur was fluffed out with fear, the fear scent coming from him in waves; his claws were unsheathed and his tail was lashing.
"Then it's a good thing I didn't, isn't it?" Ravenpaw mewed bravely, although Tigerclaw's iron grip was squeezing the air from his lungs. "I saw you back there…you killed Redtail! I saw you pounce on him!"
Tigerclaw's voice went deathly quiet and menacing, his eyes gleaming with anger. "You didn't see me kill Redtail," he meowed dangerously, "and that's because I never did. You see my poor, blind apprentice, Redtail died when the rock fall collapsed on him and Oakheart. He died doing his duty, like a good deputy should."
Ravenpaw shook his head feebly, his breath coming in gasps, his vision blurring due to lack of oxygen. "I know…what I saw…" he meowed feebly, "I saw you kill Redtail…and when I tell Bluestar…she'll drive you out of the Clan!"
The massive tabby's amber eyes gleamed with hatred and terror, his grip tightening and his claws digging even deeper into Ravenpaw's fur, letting blood stain his claws red. Ravenpaw winced with pain, but he looked into Tigerstar's amber gaze without fear.
"If you tell a cat what you saw," Tigerclaw growled, his voice shaking with pure rage, "I'll rip your insides out and feed it to the crows!" he drew back his lips to reveal thorn-sharp teeth and ripped them savagely through his apprentices' shoulder, as if to prove his point.
The dark black apprentice screeched with pain but his emerald eyes burned. "I'm loyal to ThunderClan!" he mewed, "I saw you kill Redtail, and soon, Bluestar…and every ThunderClan cat…will know!" he exclaimed, his chest heaving as he fought for breath.
Tigerclaw pressed down suffocating on the black apprentice to the point where Ravenpaw could scarcely draw breath. Blood gushed from his shoulder wound like the river that bordered RiverClan territory, and Tigerclaw leaned down to whisper into Ravenpaw's ears:
"You will tell no cat about what you saw. You're life may not be precious to you, but I swear by StarClan if you breathe one word of this to Bluestar, I'll kill you're mother and your little friend…Goldenflower and Graypaw…don't you want them to live, Ravenpaw?"
For the first time, real fear etched across Ravenpaw's expression. He would die gladly for his Clan, but he couldn't risk the lives of his mother and his best friend! Picturing his gentle mother Goldenflower being torn apart by Tigerclaw's cruel jaws made him shudder, and Graypaw was his best friend; he had just started his apprenticeship and he wasn't ready to fight Tigerclaw!
Tigerclaw knew he had struck a sensitive spot, for he smirked.
"That's right, Ravenpaw. Keep this secret for me and I promise that I won't lay one claw on either of them."
Ravenpaw's green eyes were dull with defeat. He had to promise this to Tigerclaw if he wanted his mother and Graypaw to be safe. Although Goldenflower had trained as a warrior, she did not have any of her former skill; it had been diminished by motherhood. Goldenflower had always been better suited to a queen's life than a warrior's. And Graypaw was still an young apprentice; he wouldn't even stand a chance against Tigerclaw. After all, even Redtail had died at Tigerclaw's paws.
Tigerclaw's teeth glinted in the moonlight. "So it's just our little secret, isn't it, Ravenpaw?" he purred. "Just between the two of us?"
Ravenpaw got to his paws, looking utterly defeated. "Yes, Tigerclaw."
Moons Later
"Quick!" Bluestar howled. "It is as StarClan warned me! Our camp is being attacked!" she tried to leap forward, but stumbled. She pushed herself up and limped onward. Ravenpaw watched as Tigerclaw and Firepaw pelted forward side by side, and Ravenpaw shook his head as if to clear it. His rat bites still stung, but his Clan was in danger!
Ravenpaw leapt forward, his claws unsheathed, his green eyes glinting with fear and determination. He bowled into a white ShadowClan warrior and hung on tight, biting and scratching. Suddenly, his eyes widened with fear. What if Tigerclaw tried to kill Lionheart in this battle? The ShadowClan warrior took advantage of the apprentices' lack of concentration and pinned him down on the ground, clawing Ravenpaw with his thorn-sharp claws. The black tom spotted Tigerclaw at the edge of the clearing; to his horror, Ravenpaw realized that he was simply standing there, watching Ravenpaw being torn apart with his eyes glinting cruelly.
"Tigerclaw!" Ravenpaw yowled desperately. "Help me!" The massive tabby simply watched, his amber eyes gleaming. 'Tigerclaw won't help me,' Ravenpaw realized dimly, his heart pounding with panic, 'after all, why should he try and save my life? If I die, his secret dies with me. StarClan, I can't die! I have to tell Bluestar about Redtail's murder! Redtail, if you're watching this battle, help me now!'
As if a StarClan warrior had suddenly entered his body, Ravenpaw felt an unusual surge of strength blast through him. Energized, Ravenpaw threw the ShadowClan warrior off of him with a mighty thrust and scrabbled to his paws, his fur fluffed up with fear and gratitude. He turned around and saw Tigerclaw watching with barely masked hatred, and Ravenpaw felt fear lance through him.
'I have to watch out for Lionheart!' Ravenpaw thought suddenly, shaking his head and leaping back into the fray, searching for the golden-pelted warrior. He wasn't hard to spot; he was fighting a vicious ShadowClan warrior that was almost twice his size. To the apprentices' surprise, Tigerclaw was helping him! Ravenpaw was puzzled; why was Tigerclaw helping Lionheart fight off the ShadowClan warrior? Wouldn't it just be easier for Tigerclaw to allow the gold tom to get killed? A shudder ran through him as a thought crossed his mind. 'Or does Tigerclaw want the glory of killing Lionheart himself?'
Ravenpaw watched at the edge of the clearing with emerald eyes as wide as moons. Sure enough, Tigerclaw and Lionheart soon sent that ShadowClan warrior running, and Tigerclaw bowled himself and Lionheart behind the bushes. To any cat watching, it would appear as if Tigerclaw had accidentally lost his balance when chasing away the ShadowClan warrior, but Ravenpaw was already racing towards the both of them, knowing that Tigerclaw would murder Lionheart quickly and quietly, shielded behind the leaves of the bush.
The black apprentices' paws raced towards the two, but suddenly, he felt something cannon into his side and completely bowl him over: another ShadowClan warrior! 'No, you stupid furball!' Ravenpaw thought desperately, 'I'm trying to stop a murder from happening!' He yowled as claws scored down his side, knowing that he could not save Lionheart: the tom would have to save himself.
xxx
"Oomph! Tigerclaw, you stupid furball, get off of me!" Lionheart hissed, trying to get to his paws, "it's Lionheart!" the dark black tabby pinned him down, amber eyes burning. "Honestly, Tigerclaw, you have to look before attacking. Now get OFF we have a battle to…"
"Silence!" hissed the powerful tabby, his muscles rippling as he unsheathed his claws and raised a paw over Lionheart's throat.
Lionheart's eyes widened. "Tigerclaw? What are you doing? You—" but his words were cut off…for the tabby brought his claws crashing down on Lionheart's throat…and the golden tabby knew no more.
xxx
The lithe, blue-gray shape of Bluestar padded quietly from the edge of the group of gathered cats towards the apprentices. Ravenpaw watched his leader with wide green eyes. His leader's expression was grave and fearful…
'StarClan, no!' Ravenpaw thought fearfully, unsheathing his claws and letting them dig into the soft earth below, 'could Tigerclaw have killed Lionheart? But Lionheart and Redtail were both such good fighters…Tigerclaw must have surprised them both.' Ravenpaw's heart thumped quicker as he waited for Bluestar to say something.
"Spottedleaf is with Lionheart. It looks bad," she meowed finally, her voice raw with grief.
Ravenpaw's blood ran cold and his heart seemed to explode in his chest as he heard Graypaw's mournful cry. 'Oh, Graypaw!' Ravenpaw thought miserably, 'I couldn't save your mentor…I'm so sorry…and Lionheart…I wish I could have saved you!'
Tigerclaw straightened, his amber eyes gleaming with sorrow; to Ravenpaw, it looked fake. "Lionheart died bravely," Tigerclaw meowed reassuringly, "struck down by a ShadowClan warrior when his back was turned. ThunderClan will forever honor his bravery."
Ravenpaw's emerald eyes burned. Tigerclaw may have a way with words, and every single cat in the clearing might believe the dark tabby, but Ravenpaw knew the truth. Tigerclaw had murdered again that night.
End Note: This chapter surprised me in rather a nice way: I didn't plan out Lionheart's death, so it sort of writ itself. As always, PLEASE review! I won't resort to threats and threaten never to update, but reviewing keeps my muse alive, so thank you all!