Chapter III
I bared my teeth. "Oakheart! What do you mean 'RiverClan territory'? Sunningrocks belongs to ThunderClan!" I hissed. It seemed my plan had worked.
"You know very well RiverClan only let you borrow it," he replied. Behind him four more cats slid out of the water. Oh no. I hadn't expected him to bring half his Clan. But that could easily be fixed. "Ravenpaw," I whispered. "Fetch reinforcements." He turned tail and fled. Cowardly little thing, I thought. Then, letting out a yowl of rage, I launched myself at the deputy to score my claws down his flank. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ravenpaw and Redtail battling with the other cats.
I clawed at him and winced in pain as I felt him sink his teeth into my neck. Suddenly a fierce battle cry rang out. A ThunderClan patrol including Mousefur, Whitestorm, Runningwind, Darkstripe, and, of course, Ravenpaw, charged into battle. Oakheart, seeing my distraction, took the opportunity to claw my nose. Half blinded by pain and blood, I ducked down, and ran my claws along his belly.
Soon we broke apart. Both of us were panting, and blood was dripping down my muzzle. Redtail saw my condition and threw himself on Oakheart.
For a while, my memory is blurry. All I remember was blood, pain, and the thought, so this is battle.
Sometime later, Redtail rushed past me yowling, "Oakheart is dead!" several of the RiverClan cats, hearing there deputy was dead, turned tail and swam back to the opposite bank.
Now that the battle was over, the patrol headed back to camp. I realized Ravenpaw was standing next to me. "Hurry back to camp and tell them Redtail is dead." He looked at me in shock, but I did not clarify. The truth was, when the RiverClan cats had retreated, Redtail had chased them. He would be back any moment.
Ravenpaw nodded, slightly dazed, and then limped back to camp. I watched him leave. When I was sure he was gone, I sat down to wait for Redtail.
Sure enough, a few minutes later Redtail appeared on the opposite bank and swam across. "Well," he meowed, panting, "They won't be back for a while." He turned and looked back. I leaped, landing squarely on his back. "Good," I hissed, "Then no one will hear your death cries." I sank my teeth into his neck. He had time only to whisper, "Why?" and then he lay still. My first obstacle overcome.
But as I turned to go, a saw a flash of white. Almost as though some white cat, or cat with a white tail, were disappearing into the forest.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
When I was almost back to camp I let out a mournful wail and dragged Redtail's body into the middle of the clearing. The cats around me sat staring silently at him. Bluestar pushed her way over and nosed her dead deputy. "How did this happen, Tigerclaw?" she demanded, looking up at me. "He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakheart's life while he was still gloating over his victory," I meowed. I felt a twinge of guilt at lying to my leader but I shook it off. This was part of the plan. "Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we will see RiverClan warriors in our territory again," I finished.
After I 'paid my respects' I went of in search of my apprentice. He was lying at the foot of the Highrock. Spottedleaf was with him tending to a wound on his shoulder.
"So, Spottedleaf," I meowed. "How is he? Do you think you can save him? I've spent a lot of time training him up, and I don't want my efforts to be wasted at the first battle.
She didn't look up. "Yes, a pity if, after all your valuable training, he dies in his first fight, eh?" she meowed.
"Will he live?"
"Of course. He just needs to rest."
I snorted, and poked him with a claw.
"Well come on then," I growled, extending a claw to poke him. "Come on, get up!"
"Not so fast, Tigerclaw!" She placed a paw over mine, and moved it away. "This apprentice needs to keep as still as possible until the cut has healed. We don't want him opening his wound by jumping about trying to please you. Leave him alone."
I stiffened. How dare she talk to me like that? I was about to speak, when Spottedleaf meowed teasingly, "Even you know better then to argue with a medicine cat, Tigerclaw."
I considered teaching her a lesson, but thought better of it. "I wouldn't dare argue with you dear Spottedleaf," I purred. She was right. Nothing would come of him opening that wound. I turned away.
That was when I saw the new apprentice. He was standing with Graypaw, watching me. I padded over to them. "Who's this?" I growled.
"He's the new apprentice!" Lionheart's little tag-along mewed.
"He smells like a kittypet!" It was true. He was soft-looking, and had the unmistakable scent of twolegs.
"I was a house cat!" The ginger tom meowed, "but now I am going to train to be a warrior."
I feigned interest, but inside I was seething. "Ah, yes. Now I remember. Bluestar mentioned that she had stumbled upon some stray kittypet. So she's actually going to try you out, is she?"
"That's right!" The kittypet sat up, obviously trying to impress me. I eyed him thoughtfully.
"Then I shall watch your progress with interest." I padded off, anxious to get away before I showed my anger. Soon, I would be deputy. And deputy could only head me on my way to leader. And when I was leader, I would purge the Clan of its tainted blood.