Tigerclaw

The sun was just beginning to set when Fox arrived. He didn't have the muscle of a forest cat, and his pristine red fur was free from all scars. This cat wasn't a fighter. And it only took one look at his shifty gaze to learn how he conducted himself. Tigerclaw didn't like him.

The large Warrior and Tiny stood side by side facing him. Sasha, Princess, Smoke, and Haze backed them up, staring down the newcomers. Fox didn't seem to be fazed by this, and neither did the four burly cats behind him.

"So this is your little band," Fox purred, "How cute."

Tigerclaw could tell that Tiny was quickly losing his cool, "Why are you here, Fox? You said you wouldn't bother us as long as we stayed away from Shredder. Well, we're staying away."

Fox nodded slowly as if he was talking to a kit, "Yes, but you've got a new arrival. I wanted to meet him. Welcome him to the Streets if you will." How does he know I arrived? Thought Tigerclaw, Do we have a spy in our midst? Then he realized how silly that was. Anycat could have seen them out walking. He knew that he had drawn quite a bit of attention.

Tigerclaw stepped forward, muscles rippling, "Then hurry up and welcome me, Fox."

Fox regarded Tigerclaw like a kit regards a ball of moss, "So you're the forest cat."

"My name is Tigerclaw."

"I must say, you're just as big as I thought you'd be. And I imagine you know how to use those monstrous claws?"

Tigerclaw held up a paw and flexed the "monstrous claws", "Would you like to find out?"

Fox purred again, still unfazed, "Well, you've got guts, I'll give you that. Either that, or you just don't know what Tiny's trying to get you into. Going up against Shredder is a bad idea. Going up against me is suicide."

Tiny stuck out his chest, "Who says we're going up against anycat?"

The red cat rolled his eyes, "Really, Tiny, how trashbrained do you think I am? You wouldn't gather forest cats just to live happily onward in your alley. You're going to go up against us, no matter how weak you are."

Tiny took a half step forward, quivering with rage, "You are the one who's grown weak. Besides, you have no proof we're planning to overthrow Shredder."

"Oh, I don't need proof to get you killed, Tiny." Two of the burly cats padded forward a few steps, snarling. That was the last straw. With a fierce hiss, Tigerclaw leaped forward, making the two rogues stumble back in surprise. He thrust his face a mousebreadth away from Fox's.

"I would be more polite to Tiny, if I were you. He's the only reason you're not bloody and twitching on the ground."

Fox glared back at him, "You wouldn't dare."

"I'm a forest cat. I annihilate any rogue that threatens my leader."

Fox broke eye contact, "I believe you, Tigerclaw. That's why we won't bother Tiny. Not yet," then he whispered to Tigerclaw, "Meet me two alleys to the left of here tonight at sunset. I would like to talk to you."

Tigerclaw bristled, "Get going, rogue."

"Very well," Fox mewed, turning around. With a wave of his tail, his two henchcats followed him, casting nervous glances over their shoulders.

No cat spoke for a tense moment.

Then Tiny purred, "That was good, Tigerclaw. I don't think he'll be eager to visit us again."

Sasha nodded in agreement, "You were wonderful Tigerclaw." Tigerclaw didn't like the tone she was using. Tiny glanced at her, puzzled.

Princess, luckily, didn't waste time on compliments, "Why would Fox come? He's not one to waste words. And he's always scheming."

Tigerclaw agreed, "I doubt he would last a day on the Street without his father's protection."

Sasha wasn't so sure, "Oh, there are plenty of cats who he could convince, I'm sure. The weak minded fools. If you were a weaker willed cat, you would be licking his paws now, Tigerclaw. It's a good thing that you're such a strong warrior."

Tigerclaw ignored her and turned to Tiny, "Before he left, he whispered that he wanted me to meet him in an alley at sunset. I won't be going, but I wanted you to know."

Tiny nodded thoughtfully, "Let's not be hasty. Maybe today would be a great day to have a visit to that alley. He might give away some information that would be useful. After all, we're going to start our campaign tomorrow."

"What?" This was news to Tigerclaw, "We're starting our campaign tomorrow? But we don't even have close to as many cats as we need!"

"Street cats are easily swayed," Princess meowed, "All we need is an initial victory, and we'll have ourselves an army. Defeating a sick cat like Shredder won't be too difficult." Tigerclaw looked at Tiny. Was this cat biting off more than he could chew? Should I leave before it's too late? Tigerclaw already knew the answer. He had nowhere to go. Tiny was his new leader. He would follow this little cat.

"Very well," the warrior mewed, "I will pay Fox a visit tonight."

And so, just as the red sun was disappearing behind the twoleg nests, Tigerclaw stepped into the alley that Fox had described. It was dirty, but that was to be expected when it had been made by twolegs. Sitting in the alley, alone, Fox was waiting patiently.

Tigerclaw approached him cautiously, "Where are your guards?"

Fox gestured with his tail for Tigerclaw to sit, "Within yowling distance, I assure you."

Tigerclaw sat down, "What do you want from me."

"Well," Fox mewed, "I was going to ask details about your life… Maybe become friends with you… but I decided you wouldn't appreciate that. So I'll just be giving you a warning…. And an offer."

"I'm listening."

Fox thought for a second before beginning, "Shredder is a very powerful cat. He's been the Lord of the Streets for as long as anycat can remember. No other cat has held onto that title for more than five moons. He has the best of the best under his command, and all other cats are ruled by fear. I'm his son, his successor. If Tiny makes a move against me and my cats, then Shredder will kill you all." He's trying to intimidate me. What's he getting at? Fox continued, "I've seen Forest Cats, Tigerclaw. They're strong. They're trained. I once met a Forest Cat who was smaller than I, and yet he could beat my finest cats. You've got the size, the strength, and the training. I could use a cat like you at my right paw."

Tigerclaw nodded, looking quite bored, "And what do I get out of being the right paw of the scummiest cat on the streets?"

Fox shrugged expansively, "Anything! I'll be the Lord of the Streets. You want a rabbit? I'd get you two. You want a bodyguard? I'll get a dozen of the best. The sky's the limit, Tigerclaw. I'll give you some time to think about it, if you wish."

Tigerclaw shook his massive head, "No."

"Excuse me?"

"That's my answer, Fox. No."

Fox's gaze turned bitter, "What can Tiny offer you that I cannot? He's weak, and I'm strong. Simple as that."

"He's twice as strong as you'll ever be."

Fox scoffed, "Really, that's just trashbrained. He has what, three cats? Maybe four? Two of them are she cats? Why won't you make the wise decision?"

Tigerclaw turned to go, glancing over his shoulder as he heard Fox's statement, "You forgot one other thing that a Warrior possesses. Loyalty. You think about that." Then he padded out of the alley, leaving a furious Fox in his wake.

"You're a trashbrained fool, Tigerclaw!" he yowled, "You're all going to die! You hear me?! You're all going to die!"