Tigerclaw

The sun had risen five times since Scourge had risen to power. It had taken two sunrises before the news of the new Lord had spread throughout twoleg place. The next three sunrises were spent securing Scourge's rule. This meant everything from scaring off would be challengers to convincing deluded elders that it wasn't all a big hoax. But all the work had paid off, and Tigerclaw was enjoying a well-deserved nap. Lying on top of an abandoned twoleg nest, soaking in the sun, Tigerclaw was able to forget all of his worries.

The peace didn't last long.

"Tigerclaw?"

The ex-warrior blinked open one eye, "What is it, Princess?"

The she cat took a seat on the roof a couple of tail lengths away, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Tigerclaw sat up with a yawn, "I was having a nice nap."

"Nothing beats a good, hot roof, eh?"

Another street cat word to add to the collection, "Beats anything the forest has by a long shot. It's always so cold and wet in the winter, and blisteringly hot in the summer."

Princess purred, "You're taking naps and using long words now? Looks like you're becoming an elder."

"What's wrong with that? Elders got it good, you know."

"Whatever you say, gramps."

"Anyway," Tigerclaw grew serious, "Why did you really want to see me? You don't have the time to go around checking on everycat."

Princess sighed, "You got me, Tigerclaw. Scourge would like to see you. He thinks it's time he fulfills his side of the bargain."

Tigerclaw stood up, "What do you mean?"

Princess began to pad away, "I'll let him tell you himself."

They padded off of the roof and down into the hub of streetcat activity. Tigerclaw had no idea if there was a name for the crowded area around Scourge's den.

Tigerclaw prepared to shoulder his way through the milling crowd of cats, but didn't have to. As soon as he showed his face, the crowd parted, leaving him with a clear path to Tiny's den.

Tigerclaw padded through to the den, somewhat surprised, though the feeling faded as soon as he stepped into the den.

It was fairly spacious inside the den, though it was still nothing like the large, mossy dens of the forest. Towards the back of the den, Tiny was curled up in a nest made of various colorful moss-like scraps.

"You wanted to see me?" Tigerclaw meowed. At the sound of his voice, Tiny lifted his head. To Tigerclaw's faint relief, Tiny's eyes were bright and clear, not clouded as they would be if he was sick.

"Oh, yes," Tiny mewed, standing and then sitting, still in his nest.

"Are you okay?" Tigerclaw asked. He risked interrupting whatever Tiny had been about to say, but he was still mildly worried.

"Yes," Tiny said, giving his paw a lick. "Just tired, I guess. Being leader… it takes a lot of work." He looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he brightened. "But I have you to help." He paused, cocking his head to the side. "Do leaders in the forest have second-in-commands?"

Tigerclaw nodded. "We call them deputies."

The word evoked a wave of emotions that swelled within Tigerclaw, threatening to overwhelm him. And I was a deputy. In the forest. In ThunderClan. Just as quickly, nostalgia was replaced by anger and rage. And Fireheart stole it from me. He unsheathed his claws and dug them into the hard, smelly ground, pretending that the scraping noises he heard were those of his claws against Fireheart's bones.

Tiny watched him curiously. "What other ranks are there? Are there other, smaller leaders? Divisions of warriors? How many Clans are there? We'll need to know how many cats there are to fight when we invade."

Tigerclaw felt a purr welling up in his chest. When we invade. Not if.

"Alright," he mewed. "There are four Clans. ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. Each of them has a specific skill set that we'll need to be able to counter."

"How many cats are there in each Clan?"

"It varies, but I'd say there are at least ten to fifteen warriors per Clan. Then there are apprentices, and the leaders and deputies."

"And there are how many deputies per Clan?"

"One—and one leader, as well."

"Interesting." Tiny appeared to be deep in thought. "We'll need a plan—and everycat will need to be trained." He glanced up at Tigerclaw. "Can you, Smoke, and Haze oversee that?"

"Of course, Tiny."

"Oh—um, Tigerclaw—please call me Scourge in public?" Tiny shifted his paws. "I don't want to be called Tiny—not in front of them."

"Of course." Tigerclaw gave a small nod. "Scourge it is."

"But only in public."

"Only in public."

They went back to planning. As Tigerclaw scratched out a rough map of Clan territories, one thought took the lead in his mind.

I'm coming for you, Fireheart.