Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors, only Flamepaw and the minor plot differences.
~Chapter Seven~
Flamepaw was running right beside Tigerclaw and Darkstripe as they made their way towards camp. The rest of ThunderClan ran with them. She truly couldn't see Yellowfang killing or harming innocent kits since she was a medicine cat. With these thoughts in mind she tried to tune out the yowls of her angry clanmates and the scent of anger and aggression.
Finally they came to the ravine and she raced down and into the clearing without a pause. She had ended up walking through the gorse tunnel with Frostfur and Willowpelt. Frostfur raced away immediately and ran toward the nursery, the fur on her tail bristling in alarm. Flamepaw heard the rest of her clanmates rushing though the gorse tunnel behind her.
The cats that had stayed behind started to wake. It would seem that they had scented the aggression and heard the tension in the voices of the returning cats, for they all came running into the clearing, their tails held high.
Longtail had appeared at her side then as Runningwind called, "What has happened?"
"Brokenstar has demanded hunting rights for ShadowClan in our territory!" replied Longtail loudly enough for all cats to hear.
"And he warned us about a rogue cat who will harm our kits!" added Willowpelt. "It must be Yellowfang!"
Meows of anger and distress rose from the crowd.
"Silence!" ordered Bluestar, leaping onto the Highrock. Instinctively, the cats settled in front of her.
A loud screech made every cat turn its head toward the fallen tree where the elders slept. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe were dragging Yellowfang roughly from her nest. She shrieked furiously as they hauled her into the clearing and dumped her in front of the Highrock. Flamepaw immediately lept to her feet in anger but was stopped when she felt a light touch on her shoulder.
Looking up she met the familiar blue eyes of Whitestorm. "Calm down, Flamepaw," he murmured gently, "let Bluestar deal with this."
"What is going on?" demanded Bluestar, jumping down from the Highrock and glaring at her warriors. "I gave no order to attack our prisoner."
Tigerclaw and Darkstripe instantly let go of Yellowfang, who crouched in the dust, hissing and spitting.
Frostfur appeared from the nursery and pushed her way through to the front of the Clan. "We got back in time," she meowed with a gasp. "The kits are safe!"
"Of course they are!" snapped Bluestar.
Frostfur seemed taken aback. "But…you are going to throw Yellowfang out, aren't you?" she meowed, her blue eyes wide.
"Throw her out?" spat Darkstripe, unleashing his claws. "We should kill her now!"
Bluestar fixed her piercing blue eyes on Darkstripe's angry face. "And what has she done?" she asked with icy calm.
"You were at the Gathering! Brokenstar said she—" Darkstripe began.
"Brokenstar said only that there is a rogue somewhere in the woods," meowed Bluestar, her voce menacingly quiet. "He did not mention Yellowfang by name. The kits are safe. For as long as she is in my Clan, Yellowfang will not be harmed in any way."
Bluestar's words were met with silence and Flamepaw felt nothing but relief.
Yellowfang looked up at Bluestar and narrowed her eyes respectively. "I will leave now, if you wish it, Bluestar."
"There is no need," replied Bluestar. "You have done nothing wrong. You will be safe here." The ThunderClan leader lifted her gaze to the crowd of cats that surrounded Yellowfang and meowed, "It is time we discussed the real threat to are Clan: Brokenstar. We have already begun to prepare for an attack by ShadowClan," Bluestar began. "We'll carry on with those preparations, and patrol our borders more frequently. WindClan has gone. RiverClan has given hunting rights to ShadowClan warriors. ThunderClan stands alone against Brokenstar."
A murmur of defiance rippled through her clanmates and Flamepaw felt relieved.
"Then we're not going to agree to Brokenstar's demands?" meowed Tigerclaw.
"Clans have never shared hunting rights before," Bluestar answered. "They have always managed to support themselves in their own territories. There is no reason why this should change." Tigerclaw nodded approvingly.
"But can we defend ourselves against a ShadowClan attack?" asked Smallear's tremulous voice. "WindClan didn't manage it! RiverClan won't even try!"
Bluestar met his old eyes with her steady gaze. "We must try. We will not give up our territory without a fight."
Flamepaw nodded in agreement along with the rest of her clanmates.
"I shall travel to the Moonstone tomorrow," Bluestar announced. "The warriors of StarClan will give me the strength I need to lead ThunderClan through this dark time. You must all get some rest. We have a lot to do when daylight comes. I wish to talk with Lionheart now." Without another word, she turned and strode towards her den.
She could make out the silhouettes of the two warriors inside Bluestar's den talking urgently. She now turned away then was making her way towards the medicine den when Lionheart approached her.
"It would seem Bluestar wants you to join her on her journey tomorrow along with some of the other apprentices," the golden warrior meowed.
"Really?" she replied in amazement and he nodded.
"You better go tell your mentor and get your own traveling herbs," he murmured.
Nodding, she raced across the clearing and into the medicine den. Quickly she explained to Spottedleaf that she was going to the Moonstone with Bluestar and some of the other apprentices and started to help ready the traveling herbs.
It wasn't long before Firepaw and Graypaw strode through the fern tunnel. "You have come for some traveling herbs," Spottedleaf meowed.
"Yes, please," Firepaw answered. "And I think Yellowfang needs more poppy seeds. She seemed to be feeling her wounds."
"I will take her some after you have gone. And your traveling herbs are ready."
Her mentor indicated the neat leaf wrapped pile she had readied. "Enough for the three of you. The dark green herb will stop your hungry pains during the journey. The other will give you strength. Eat them both just before you leave. They're not as good as fresh prey, but the taste won't last long."
"Thanks, Spottedleaf," mewed Firepaw.
Flamepaw herself had curled up in her nest and had closed her eyes by the time she heard Spottedleaf call, "Good luck! Travel safely."
...
Daylight was seeping in through the thick canopy of the medicine clearing as Flamepaw woke up. Sitting up she stretched and started to groom her patchy pelt. Once satisfied that it was as good as she could get it, she stood up and ate the bundle of traveling herbs she had left beside her nest. Wincing at the foul taste, she stood up and trotted out of the fern tunnel and walked across the clearing to where Bluestar had seated herself.
Nodding towards the old gray she-cat, Flamepaw sat beside her and neatly curled her tail around her paws. She looked around the clearing then as the sky glowed with a new dawn, and dew sparkled on the ferns. It wasn't long before Tigerclaw approached them after rousing the apprentices and sat beside her. A few moments later, she saw her brother, Graypaw and Ravenpaw approach them.
She along with Bluestar and Tigerclaw watched them as the three apprentices ate their traveling herbs. The rest of the camp was still asleep.
"Ugh!" complained Graypaw. I knew they'd be bitter. Why couldn't we eat a fat, juicy mouse instead?"
"These herbs will keep your hunger at bay longer," answered Bluestar. "And they will make you strong. We have a long journey ahead of us."
"Have you eaten yours already?" Firepaw asked.
"I cannot eat if I'm going to share dreams with StarClan at the Moonstone tonight," replied Bluestar.
Firepaw then turned to her, "What about you?" he asked.
"I already had mine," she meowed.
With that they made their way out of the gorse tunnel and out of camp.
Lionheart was just returning with a patrol. "Safe journey," he meowed.
Bluestar nodded. "I know I can trust you to keep the camp safe," she answered.
Lionheart looked at Graypaw and dipped his head. "Remember," he meowed, "you are almost a warrior. Don't forget what I have taught you."
Graypaw looked back at Lionheart with affection. "I will always remember, Lionheart," he mewed, nudging his head against the tabby's broad golden flank.
The great golden warrior then looked at her then his green gaze gentle and nodded to her with deep respect. "Let StarClan light your path, Flamepaw," he meowed.
A purr rumbled deep within her throat at that and gently pressed her nose to his cheek. "Thank you, Lionheart," she murmured softly.
...
It wasn't long before they reached the slope that led into WindClan territory. They soon paused at the top. Ahead, the ground flattened out into a wide plateau. The wind blew in a steady gust that rippled the grass and bent the trees. The soil was stony, and outcroppings of bare rock dotted the landscape here and there.
The air still carried the scents of WindClan, but they were stale. Much fresher, and more alarming, were the pungent markings of ShadowClan warriors.
"All Clans are entitled to safe passage to the Moonstone, but ShadowClan seems to have no respect for the warrior code anymore, so be alert," warned Bluestar. "We mustn't hunt outside our territory, though. We'll follow the warrior code, even if ShadowClan doesn't."
They set off across the plateau as the sun rose into the sky, following the tracks into the heather. Flamepaw felt free all of a sudden. As if the canopy of the trees had been a prison. She felt as if she could run forever.
Suddenly Tigerclaw stopped dead. "Watch out!" he hissed. "I smell a ShadowClan patrol."
She along with the others sniffed the air, and she could definitely smell ShadowClan warriors.
"They are upwind. They won't know we are here if we keep moving," meowed Bluestar. "But we must hurry. If they move ahead they'll detect us. It's not far to the edge of WindClan territory now."
They moved on quickly, leaping over rocks, pushing their way through the sweet smelling heather. Gradually, the scent of the ShadowClan warriors grew fainter and fainter. Finally they reached the reached the end of the uplands.
Flamepaw found herself walking faster the closer they got. She was easily keeping up with Bluestar and Tigerclaw. She matched them step for step.
"Is that the Thunderpath?" she heard her brother ask.
"Yes," replied Graypaw. "It runs through ShadowClan territory. Can you see Highstones behind it?"
There was a pause before, "Do we have to cross the Thunderpath?"
"Yep," mewed Graypaw.
"Come on!" Bluestar meowed. She bounded forward. "We can be there by moonrise as long as we keep up the pace."
They soon left WindClan territory behind them. Keeping near the hedges, they walked on. The cats skirted a Twoleg nest. It stood on a wide expanse of hard white stone, with smaller nests round the edges. Keeping low, they crept past the fence that surrounded the white stone. Suddenly, there was a barrage of barking and snarling which made them spin around.
Flamepaw saw her brother's fur had started bristling and his back was arched. She knew the same thought had crossed his mind also. Dogs!
Tigerclaw peered through the fence. "It's all right. They're tied up!" he hissed.
It wasn't long before an unseen Twoleg silenced them. The cats moved on.
The sun was starting to sink by the time they reached the Thunderpath. Bluestar signaled them to stop and wait beneath a hedge. Flamepaw silently watched then as monsters roared to and fro in front of her and tried not to retch at the revolting fumes that stung her eyes and throat.
"We'll go one at a time," meowed Tigerclaw. "Ravenpaw, you first."
"No, Tigerclaw," Bluestar interrupted. "I shall go first. Don't forget, this will be the first time of crossing for the younger apprentices. Let them see how it is done."
Flamepaw silently watched then as the ThunderClan looked up and down the Thunderpath as she padded up to the edge. She waited calmly as one monster after another flew past her, ruffling her fur. Then, when the earsplitting roar paused for a moment, she raced across to the other side.
"Of you go, Ravenpaw; now you've seen how it's done," meowed Tigerclaw.
Flamepaw saw the young tom's eyes widen with fear and could smell his fear scent. The small black cat crept forward to the edge of the road. It was quiet, but Ravenpaw hesitated.
"Go!" hissed Tigerclaw from the hedge. She saw Ravenpaw's muscles tighten then as he prepared to run. Suddenly, Flamepaw felt the ground tremble beneath her paws. A monster sped out of the distance and hurtled past. The black cat shrank back for a moment, then pelted over to join Bluestar. A monster coming in the other direction threw dust up where his paws had been just a heartbeat before.
Graypaw was lucky. A long lull let him cross safely. Now it was Firepaw's turn.
"Go on, then," growled Tigerclaw. Firepaw looked from Tigerclaw to the Thunderpath, and then walked out from under the hedge. She watched then as her brother waited at the edge. A monster was rushing toward him. Flamepaw suddenly felt terror grip her heart as the monster suddenly veered off the Thunderpath and was going straight for him!
"Firepaw!" she screeched and tried to leap towards her brother, but Tigerclaw pinned her to the ground.
"Are you mouse-brained!" he snarled. "You will become crow-food!"
"Better it be me than my own brother," she hissed, trying to break through his grip but he wouldn't budge.
"He's already safe across," the dark tabby growled, releasing her.
Leaping onto her paws, she whipped around and saw that Tigerclaw was right. He was safe.
"Thank StarClan," she whispered in relief.
"We'll go together," Tigerclaw replied and she nodded.
Together they darted across the Thunderpath to join the others.
"Twolegs!" he spat as he arrived on the other side with her on his tail.
"Do you want to rest before we go on?" Bluestar asked Firepaw as Flamepaw ran to her brother's side sniffing his pelt frantically for injuries.
Firepaw looked up. "No," he answered. "I'm okay."
She looked at her brother who gently licked her ear to show that he was alright and leaped to his feet.
The cats carried on, with Bluestar in the lead. As they approached the foot of Highstones, the grass gave way to bare, rocky soil, dotted with patches of heather. The land sloped up now, toward the sky. Craggy rocks topped the slope, blazing orange in the sun.
Bluestar stopped once more. She chose a sun-warmed rock to sit upon, flat and wide enough for all of them to rest side by side.
"Look," she meowed, tilting her nose toward the dark slope before them. "Mothermouth."
Flamepaw sat there silently then as the sun gradually dropped behind Highstones, and she could make out the cave entrance which was a square black hole that yawned before them darkly below the stone archway.
"We'll wait here until the moon is higher," meowed Bluestar. "You should hunt if you are hungry and then get some rest."
She herself decided not to hunt and sat beside her leader silently, staring unblinkingly at the tunnel entrance. She had watched as the other apprentices and Tigerclaw disappeared into the undergrowth. When they returned they had brought back plenty of fresh-kill and had a feast although none of them talked much.
It wasn't long before Tigerclaw sat beside her and pressed his warm flank against her. She nodded towards him silently before looking once more unblinkingly towards Mothermouth. It was when the warmth had seeped out of the rock they were sitting on and cold shadows reached up on all sides that the ThunderClan leader spoke.
"Come. It is time."