I am still ill but I'm much better then I was a while ago. i want everyone to disregard what I said in the last chapter at the very end. It will continue as I planned it. I blame my constant drabble on the fact that I wrote the last chapter at midnight and couldn't get any sleep.
Chapter 12
Scourgeclaw glanced around at the other cats in the patrol. Darkstripe, Runningwind, Willowpelt and Mousefur were there. Mousefur looked relieved and curious to see him. Scourgeclaw looked back at Whitestorm.
"I'm here because Bluestar ask-" Whitestorm purred and touched his tail to Scourgeclaw's shoulder.
"Say no more, Bluestar told us that we would have friends out here." Scourgeclaw nodded and gestured forward with his tail.
"Follow me I left Firepaw and Graypaw waiting for me close by." Scourgeclaw meowed. Whitestorm nodded and motioned for the patrol to follow. Mousefur bounded up to pad beside him. She leaned in and whispered softly.
"Where were you ? " she hissed under her breath. Scourgeclaw fought not to roll his eyes.
"I was out hunting when I ran into Firepaw and Graypaw and they told me about Yellowfang, the kits and Spottedleaf.." Mousefur nodded.
"She'll pay for killing Spottedleaf and stealing the kits." Scourgeclaw sighed.
" She didn't take the kits, and she didn't kill Spottedleaf." he meowed quietly. Mousefur looked at him in shock.
"How do you know that?" she asked curiously.
"Because she told me-" Mousefur cut him off.
"And you believe the word of that rogue?" she hissed. Scourgeclaw gave her a sharp look.
"I was once a rogue, you shouldn't forget that," he said coolly. Mousefur flinched a little at the tone "And I do think she was telling the truth . You didn't see the look of surprise on her face when we told her Spottedleaf was dead. I don't think she killed her or took the kits." he finished. Mousefur shook her head before giving Scourgeclaw a cool look.
"For the sake of those kits you best be right." she meowed before slowing her pace to match Runningwind's.
Before long they had reached the spot where Scourgeclaw had left Firepaw and Graypaw. Scourgeclaw was surprised to see that Yellowfang had returned with several cats with her. The ThunderClan patrol race forward and hissed threateningly at the newcomers. Firepaw and Graypaw darted between the cats. Scourgeclaw padded forward to speak with Yellowfang. He saw several elder looking cats and looked surprised to see familiar warriors. One of which stiffened as he saw him approach and hissed.
"You again?" Hissed a familiar gray tom.
"this isn't the time Stonetail." meowed a she-cat.
"It's never the time Amberpelt." Stonetail grumbled. Scourgeclaw watched the two with an emotionless mask before turning his attention to Yellowfang.
"Are these your supporters?" he asked calmly. Yellowfang nodded watching the ThunderClan patrol warily.
"Yes," she meowed. She turned her attention to the cats she had brought with her. "These elder cats are Ashfur, Dawncloud and one of ShadowClan's senior warriors, Nightpelt. The younger warriors are Amberpelt, Stonetail and Flintfang." she finished. Whitestorm padded for confuse and suspicious.
"What is going on here?" he demanded looking at Scourgeclaw for an explanation. Scourgeclaw sighed and turned to face the ThunderClan patrol.
"Listen, apparently ShadowClan is falling apart from within the Clan. Yellowfang was framed for the murder of kits in ShadowClan that Brokenstar killed, which is why she was banished. Also Brokenstar seems to have turned away from the warrior code entirely and is forcing kits to apprentices at less than three moons and is making the warriors at an even younger age. Who knows what they'll do to Frostfur's kits." Scourgeclaw meowed. Mousefur and Willowpelt looked horrified. The rest of the patrol looked just as shocked. Dawncloud stepped forward.
"What he say's is true I've already lost kits from the fight with WindClan." she meowed solemnly. "I do not want to lose anymore."
"Why hasn't anyone done anything?" meowed Whitestorm.
"Brokenstar's word is law remember," meowed Yellowfang "And it goes further than that he is now reinforcing a new rule that every cat takes care of themselves. If you can't hunt you have no right to prey. As a result the elder's have been banished from the camp."
"Why are these three here then?" snorted Darkstripe as he looked at Amberpelt, Flintfang and Stonetail. "They're not elders, they should be able to look after themselves.
"We are here because we don't approve of the way Brokenstar is running the camp." Amberpelt meowed. "My own apprentice is too young to be an apprentice and Brokenstar has already planned for her to be made a warrior soon, I don't want to see her die so soon. Her brother Badgerpaw, was already killed. He was Flintfang's apprentice."
"It never would have happened if he had been six moons old and given the proper training he needed." meowed Flintfang solemnly. Yellowfang stepped forward looking at each cat individually.
"The stolen kits are our priority this moment." she meowed. "We won't be able to sneak them out without some of the other cats noticing." Scourgeclaw watched her closely.
"Then what do you purpose we do?" he asked.
"I'll let my clanmates, bring me into the camp. As soon as I give a signal then the ThunderClan patrol to attack." she finished. Whitestorm nodded slowly.
"This will be dangerous, are you sure we can take on a whole Clan?" asked Whitestorm
"Yes, I am confident that we can do this. ShadowClan is run by Brokenstar and a few elite warriors, everyone else will fight for Brokenstar, but if they see that he may lose this fight.." Yellowfang mewled
"Then they'll help us." finished Scourgeclaw. Darkstripe snorted
"Where's the loyalty in that?" he sniffed. Stonetail let out a low growl and looked as though he was going to attack Darkstripe, but he relaxed when Amberpelt touched her tail to his shoulder.
"We are loyal to the warrior code. The warrior code says that we obey our leader., but Brokenstar hasn't been acting like a leader. So why should we show him loyalty?" Amberpelt meowed coolly gazing fiercely into his eyes. Whitestorm moved until he was between the two.
"You should be saving that energy for the battle ahead of us." he meowed turning his fierce amber gaze at the pair of them. Amberpelt merely nodded in acknowledgement. Darkstripe glanced away.
"We must not waste anymore time. The longer those kits are in ShadowClan the more danger they are in." Mousefur spoke up.
"She is right, " Yellowfang meowed. " we must make haste, Come we will lead you to the camp." she turn and headed toward the ShadowClan camp.
It wasn't long before they were within the sight of the ShadowClan camp. Yellowfang turned to face the others.
"ThunderClan should wait here for the signal." she meowed. She began forward followed closely by the other ShadowClan cats forming a circle around her as if she were their prisoner. The ThunderClan warriors grew tense as they saw they last of the ShadowClan rebellion's tails slip out of sight into the camp.
A few moments passed before a loud yowl rang out in the sky. The ThunderClan patrol came charging forward with Whitestorm in the lead before they came bursting through the entrance to the ShadowClan camp. Scourgeclaw's eyes widened in surprise at the chaos that seemed to consume the camp, but he quickly shook himself off before flinging himself on an brown tabby tom with a stumpy looking tail. The tom hissed and spat slashing with his forepaws trying to rake through Scourgeclaw's pelt. Scourgeclaw dodge raking his long sharp claws down the toms left flank, sinking his fangs into the toms shoulder. With a screech , the tom flipped his body over. Scourgeclaw wriggled his body from beneath the tom, slashing out with his claws, catching the tom across the face, before digging them into his spine. The brown tabby gave a loud yowl, before managing to shake himself free and turned to flee from the fight. Scourgeclaw turned back into chaos moving to pounce on the large white tom with black paws, when he caught sight of his brother wrestling with a very familiar silver tabby. With a low growl , he leaped into the air landing on the shoulders of the silver tabby tom, knocking the tom off balance and pinning him to the ground. The silver tabby started to wriggle when he froze at the sight of his captor.
"Scourge, why are you….?" he was cut off by Scourgeclaw's paw covering his muzzle.
"You'd do well to stay silent Boulder, If you value your life" he hissed threateningly into his ear. " Why I'm here is of no concern to you and I should make sure you never return here again, but I'm feeling generous right now so I'll let you leave without injury." he finished and with a final growl he let Boulder up. Once free Boulder sprang away from Scourgeclaw, giving him one last fearful look before charging out of the camp. Scourgeclaw turned to see if Firepaw had heard anything that was said, but was surprised to see that his brother was close to ripping the throat out of a tom with many scars littering his face. He watched Whitestorm rip his brother away from the warrior before giving the scarred warrior a fierce bite. 'Why stop him?' hissed Scourgeclaw in frustration. He didn't have time to dwell on it though after catching the sight of Mousefur struggling with two big warriors.
He moved to assist her, but halt his actions when he felt a bite on his tail. Spinning around with the speed of an adder, claws unsheathed, he moved to score the pelt of the cat who had dared, to bite his tail. Only to find that it was one of the kit-apprentices of ShadowClan. He quickly sheathed his claws and batted the kit away from his tail.
"Be lucky that I don't hurt kits," he growled, glaring at the kit, who shivered a little under his cold gaze. " Stay out of this battle this isn't your fight." With a final glare at the kit, he spun back around and raced forwarded with claws unsheathed. He barreled onto the back of a brown tabby, sinking his teeth into the tom's scruff while, raking his sharp hind claws along the tom's spine. The tom let out a loud screech shook himself, try and dislodge Scourgeclaw from his back. Scourgeclaw sunk his teeth in deeper as the tom rolled onto his back to crush Scourgeclaw. Scourgeclaw squirmed from underneath tom's weight raking his claws along the tom's exposed belly fur. The tom gave a loud yowl before wrenching himself free from Scourgeclaw's grasp making a dash for the camp entrance. Scourgeclaw looked for Mousefur, and was relieved to see her chasing her other assailant out of the camp.
Suddenly a familiar screeching reached his ears and he turned and spotted Firepaw locked in battle with Brokenstar. Scourgeclaw saw that Yellowfang was lying on the ground close by to fighting. He raced forward, just as Firepaw seemed to be losing his footing. Scourgeclaw struck with claws unsheathed across Brokenstar's throat, sending the ShadowClan leader tumbling across the clearing. The combined Clan's watched as Brokenstar lay bleeding from his wound for a few moments before rising to stare at the gathering cats. Seeing that he was outnumbered he staggered toward the entrance before turning back and glaring at all present.
"This isn't over." he growled lowly before vanishing out the entrance to the camp. Once he had left the ShadowClan cats began to gather together. Scourgeclaw glanced around at the broken Clan, feeling almost sorry for them. He felt Firepaw's pelt brush against his side briefly, before he took off with Graypaw to find the kits. Scourgeclaw looked around and saw that, Amberpelt seemed to have injured her right forepaw, and Stonetail, had a bad bite on his shoulder, but they both wore looks of triumph on there face. Nightpelt walked up to Whitestorm.
"ShadowClan thanks you for helping us rid ourselves of Brokenstar. He will not return." he meowed. Whitestorm nodded as he looked around the ShadowClan camp.
"ShadowClan will need much time to recover. ThunderClan offers you a moon of peace." Whitestorm replied. Just as he finished Graypaw let out a yowl.
"We found the kits." he called. Whitestorm raced over and Graypaw began to lift the frighten kits out of the hole they were kept in.
"Yellowfang one of the kits has an injury." Graypaw meowed "Will you come and have a look at it." Yellowfang came quickly over and began to examine the injured kit. Runningnose, came over with some cobwebs and herbs to give to Yellowfang. Scourgeclaw came over to have a look at the kits. There were two she-kits and two toms one of toms a golden brown tabby was injured on its ear. Yellowfang quickly fixed up the kit. Nightpelt padded over to speak with Yellowfang.
"Well Yellowfang, Brokenstar confessed to killing Brightflower's kits. The whole Clan are willing to welcome you back if you wish it." he meowed. Yellowfang looked around at her former clanmates before shaking her head.
"No, I will return to ThunderClan, ShadowClan isn't my clan any longer and ThunderClan is in need of a medicine cat if I'll be welcomed." she meowed looking at Whitestorm.
"Of course you will, Yellowfang. ThunderClan lets go home." meowed Whitestorm as the ThunderClan warriors began to gather around the white warrior. Yellowfang carried the injured tom while, Mousefur, Willowpelt and Runningwind carried the rest of the kits. Scourgeclaw took one look at the broken Clan before following the rest of his Clanmates out of the territory.
It wasn't long before they reached the Thunderclan camp. Frostfur lay miserably in the camps clearing with Goldenclaw licking her soft fur gently. As the patrol came bursting through the clearing, Frostfur rose to her paws and raced forward as the warriors placed her kits on the ground. Goldenclaw came racing up with her and together they began to lick and fuss over their kits. Mossflower came out of her nest in the nursery and raced over to the patrol. She gave Runningwind an affectionate lick on his cheek, before padding over quickly to Scourgeclaw and Firepaw. She cuffed Scourgeclaw on the ear.
"Where were you?" she hissed with fury. " Don't you know I was worried sick over you?" giving him a stern look. Scourgeclaw looked at her and felt a tinge of guilt. He didn't meet her gaze, deciding to look at Tigerclaw who had his gaze fixed on Yellowfang.
"Why is she here? She should be killed for her crimes." Tigerclaw growled. Firepaw stepped in between Tigerclaw and Yellowfang.
"Yellowfang didn't steal the kits or kill Spottedleaf. It was the ShadowClan warrior Clawface,." he meowed looking Tigerclaw fearlessly into the eye. "and if you don't believe me look under Spottedleaf's claws the fur should be brown not gray." Mousefur took off to check Spottedleaf's body.
"He's right the fur is brown." she meowed.
"Then Yellowfang is owed an apology and a thank you for helping us retrieve our stolen kits." meowed Bluestar from the top of the high rock. "Yellowfang I humbly ask you to take Spottedleaf's place as the medicine cat of ThunderClan." Yellowfang bowed low to Bluestar.
"I accept Bluestar and I thank you." she meowed before padding over to the medicine den. Bluestar looked around the camp, before asking curiously.
"Where is Ravenpaw?" she meowed curiously. Tigerclaw's ears perked up a little in response to her question.
"Yes where is he?" Tigerclaw growled. "Isn't it interesting that he can't be found after we recovered the kits." Firepaw fixed his gaze on Tigerclaw.
"He didn't take the kits, and he wasn't helping ShadowClan. He was killed by their patrol Graypaw and I saw him while we were searching for Yellowfang." he hissed glancing at Scourgeclaw and Mossflower. Tigerclaw looked away with a hiss.
"I never said that he betrayed us." he meowed with a hint of sorrow. "he will be missed." Scourgeclaw gave a mental snort 'Yeah but not by you.'
"Indeed he will" meowed Bluestar as she climbed down from the high rock to stand beside Whitestorm. "How did they do Whitestorm?"
"They fought like warriors Bluestar." he meowed. Bluestar's eye seemed to glow brighter.
"I think the time has come for two of our apprentices to be warriors." she meowed. Sandpaw and Dustpaw looked excitedly at their leader, but were surprised to see she wasn't looking at them. "Firepaw and Graypaw pleased step forward." Graypaw and Firepaw looked at each other briefly before padding forward shivering with excitement. Firepaw glanced at Mossflower who wore a proud expression on her face. Scourgeclaw who sat beside her had an empty expression, but Firepaw saw a flicker of happiness in his
eyes. The two stood as straight as they could as Bluestar stepped in front of them.
"I Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. they have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in turn."" Graypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" " I do " Meowed Graypaw" Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Graypaw, from now on, you will be known as Graystripe." Bluestar touched her muzzle to Graystripe's head and Graystripe leaned down and licked Bluestar's shoulder before moving to stand beside Whitestorm.
" Firepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" meowed Bluestar " I do " meowed Firepaw " Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Firepaw, from now on, you will be known as Fireheart. ThunderClan welcomes you both as a full warriors." Bluestar touched her muzzle to Fireheart's head as he leaned down to lick her shoulder. He padded over to sit beside Graystripe.
"Graystripe, Fireheart, Graystripe, Fireheart." chanted the Clan. Mossflower was chanting louder above her clanmates.
"Now, these two will have a silent vigil and guard over the camp as we rest for the night." meowed Bluestar. Scourgeclaw watched as Fireheart made a step toward Bluestar before veering a way and running over to Mossflower and Scourgeclaw.
"Scourgeclaw, will you tell Bluestar about Tigerclaw?" he asked Scourgeclaw watched him a moment before shaking his head.
"No, I think it would hold more weight if you told her instead of me. She'll just think I'm making up an accuse." meowed Scourgeclaw at last. Fireheart looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?" Scourgeclaw looked over Fireheart's shoulder at Tigerclaw.
"I'll tell you later, now is the time for your vigil." He meowed at last.
"Scourgeclaw's right this is an important ceremony." meowed Mossflower gently giving Firepaw a gentle lick on the ear. "We're proud of you Fireheart."
"Thanks Mossflower, you too Scourgeclaw." he meowed before going to sit beside Graystripe. Mossflower turned her gaze at Scourgeclaw.
"Will you tell him?" she meowed curiously. Scourgeclaw merely nodded as he watched Tigerclaw say something to Fireheart before heading to the warrior's den. Scourgeclaw growled low under his breath, but calmed down as Mossflower placed her tail on his shoulder. He barely noticed Bluestar padding over to them until she was in front of him.
"Scourgeclaw, I would like to see you in my den tomorrow morning, I would tell you now but it can wait till tomorrow." she meowed locking her deep blue gaze with his icy blue gaze. Scourgeclaw gave he a nod of acknowledgement, before she padded back to her den. Mossflower gave him a lick on his ear before heading toward the nursery. Scourgeclaw looked around and watched as the other cats padded into their dens. He padded over to Graystripe and Fireheart.
"I'm going to take a walk, I'm not quite ready to sleep just yet." he told them The two glanced at each other before giving Scourgeclaw identical nods of understanding. Scourgeclaw brushed his tail over Fireheart's ears before heading toward the camp entrance heading into the dense forest.
Scourgeclaw padded through the oak trees, the wind ruffling his fur. The light of the moon made his pelt shine like obsidian . He was lost in his thoughts of what Firepaw, no Fireheart, had told him earlier and what had happened that night.
He had been wandering the forest for a while heading toward the twolegplace. He made his way into the pine forest where he heard a rustling in the bushes ahead of him. He froze as he took in the sight of familiar amber eyes accompanied by a dark brown tabby pelt. Scourgeclaw was startled to realize that he was staring at what would be the face of his enemy, but he was relaxed enough to sit and clean his face.
" What are you doing out here so late at night?" meowed the tom watching him closely with eyes shinning in the light of the moon. Scourgeclaw snorted.
"I could ask you the same thing," meowed Scourgeclaw. "What brings you to the forest Talon?"
~Yes what is he doing in the forest so late at night.
Talon makes an appearance. If you don't remember who he is, he is mentioned in the first chapter.
Let me know what you think.
