A/N: Okay sorry I haven't updated this story in a long while but I've had a lot of things to do and was just able to get this chapter done. I've added a partial allegiance in this Chapter since I've been away.
These cats don't make an appearance but they are mentioned in this chapter. These are not all the cats in BloodClan, just the important ones. Again any cat whose name has an *asterisk* surrounding their name are cats I've created.
Disclaimer: I do not own warriors or any original characters.
BloodClan
Current Leader: *Dagger*- large dark brown tom with a white tail tip with amber eyes
Deputy: *Ash*- dark gray tom with black tipped tail and paws
Guards: *Fang*- ginger tom with amber eyes
*Striker*- gray tabby tom
*Nails*- dark gray tom with gold eyes
*Peach*- pale ginger she-cat
*Willow*- gray she-cat with white chest muzzle and legs green eyes
*Silver*- pretty silver tabby she-cat deep blue eyes
*Stitch*- light brown tabby she-cat with white paws and muzzle long scratch on her right shoulder
Lower Guards: *Scarlet*- dark ginger she-cat
*Hickory* - brown tabby tom with a white chest, and forepaws
Bone- black and white tom, a secret Scourge supporter
Snake- a black and white tom, a secret Scourge supporter
Ice- a black and white tom with an under bite, a secret Scourge supporter
*Digger*- brown tabby and white tom
Scourge claw's Guards: Brick- ginger she-cat with a patch of fur missing on her back, green eyes
Snipe- large brown and black tom with a short tail, and amber eyes
*Aztec*- golden-brown tom with dark brown rosettes, hawk-like amber eyes
*Blossom*- gray she-cat with feathery legs and tail bright green eyes
Wille- a brown tabby tom with a stripe down his back, a lighter muzzle, and small triangular stripes above his head
Minty- a dark gray she-cat
Tess- thin gray she-cat with a light gray chest and a light gray rain drop-shaped marking on her forehead
Pounce- a light brown tabby tom with a lazy eye and a lower canine sticking out of his mouth
Snapper- a long-haired tortoiseshell and white tom with yellow eyes
Chapter 18
By Sunrise all three apprentices had caught a sizable amount of prey despite the fog that covered the forest, Scourgeclaw and Fireheart lead the apprentices back to camp helping them carry the prey back to camp.
Once they arrived at camp, they began to put the prey into the fresh-kill pile. Tigerclaw who saw them enter camp, came to see how amount of prey the apprentices had caught.
"They caught all this prey?" he asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Yes they did." Scourgeclaw answered fixing Tigerclaw with a challenging stare. "And there is more that needs to be retrieved from the forest."
"They can retrieve that themselves, Bluestar wishes to speak with you both about their assessment." Tigerclaw meowed. "Grab some prey and come eat with us." With that the ThunderClan deputy pulled out a piece of fresh-kill and started to head over to where Bluestar was waiting, but he paused briefly looking over at the two warriors.
"Have either of you seen Graystripe? He is supposed to stay confined to camp, until his cold is better." Tigerclaw added looking them both over. Fireheart's eyes widened in surprise and Scourgeclaw stared indifferently at Tigerclaw.
"No I haven't seen him." Scourgeclaw meowed evenly. Fireheart shook his head, his emerald eyes full of concern.
"Well if you see him tell him he isn't allowed out of camp until his cold is better." Tigerclaw meowed than quickly headed off to Bluestar. Scourgeclaw watched him go with an irritated flick of his tail. Fireheart turned to speak to the three apprentices who were watching them with envious eyes. He quickly sent them off to gather the rest of the prey. Fireheart turned to his brother and could tell that Scourgeclaw was annoyed by Tigerclaw.
"Come on let's get some fresh-kill." Fireheart coaxed him toward the fresh-kill pile. He began to reach for a thrush when Scourgeclaw stopped him.
"Take the vole instead," he meowed. Fireheart looked at him strangely.
"Why is there something wrong with the thrush?"
"No, I just didn't think you would want to report to Bluestar with a mouth full of feathers" Scourgeclaw looked at him in amusement. Fireheart looked at the thrush a moment then picked up a fat shrew that was in the pile, and then blinked gratefully at his brother, who was looking through the pile of fresh-kill. Scourgeclaw finally settled for a plump vole that was in the fresh-kill pile and headed where Bluestar and Tigerclaw were eating their prey. The two warriors nodded respectfully to their deputy and their leader before settling down with their fresh-kill.
"I see the apprentices brought in a lot of prey today. It's good to know that they can hunt in mist." Bluestar remarked as she watched the apprentices carry in the rest of their catch.
"They did well, Brackenpaw showed no problem with having his sight hindered in the mist, he caught a fair share of prey, Cinderpaw was very quick on her paws and she responded as if there wasn't any mist to hinder her sight, it didn't slow down her progress and she used it to her advantage, the mist hid her pelt and allowed her to get close to her prey. Falconpaw used stealth and ambushed his prey a few times during his assessment; he used the mist to hide his scent in the air." Scourgeclaw reported with a soft voice. Bluestar looked thoughtful before turning her gaze to Fireheart.
"Scourgeclaw is right; the apprentices each used various methods to catch their prey in the mist. It didn't hinder them in the slightest and I believe it made them hunt better." Fireheart added to Scourge claw's assessment of the three apprentices.
"Yes I can see that, tell me Fireheart what do you think of your apprentice?"
"She can be stubborn but she makes up for that with her enthusiasm." Bluestar watched him closely.
"Her enthusiasm worries me, it was something I was concerned about when I assigned her to you."
"But, she focuses well with Brackenpaw and she is a good listener and a quick learner." Scourgeclaw interjected before Bluestar could go any further.
"That may be but if he can't control her, why should she let him look after two apprentices?" Tigerclaw growled. Scourgeclaw fixed his ice blue gaze on the smoldering amber of Tigerclaw. Scourgeclaw discreetly flexed his claws as he watched the clan deputy. Bluestar looked at Tigerclaw giving him pensive look.
"Tigerclaw you feel different?" Bluestar asked Tigerclaw nodded slowly fixing his gaze on Fireheart.
"Yes, he just became a warrior and now you've given him an apprentice and you plan to make him responsible of our two newest apprentices I don't think he is ready. Why can't Longtail or Darkstripe take a second apprentice?" Tigerclaw asked calmly.
"Longtail is keeping his attention focused on Swiftpaw and Darkstripe is trying to get Dustpaw ready for his warrior assessment."
"Then what about Runningwind and Goldenclaw, neither of them have apprentices?"
"Runningwind's talents lie elsewhere and Goldenclaw has a strong attached to his kits, I don't think he'll focus enough on their training." Bluestar meowed patiently. "Fireheart has done well enough on his own I'm going to let him continue training Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw, until Graystripe is better." Tigerclaw looked away from Bluestar. Bluestar touched the tip of her tail to Tigerclaw's flank.
"I understand your concerns Tigerclaw and they are justified, but I believe that Fireheart can handle this duty." 'Yes you're only resentful because he and I are kittypets' Scourgeclaw mentally growled but, his face stayed impassive.
"Thank you for your confidence in me Bluestar, I promise I won't let you down." Bluestar gave a gentle nod to Fireheart.
"Well it seems Graystripe has decided to make an appearance." Tigerclaw meowed, keeping his gaze fixed on the gray warrior as he padded over to the warrior's den.
"He may have gone to find some peace and quiet." Fireheart meowed watching Graystripe as well.
"Well he needs to stay confined to the camp, leaf-bare is close and we don't need any cats getting sick with greencough. We lost a lot of kits last leaf-bare." Tigerclaw growled. "I thought I heard Willowpelt coughing on patrol yesterday, we need to contain it before it spreads."
"You should share your shrew with Graystripe, Fireheart I'm sure he'll appreciate it. " Fireheart dipped his head to his leader and deputy respectively; he touched his nose to his brother's flank, and then picked up his brother's vole, nudging the shrew over to Scourgeclaw, who gave him a questioning look.
"I'm sure you'll want to give it to Mousefur, you know that shrew is her favorite prey." Fireheart meowed softly. Scourgeclaw nodded and blinked gratefully at Fireheart.
"I'm sure you want to check on Mousefur, you may leave now Scourgeclaw." Scourgeclaw dipped his head respectively and picked up the shrew and headed over to the nursery. Pushing his way into the nursery, Scourgeclaw padded passed the queens making his way over to Mousefur, who looked up from her spot in her nest.
"Hello Scourgeclaw is that shrew for me?" she asked softly. Scourgeclaw nodded as he made his way over to his mate. He tried to avoid stepping on the kits that were wrestling in the nursery. He watched Ashkit pounce onto Birdkit, who squealed and tried to wriggle her way from underneath him. Her brother, Bluekit came to her rescue leaping onto Ashkit's back sinking his teeth into his ear, causing Ashkit to squeal and let go of Birdkit. Fernkit charged at Bluekit, who released Ashkit and dodged out of the way and almost stepped on Mossflower's tail. Mossflower was watching the kits from her nest giving a nod to Scourgeclaw as he passed. Scourgeclaw nodded in return, and then placed his shrew in front of Mousefur. Mousefur thanked him and began to eat the shrew, while Scourgeclaw looked around the nursery. Scourgeclaw noticed that Smokekit wasn't playing with the other kits, he was curled up in Brindleface's nest and he looked very tired. Mousefur followed his gaze.
"Smokekit is a little ill, Brindleface will probably take him to see Yellowfang soon, maybe tomorrow." She meowed softly.
"The sooner, the better" Scourgeclaw replied watching the little gray kit, trying to sleep. He watched the kits a bit longer with Mousefur and Mossflower, telling them about the apprentice's assessment and how they all did; both she-cats were thrilled with how well the apprentices were doing.
"I want to go hunting with Scourgeclaw." Bluekit meowed as he stalked Scourge claw's tail.
"I'm a better hunter than you are." Birdkit meowed puffing up her little chest as she stared at her brother.
"No you're not; you couldn't catch a beetle in your sleep." Bluekit teased as dived behind his mother to avoid Birdkit trying to pounce on him. Mossflower purred in amusement as she watched her kits chase each other around her nest. Scourgeclaw shook his head slowly and Mousefur purred his gaze was wistful as she watched the kits. Scourgeclaw briefly wondered if his kits would be this way or if they would behave the way Ruby and Socks did when he was a kit. He watched the kits a bit longer before saying goodbye to the queens and heading for the warrior's den to rest.
Scourgeclaw stretched out of his nest and could feel damp cold air clinging to his pelt. He figured it would rain today, as he pushed his way out of the warrior's den. He looked around and noticed Fireheart leading out the gorse tunnel and figured his brother might be going to hunt. He headed toward the nursery deciding to make sure Mousefur was okay, before he took Falconpaw to the training hollow. When he looked in, he saw that Mossflower was still asleep but her kits were playing with Ashkit and Mousefur was keeping an eye on them. He quietly approached the dusky brown queen and sat down beside her nest.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, I'm more concerned about Brindleface's kits, two of them don't look so well, they don't have greencough, but…" Mousefur trailed off and Scourgeclaw knew what she meant, they may not have it now but they could get it at any time.
"Are you hungry? Do you want me to get you some fresh-kill?" he asked quietly. Mousefur shook her head,
"No I'm fine, but you should go hunting today and help keep of the pile." Scourgeclaw sighed and just as quietly as he enter the nursery he left it and was about to gather, Falconpaw to go hunting when he caught the scent of Graystripe. He followed it the scent an opening just big enough for a cat to get through. Scourgeclaw followed the scent through the hole and was surprised to find Fireheart's scent around it as well, and that scent was fresh.
Scourgeclaw followed his brother's scent, it start to head in the direction of the training hollow then veered off in the direction of Sunningrocks and kept going through RiverClan territory. He grew more curious the more he followed.
When they reached Sunningrocks, he saw that Fireheart had hidden himself behind a bramble bush and was looking straight ahead. Scourgeclaw looked in the same direction and saw Graystripe sitting near the river. He watched as Graystripe called out across the river, and moments later a pretty silver tabby appeared and swam over to the ThunderClan side of the river bank. He watched in surprise as Graystripe warmly greeted the silver tabby and even let his pelt get wet in the process. He looked over at Fireheart, who he noticed was wearing a look of shock on his face. In an instant, Fireheart leaped from his hiding place and moved to confront the two cats. Graystripe and the silver tabby turned and looked at him in surprise.
Scourgeclaw listened closely to the conversation that took place and from what he gathered; Graystripe had been disappearing to see this RiverClan, warrior who happened to be the daughter of Crookedstar, RiverClan's current leader. He could understand the agitation in Fireheart's voice; it was a dangerous situation, considering RiverClan was mad about what had occurred at the gorge after Graystripe and Fireheart brought WindClan home. Scourgeclaw watched a bit longer as the silver tabby, whose named he had learned was Silverstream, swim back to the other side and Fireheart and Graystripe head back toward the camp. Fireheart and Graystripe seemed to argue a little as they walked, making it clear how they both felt about the matter.
When they reached camp, Graystripe wordlessly enter the gorse tunnel, leaving Fireheart alone on the outside. Scourgeclaw decided to confront his brother then.
"You can't stop him you know." Fireheart jumped at the sound of Scourge claw's voice. "It's his mistake to make you need to let him make it."
"How much have you heard?" Fireheart asked quietly.
"I heard and saw it all, and my advice to you is to let Graystripe make his own mistakes. You can't protect him, and he doesn't need your protection. He chose to see her; now he must deal with the consequences of his actions should they occur." Scourgeclaw meowed evenly. He could tell Fireheart didn't agree with what he was saying, but the fiery warrior only nodded and padded away from him toward the training hollow.
"I'm going to train with Runningwind, Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw now." He meowed as he walked away. Scourgeclaw had a feeling that Fireheart was going to do something dangerous the second he enter the camp, but figured Fireheart need to make his own mistakes as well, to understand his point. He decided it was best to try and get Falconpaw before it started raining and take the tom out hunting, He also wanted to get enough rest, for tonight he was meeting someone important. With this thought in mind he padded into camp to look for his apprentice.
Scourgeclaw crept quietly through the forest heading for his private camp. The sun had set a while ago and it had begun to rain not too long ago, the water dripped from his sleek black pelt as he padded through the forest.
When he reached his camp he slid in soundlessly, padding into the clearing, which was a little muddy and looking around, despite the rain Scourgeclaw could make out the fresh scents that were there, one of which he expected, but the other two scents weren't unwelcome. Moments later he caught sight of a bright ginger pelt emerge from a den, followed by a brown and black tom and a golden brown tom with dark brown rosettes. Scourgeclaw recognized the two cats along with the ginger she cat that lead them out of the den.
"Brick, why have you brought them here?" Scourgeclaw asked with a soft yet cold voice. Brick looked nervously at him, letting her gaze flicker at the two toms before looking into Scourge claw's icy gaze.
"Forgive me Scourgeclaw, but they didn't trust me when I told them I had found you and your orders I had given them, they wanted proof you were alive and that it was you." She meowed evenly keeping her gaze steady. Scourgeclaw seemed to accept her answer before turning to the other two toms.
"Well Snipe, Aztec do you believe her now?" Scourgeclaw asked letting his icy gaze linger on the two toms. Snipe and Aztec exchanged looks briefly and Aztec was about to speak, but Brick cut him off.
"I think it would be wiser to speak in the den," she meowed shaking her coat. Scourgeclaw nodded I agreement and lead the group into the den he and Brick spoke in the last time she was in the forest. Once everyone had gotten dry, Aztec started up their talk once more.
"It isn't that we didn't want to believe her, it just that before Brick found us, we had run into Fang, Stitch and Hickory and they told us that Dagger had killed you and that he had exiled all your supporters." Aztec growled a little.
"We weren't sure who we could trust, we didn't know if Brick was working with Dagger like Bone is or if she was still on your side." Snipe spoke up.
"Bone, Snake and Ice are all on my side, they've been trying to get on Dagger's good side so he won't suspect them." Scourgeclaw meowed.
"What of Willow? She was on your side, but she has become one of Dagger's guards."
"Willow is likely doing the same; but tell me who are all on Dagger's Guard and are there any new faces?"
"Well you know about Bone, Snake and Ice their apart of Dagger's lower Guard" Snipe meowed lowly. "Along with Hickory, Digger and Scarlet, Dagger seems to trust them, but not with very much especially Bone, Snake and Ice, Digger too which is odd since Dagger is his brother." Scourgeclaw blinked slowly in surprise by that statement, Dagger was almost always found with Digger; when he had been in charge of the cats, it was strange to hear that Dagger didn't trust his own brother.
"The higher Guard, is made up of Fang, Stitch, Nails, Peach, Willow, Striker and this new cat who joined not long after you first disappeared, her name is Silver, Dagger has taken a real liking to her, she was one of his main supporters during his take over." Aztec growled slightly.
"That may be true, but I think she regrets helping him" Brick added. Snipe and Aztec stared at her in shock.
"How can you say that after she almost killed Pounce and nearly broke Blossom's foreleg, just for speaking out against, Dagger?" Aztec snarled in anger his tail lashing violently behind him. Scourgeclaw watched the tom closely, Aztec was usually more reserved and quiet, to see him so angry meant that the injuries that Pounce and Aztec's mate Blossom, had received from Silver were bad enough for Aztec to want severe payback. Scourgeclaw raised his tail for silence before turning to look at Brick.
"Why do you think she regrets helping Dagger?" Scourgeclaw asked with a little curiosity. Brick stared at Aztec, almost wondering whether the tom would attack her or not if she tried to speak, she then faced Scourgeclaw.
"I've seen her without the other guards around giving food to some of the starving cats and helping queen's hide their kits from the patrols Dagger sends out to remove them from their mothers." Scourgeclaw listened to her with a thoughtful expression on his face, before covering it with indifference.
"Keep an eye on her; before we strike I want to know her allegiance." Scourgeclaw icily meowed.
"What about the others?" Snipe asked quickly.
"The ones supporting Dagger don't surprise me; they were always close to one another in the past." Scourgeclaw meowed.
"And Stitch, what of her?" hissed Snipe.
"Stitch has always chosen to side with the stronger opponent, it doesn't surprise me that she has joined Dagger, she probably believes that Dagger has defeated me and that is the only reason she is with him." Scourgeclaw softly growled.
"You think she'd join us if she knew you were alive?" Aztec questioned.
"Yes I do, because she only has loyalty to herself and only cares about what's best for her. "
"Unless she really likes Dagger" Brick spoke out suddenly. "She's always trying to look like she's the best around him even going out her way to please him." Scourgeclaw seemed to consider her information.
"Keep an eye out for her as well, if turns out she is loyal to Dagger than she'll be dealt with as the others are, if not then will use her for another purpose, is that understood?" Scourgeclaw made sure his piercing icy gaze reached every cat present, before turning to Brick
"Now Brick I trust all the others were told of my plan?" The ginger she-cat nodded.
"They've been told but they're not ready yet. It will take a while for them to recover their strength." Brick answered. Scourgeclaw nodded as if expecting the answer.
"I expect as much, any injuries?"
"Other than the injuries Blossom and Pounce received, were some scratches and bites, most were shallow but there were plenty of deep wounds it will be a while before we're ready.
"Very well you all may leave, but be careful with your tracks, these cats are territorial and they won't tolerate a group of rogues entering their territory uninvited."
"Why, are you here Scourge, what's keeping you here?" asked Aztec
"I have a protégé who I've been training for a while, I plan to have him rule beside me, but as I told Brick he is not yet ready, and he has a close bond with this Clan, I am working on him, but that is only part of the reason I don't want any cats finding out about me before I am ready, its best for me to stay here for the time." Scourgeclaw growled, if it were any other cats he would have simply told them it was none of their business, but these cats were once a part of his trusted guard and he trusted them with this information.
"Until next time"
~ Okay what do you think of this Chapter?
I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while but school got in the way among other things and I didn't get around to working on chapters.
Anyway Scourgeclaw has visited more of his cats and he knows Graystripe's secret think he'll tell anyone?
The next Chapter should be ready soon. ~
