Sorry I took forever to get this chapter up,
Chickenleg719 asked me if I was pursuing a relationship between Scourgeclaw and Brindleface…?
Without giving too much away (hopefully) there is a reason for their closeness. I will say they are friends and Scourgeclaw respects her, but there is another reason. That is all I will say. (Remember Brindeface is still grieving and Cloudtail won't be able to soften the blow of her losing her third kit). I'm not reavealing the reason just yet I think it will come in the next Ch.
Zozosisi159 I haven't forgotten your Question I answered it at the bottom of the Chapter because the answer is kind of long.
I hope I've answered everyone's questions
Chapter 21
Mossflower charged down the slope with the other warriors as they reached Fourtrees. She glanced around the clearing and found that WindClan were the only ones present at the gathering currently. Mossflower saw a black and white tom, with a long tail, approach Bluestar and give her a respectable nod. 'That must be Tallstar,' she thought to herself as remembered the description that Fireheart had given her of the WindClan leader. She looked around and saw Fireheart talking to a brown tabby tom and decided to introduce herself to him.
"Hello Fireheart, who is this?" Mossflower asked while giving the tom a polite look.
"This is Onewhisker, he was with me and Graystripe when RiverClan attacked us." Fireheart explained. He turned to Onewhisker and pointed to Mossflower with his tail. "Onewhisker this is Mossflower, she is one of our queens in ThunderClan." Onewhisker gave Mossflower a polite nod and meowed a greeting to her.
"It's nice to meet you Mossflower, are your kits young?" asked Onewhisker.
"Yes their still young, they won't be apprentices for another few moons," purred Mossflower as she thought of her kits.
"Speaking of kits, how is Morningflower and her kit?" asked Fireheart, Mossflower remembered Fireheart telling her about the queen and her kit, and how he had to help the poor queen carry her kit back to the WindClan camp. While Onewhisker spoke to Fireheart about Morningflower, Mossflower turned her attention to the fresh scents of ShadowClan and RiverClan approaching. 'I wonder how they'll respond to WindClan being here, they certainly didn't want them around before.' She thought to herself as she watched the two Clans make their way into the clearing. Mossflower shivered a little happy that the gathering was coming along, it was cold this night. She looked around for Scourgeclaw and saw him talking to a mottled dark brown tom, who she believed was a WindClan warrior from the looks of him. She also noticed that Brindleface was with him, which was starting to become a common sight that she was seeing in ThunderClan. She knew that Scourgeclaw was close to Brindleface, and that the pair had gotten closer since Smokekit's disappearance. Mossflower's eye caught the gaze of a familiar RiverClan tom, she recognized him as Stonefur. She waved to him with her tail and He nodded to her in acknowledgement. 'There is definitely tension between the clans' she thought worriedly. She watched the leaders climb onto the Great Rock. She saw a black tom with a twisted paw speak to Fireheart 'That must be Deadfoot the WindClan deputy, he must have respect for Fireheart' she thought briefly.
Scourgeclaw glanced around the clearing and saw among the RiverClan cats, he saw Silverstream, and briefly wondered if she was going to sneak off with Graystripe. Moments later Bluestar's yowl broke across the clearing calling for the gathering to start, Scourgeclaw led Brindleface to sit behind Mossflower and Fireheart as the gathering started. Bluestar stepped forward and spoke first.
"RiverClan has been scented around Sunningrocks, Sunningrocks belong to ThunderClan" Bluestar started angrily. Crookedstar turned and met Bluestar's eyes with a steady cold gaze.
"Perhaps you have forgotten that, a ThunderClan warrior killed one of my warriors who was defending his territory." He growled in reply.
"There wasn't any need to defend your territory, my warrior's weren't hunting there, they were going home after finding WindClan. We all agreed to that mission and by the warrior code they shouldn't have been attacked." Bluestar answered.
"You speak of the code, but what of the ThunderClan warrior you send to spy on my clan?" spat Crookedstar. Bluestar looked surprised.
"A warrior?" she echoed. "Have you seen this warrior?"
"No," hissed Crookedstar "But his scent has been found on our territory often enough that it won't be long till we do find him." Scourgeclaw noticed Fireheart look over in Graystripe's direction in alarm. 'Hmm I suppose this means that Graystripe needs to be smarter about whom he spends time with.' He thought briefly before turning his attention back to the Great Rock.
A sudden growl turned his attention from the Great Rock over to Tigerclaw, who had stood to his paws to speak.
"We have scented a ShadowClan patrol in our territory also, and it's always the same warriors." The dark tabby growled. Nightstar looked down on Tigerclaw with an indignant look on his face.
"None, of my clan have been in your territory; you have been smelling rogues, who we have also smelt in our territory." Tallstar twitched his tail uncertainly before he spoke up.
"We too have found strange scents in our territory that appear to belong to ShadowClan," he meowed calmly.
"That proves it RiverClan and ShadowClan have united against us," yowled Tigerclaw.
"I think it is you and WindClan that have formed an alliance," hissed Crookedstar. "That's why you brought them back so you and they can take charge of the forest." Tallstar hissed in response, to Crookedstar's accusation.
"We didn't return to do that and you know it," spat Tallstar, "We had every right to return to our rightful home."
"Then why have we found strange warrior scents in our territory?" Crookedstar growled.
"It isn't anyone from WindClan, we've kept to our own hunting grounds for these past moons, it must be rogues as Nightstar says." Spoke Tallstar,
"But that would be a convenient excuse to invade our territories wouldn't it?" murmured Bluestar. She was glaring fiercely at the ShadowClan and RiverClan leaders. The two leaders were arching their backs and raising their hackles. Mossflower stared on in horror and wondered if the leaders would start to fight during the gathering. Suddenly a shadow covered the area and as Mossflower looked up, she saw that a cloud had covered the moon. They were blanketed in darkness.
"StarClan has sent us darkness," Yowled Haiftail.
"StarClan is unhappy with us. These meetings are supposed to be peaceful." Yowled Runningnose in agreement. Yellowfang spoke suddenly.
"He is right we shouldn't be fighting, we should be focusing on keeping our Clans safe." She yowled. Tallstar spoke up from the top of the Great Rock; his silhouette could be seen from the top of the Great Rock.
"StarClan has ended this meeting, WindClan we leave" he called into the darkness. Scourgeclaw looked around seeing cats starting to leave the clearing.
"ThunderClan, Come" called Bluestar, she could barely be seen in the darkness as she leaped down off the Great Rock. Scourgeclaw felt a pelt brush up against him and could make out a little of Mossflower's pelt.
"That was interesting," he murmured to her. He could almost feel her incredulous stare on his pelt as the moved through the forest.
"Interesting? They were ready to fight each other over these supposed rogues that are in the territory." she growled low in his ear. "It makes more sense to believe they are ShadowClan cats, we know what ShadowClan cats smell like."
"I suppose so" Scourgeclaw murmured cryptically. Mossflower gave him a curious stare. Scourgeclaw ignored her a moment to glance back at his brother who was talking with Graystripe. 'Probably about Silverstream, I'm not surprised that RiverClan have noticed it's the same cat coming in their territory.' He thought as he watched Graystripe huff angrily and race away from Fireheart. He saw his brother's ears and tail droop slightly as he watched the gray warrior race ahead. Fireheart picked up his pace and matched his stride with Mossflower and Scourgeclaw.
Fireheart was sitting outside the nursery with Scourgeclaw's kits watching as they batted around a ball of moss. When they had returned to camp Bluestar had called a meeting to explain what had happened and told the Clan that it was possible that RiverClan and ShadowClan were uniting against them. Bluestar had ordered more patrols for the RiverClan and ShadowClan borders and ordered that at least three warriors be in the camp at all times. Fireheart sighed as he waited for the dawn patrol to return, and briefly wondered if the two clans were uniting against ThunderClan and WindClan. He was shaken from his thoughts as the ball of moss landed in front of his paws. He purred as Nightkit came over to get it and he couldn't help but look at the resemblance between her and her father Scourgeclaw, with the exception of her two white forelegs and her forest green eyes she looked a lot like his brother. Thinking of his brother suddenly made him feel strange as he thought of how secretive his brother was acting, it was obvious to him that Scourgeclaw knew something about Tigerclaw that Fireheart himself hadn't discovered yet and had at some point had told Bluestar about it and she hadn't believed him. He wondered what his brother had told her or if he had told her anything at all.
Also it seemed his brother would disappear for a while but would always come back with prey and his coat well groomed. It eerily reminded him of Graystripe's meetings with Silverstream and their own meetings with Princess and he briefly wondered if Scourgeclaw was sneaking off to see Princess. He remembered that Scourgeclaw had never had a good experience with his own littermates and wondered if he was just visiting Princess so they could have a connection with each other.
The other strange behavior occurred whenever he was around Brindleface the queen seemed less distressed whenever Scourgeclaw came and talked to her and wondered what was going on between the two of them, he knew that Brindleface and Scourgeclaw were friends but the two seemed to have grown closer after Smokekit's death. Fireheart was removed from his thoughts as he saw his brother emerge from the warriors' den.
Scourgeclaw nodded a greeting to his brother as he came over to sit beside him. His kits came over to him rubbing their heads against his pelt purring in delight. He watched as they tossed a ball of moss back and forth between each other, frozen leaves crushing under their paws. He looked away from his kits as he saw Fireheart rise to his paws and head for the gorse tunnel, he glanced up at the sky and realized that it was getting close to sunhigh and that it was time to meet Whitestorm and Sandpaw for the sunhigh patrol. He meowed a quiet goodbye to his kits, which was returned to him, before following Fireheart to the gorse tunnel. When they arrived Sandpaw was waiting for them at the foot of the slope and she meowed a greeting to the two as they approached and they waved their tails in greeting , Whitestorm arrived a little after Scourgeclaw and Fireheart , emerging from the gorse tunnel.
"Is the dawn patrol here yet?" Whitestorm meowed, before anyone could answer, they heard the rustle of the undergrowth above them. Runningwind, Willowpelt, Darkstripe and Dustpaw emerged from out of the bushes and made their way down the slope to the awaiting patrol.
"We've checked the RiverClan border there was no sign of any hunting parties." Willowpelt reported to Whitestorm.
"Good, then we'll check the ShadowClan border," Whitestorm replied turning to his patrol he meowed a quick. "Let's go." He flicked his tail and took off into the bracken. Scourgeclaw was right behind him; Fireheart was a tail length behind him with Sandpaw right behind Fireheart. They climbed as quickly as they could out of the ravine and into the forest.
The patrol had not travelled very far into their territory when Scourgeclaw had caught familiar scent that belonged to ShadowClan and he alerted the patrol.
"ShadowClan,"Scourgeclaw hissed. The patrol stopped to take in the scent.
"I can't believe they would come back to our territory so soon." murmured Sandpaw, Whitestorm's eyes were glittering with unspoken fury.
"I had hoped that Nightstar was an honorable cat, but I see I was wrong, this scent is recent." He growled low. Scourgeclaw watched as Fireheart pushed his way through a thick pile of bracken and emerged moments later with a mouthful of rabbit bones and deposited them at Whitestorm's paws. Whitestorm stared furiously at the bones. "The warriors who left these want us to know they have been hunting here, we need to inform Bluestar of this."
"Will she send a patrol against ShadowClan?" asked Fireheart curiously.
"She should and I'll lead it myself if she'll let me" growled the great white warrior and with that said he snatched up the rabbit bones in his own jaws and twitched his tail as a signal to follow him as he furiously took off for camp, with the rest of the patrol at his heels
"Bluestar," called Whitestorm as he placed the bones on the ground. Tigerclaw came up to see what had enraged the white warrior.
After hearing Whitestorm's report of what had occurred during their patrol; Tigerclaw decided to send an attack patrol after ShadowClan that consisted of Whitestorm, Goldenclaw, Darkstripe, Willowpelt, Runningwind and himself, leaving Fireheart and Scourgeclaw to defend the camp. Scourgeclaw hissed in frustration having to be left behind to guard the camp, and swished his tail in agitation. He noticed that Fireheart seemed antsy and had sent Sandpaw running into the apprentice den.
"What's wrong?" he asked curiously as his brother inquired Frostfur about Bluestar's patrol.
"We are the only warriors in camp right now there are supposed to be at least three here in the camp." Fireheart explained, before he could speak any further, he heard Sandpaw call from the other side of the clearing.
"Dustpaw's sleeping, so is Brackenpaw and Falconpaw" Sandpaw reported as she came to stand beside Fireheart. Yellowfang came out of her den to inspect the bones and Scourgeclaw watched curiously as she viciously recoiled from them.
"Brokenstar," she hissed venomously. Fireheart stared at her in alarm
"Are you sure?" he asked as he went back over to the bones to inspect them again. Yellowfang nodded.
"Yes I am sure, I would know his scent anywhere." She growled. "This was done by Brokenstar not ShadowClan."Scourgeclaw felt the fur along his spine begin to rise as he started to understand the implications of what was occurring.
"You think this was a trap to lure the warriors away from camp?" he asked. Sandpaw and Fireheart looked at Scourgeclaw in alarm, while Yellowfang wore a grave look on her face.
"I believe so, Tigerclaw must be stopped, or innocent blood will be spilt for no reason." Scourgeclaw sighed as he looked around the camp.
"We can't afford to send anyone, if the camp is attacked while we're gone…"he trailed off letting the others fill in the blanks. Fireheart stood up suddenly and called for Brackenpaw. The golden brown apprentice came racing from the apprentice den and over to the flame-furred warrior. Fireheart quickly explained that he needed Brackenpaw to find Tigerclaw and stop him, warning him he might have to cross the Thunderpath to do so, before sending him out of the camp. Next he watched Fireheart leap to the top of the highrock and call for a meeting. Scourgeclaw stared at him with great surprise as all the cats left in camp, the queens, apprentices and elders, came out to see what was happening. Falconpaw came to sit beside him. The Clan stared up at him in bewilderment. One-eye spoke what was on everyone's mind.
"What are you doing up there and what is going on?" she demanded, and then Fireheart began to speak.
"ThunderClan, Brokenstar has returned, we must be ready for him to attack," The Clan looked horrified as he spoke. "All the warriors except for me and Scourgeclaw are currently out of camp. Elders and kits should get in the nursery; the rest of us should prepare to fight..."
Suddenly a fierce yowl broke into the clearing from the direction of the camp entrance. Scourgeclaw turned in that direction and saw the familiar dark tabby pelt of Brokenstar, which now looked mangy and matted and a few more mangy looking warriors came prowling in after Brokenstar. The former ShadowClan leader looked around the camp looking pleased.
"So you two are the only ones left, this should be easy," he hissed menacingly. Yellowfang, Sandpaw, Dustpaw and Falconpaw lined up beside Scourgeclaw in front of the queens in a defensive row. The queens lined up behind them as the elder's herded the kits back into the nursery getting in with them. Brindleface closed the entrance to the nursery by pulling the brambles over the entrance; she then joined her spot in the lineup. Fireheart leaped down from the highrock to stand beside Yellowfang.
"You won't win this fight Brokenstar, we've fought in the past and you will lose again." hissed Fireheart
"Not likely," he spat, "I still have more lives than you."
"Any life from ThunderClan is worth more than yours," Fireheart hissed before yowling out a battle cry that had the clearing full of screeching cats.
Mossflower hissed fiercely as she battered an unfamiliar to with her claws, Mousefur was next to her sinking her teeth into the tom's flank. He yowled twisting his body trying to break free of the two fierce queens. He was suddenly able to wriggle free and dashed fiercely for the camp entrance. She noticed Frostfur being particularly vicious to a rogue she was fighting, Mossflower could understand her rage, these were the cats who had stolen her kits, it was only fair that the white queen be allowed to exact her vengeance on the cats responsible. Mossflower looked around for any other rogues, she spotted Scourgeclaw who was staring coldly at a large white tom, who seemed to be mocking him, before she could move to assist Scourgeclaw, she saw the white tom go down and lay unmoving, his throat slit open with blood oozing onto the floor of the clearing, she looked at Scourgeclaw and saw his single white paw covered in blood, she stared in horror at the realization that he had killed the tom with a single swipe of his paw. She looked around the clearing to see if anyone else had seen what she had. She caught a glimpse of Falconpaw looking in his direction and she thought she may have seen Yellowfang, but both had been momentary glimpses. She shook herself trying to rid herself of the images that she had seen returning her focus to the battle. She was surprised to see Graystripe as he killed a battle-scarred tom that apparently Fireheart had been fighting. 'I hope this means their friends again' she thought briefly. She saw Falconpaw fighting as fiercely as a warrior sending the last rogue in the clearing yowling and screeching in fear and pain out of the camp.
An eerie silence took over then and Mossflower looked around at the other ThunderClan cats, they were all covered in scratches and bite marks, but none looked fatal and for that she was grateful, none of the Clan had died this time. She felt a warm pelt brush her side and realized it was Scourgeclaw. For the moment she let the images of what she had seen him do fade away from her and pressed her muzzle into his flank, letting the fury of battle leave her body as she took in his familiar scent. She looked around for Fireheart and saw he wasn't anywhere in the clearing, neither was Yellowfang, she started to look around for him when she saw him emerge from Yellowfang's den, she watched as he walked over to Dustpaw giving him instructions then turned to speak with Graystripe briefly then started over to them. He buried his nose in her fur and she briskly licked his ear calming him.
"Brokenstar's blind now, Yellowfang is treating him." He murmured into her fur. She stared at him in shock and suspected that Scourgeclaw was doing the same. Before she could question him, Bluestar and her patrol came barreling into the clearing, she looked around in horror at the clearing covered in blood and fur, Mossflower saw her look at the two bodies of the rogues and looked over at Scourgeclaw and Fireheart.
"Brokenstar attacked I assume?" she asked calmly. Fireheart nodded to her. "Is he dead?"
"No, he's been blinded, Yellowfang is seeing to his injuries, Dustpaw is guarding them." He meowed.
"Is anyone in camp badly injured?" she asked looking over at the rest of the Clan. They shook their heads " Good, and the rest of the rogues?"
"Gone and not likely to come back," Mossflower hissed as she snuck glanced at Scourgeclaw. Bluestar nodded in acceptance.
"Sandpaw, Swiftpaw and Falconpaw take these bodies out into the forest to be buried, Longtail relieve Dustpaw and send him to help them." Longtail nodded and raced into Yellowfang's den; moments later Dustpaw camp out of Yellowfang's den helping Falconpaw drag the white rogue's body out of the clearing. "Are the elders alright?"
"They're in the nursery with the kits," he meowed, seconds after he spoke the nursery entrance was opened and the elders and kits emerged from the entrance. Bluekit and Birdkit raced over to Mossflower looking around the camp in bewilderment she bent down and gently licked their heads. Nightkit, Morningkit and Cloudkit bounded over to Scourgeclaw, burying their faces in his fur. She watched as he wrapped his tail around the kits. Mossflower looked around for Mousefur and saw she wasn't anywhere in the clearing. 'Where is she? Why would she leave her kits like this?' she thought briefly. She was distracted from her thoughts while listening to Fireheart and Scourgeclaw explain what had happened, where Tigerclaw was and why they had sent Brackenpaw out on his own to retrieve him. As Bluestar was praising Fireheart and Scourgeclaw for their actions, she heard a chorus of paws in the gorse tunnel. Tigerclaw and his patrol emerged with Brackenpaw in tow; Runningwind broke away from the patrol to race to Mossflower's side.
"Are you alright?" he murmured softly as he buried his muzzle in her coat, checking her for fatal injuries. She purred softly.
"I'm fine and so are the kits," she answered, she caught sight of a dusky brown pelt entering the camp and blinked in surprise. 'What was she doing?' she thought to herself as she watched Mousefur walk up and report something to Bluestar, Bluestar nodded in acknowledgement and dismissed her. Mousefur turned and bounded over to her and Runningwind.
"Are you and your kits alright?" Mousefur asked, Mossflower looked at her with a little confusion. 'Shouldn't she be concerned with her own kits?' she thought briefly.
"They're fine, are your kits okay?" Runningwind asked, Mousefur looked at him with brief confusion clouding her gaze and suddenly a look of clarity covered her face and she looked around the clearing spotting Scourgeclaw and their kits a few tail-lengths away she padded up to them, Mossflower watched as the kits came up to Mousefur squealing in happiness. 'That was strange she thought briefly.'
As the sun began to set later on in the evening, Scourgeclaw lay beside his brother, tending to his wounds, Scourgeclaw hadn't received many scratches, but his brother had had a rougher fight. He looked up as he heard paw steps coming from the tunnel, briefly hoping it was Tigerclaw's hunting patrol, unfortunately it was the apprentices returning from burying the rogues. He saw Dustpaw and Falconpaw start to head for the apprentice den, he stopped them with a flick of his paw and walked purposefully over to where Bluestar and Whitestorm were in front of the HighRock, Falconpaw followed immediately, while Dustpaw hesitated. Fireheart who understood what his brother was up to, beckoned Dustpaw with his tail and followed after Scourgeclaw. Bluestar listened to the apprentices report and sent Swiftpaw to his nest.
"Bluestar, Sandpaw, Dustpaw and Falconpaw fought like warriors to protect the camp from Brokentail, I don't know what we would of done without their strength and courage."Fireheart meowed. Whitestorm purred in amusement at Sandpaw's shyness and Bluestar listened in acknowledgement. She saw that Tigerclaw's patrol had returned with plenty of fresh-kill, she turned her attention to the three apprentices.
"It makes me proud to know we have such strong warriors." She meowed "I believe it is time you each took your warrior names."
"We should have the ceremony now then we can eat." Scourgeclaw added in.
"I agree, we will eat in honor of our newest warriors." She meowed leaping to the top of Highrock and calling out to the clan. Scourgeclaw looked around and saw Mousefur and Mossflower emerge from the nursery. He beckoned the two over to him and they each seated themselves beside him. Bluestar looked up into the sky and fixed her gaze on the stars.
"Darkstripe, Whitestorm, Scourgeclaw, are you satisfied that your apprentices are ready to become warriors?"
"Yes, they're ready" They answered collectively
"I Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these three apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."
"Sandpaw, Dustpaw, Falconpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do" Sandpaw answered with her eyes shining.
"I do" Dustpaw meowed, his voice strong.
"I do," Falconpaw's voice was strong and unwavering, his ice blue eyes gleaming.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name. Sandpaw, from now on, you will be known as Sandstorm. StarClan honors your courage and spirit and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."Bluestar then rested her muzzle onto of Sandstorm's head and Sandstorm licked her shoulder respectively then turned and walked over to Whitestorm.
"Dustpaw from now on you will be known as Dustpelt, StarClan honors your bravery and honesty and ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior." Bluestar touched her muzzle to his head and he licked her shoulder respectively before joining the other warriors. She finally turned her attention to the golden brown apprentice.
"Falconpaw from now on you will be known as Falconstrike, StarClan honors your independence and determination and ThunderClan welcomes you as a full warrior." She touched her muzzle to his head and he respectively licked her shoulder then stood to make his way over to Scourgeclaw. Scourgeclaw was surprised to see Mousefur move to let Falconstrike take his place beside Scourgeclaw.
"Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Falconstrike, Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Falconstrike," The Clan called out. Bluestar waved her tail for silence.
"In the tradition of our ancestors these three will sit a silent vigil till dawn while the rest of us sleep, but before they start the Clan will share a feast in their honor ; Fireheart and Scourgeclaw I thank you both for your courage and I am proud that I can count on you two as members of ThunderClan. The Clan yowled out again calling out Scourgeclaw's and Fireheart's names. The Clan then began to make their way over to the fresh-kill pile. Mossflower purred her congratulations to Falconstrike and Scourgeclaw before making her way over to the fresh-kill pile. Falconstrike dipped his head to Scourgeclaw respectfully and Scourgeclaw touched noses with his former apprentice, who purred softly in response. Falconstrike then rose to his paws and headed over to the fresh-kill pile, he pulled out a vole and moved to eat with Swiftpaw. Scourgeclaw wondered how Swiftpaw was handling having his brother be made a warrior before him. Shaking his head clear of his thoughts made his way over to the fresh-kill pile.
Okay I'm done with this chapter
Zozosisi159 asked a question of how old Mossflower and Scourgeclaw are. Mossflower is the same age as Mistyfoot and Stonefur I don't know how old they are exactly but that is her age.
Scourgeclaw is closer to Whitestorm's age, I remember in Bluestar's prophecy when Bluestar first met Scourge she remarked that he looked like he was Whitekit/storm's age.
I wouldn't worry too much about a cat's age I've noticed that some cats seem to age faster than other cats even if their born later than some cats; a few examples of this: Tigerclaw and Whitestorm. Tigerclaw was born before Whitestorm was yet by The Darkest Hour Whitestorm's ready for the elder's den yet TigerClaw is still fit for battle. Another example is Shadepelt of RiverClan. She was an apprentice in Fire and Ice yet by the time of Midnight she is an elder and they don't mention her having a disease or any injury that would cause her to be an elder so soon, at least I don't remember anything. My final example is from The Last Hope, when either Lionblaze or Dovewing I can't remember who mentions that Spiderleg might be ready for the elder's den, which honestly is surprising considering there are a lot of other cats older than him including his father and mother yet none of them are mentioned being ready for the elder's den.
REVIEW and let me know what you think.
