I limped through camp over to Fireheart. "Fireheart, we need to talk." I meowed. Fireheart looked up from his grooming, his tongue still sticking out.
"About?" he asked. I sat beside him and took a deep breath.
"We can't let Bluestar find out about Tigerclaw." I said quickly.
"What?!" Fireheart exclaimed in shock. I flinched and flattened my ears. "But you know what he's capable of!"
"I know but it's not his fault!" I protested.
"What, so are you saying that he has a bad cat living inside him who likes to come out and kill cats for fun?" Fireheart retorted. Actually, yes. I sighed and shook my head.
"Just trust me on this. Let me talk to him and I might be able to convince him to stop being this way." I said. Fireheart scoffed.
"Talking isn't going to get him to stop." he muttered.
"It will if it's me talking." I snapped. Fireheart sighed and looked at me sternly. "Please, Fireheart. Just give me the chance to talk to him." Fireheart let out a deep breath then looked into my eyes.
"You have until the next gathering. If there aren't any signs of a change in Tigerclaw, then I'm going to talk to Bluestar." he said. I sighed in relief and nodded.
"I promise he'll change." I meowed. Then I got up and limped to Goldenflower. She looked up at me.
"Bluestar-"
"Where's Tiger-" I broke off as Goldenflower let out a snap.
"It's rude to interrupt, Leopardstorm. I taught you better than that." she scolded. I groaned and beckoned her to continue. "Now like I was saying, Bluestar wants to see you in her den." she said. I sighed and hurried to Bluestar's den. Bluestar was sitting in her nest and her gaze jerked to me when I padded into her den.
"Leopardstorm, do you remember who did that to you?" she asked. I struggled not to snap.
"No, Bluestar. The same answer I told you before." I said through gritted teeth. Bluestar sighed and looked at the ground in thought. "Where's Tigerclaw?" Bluestar looked at me.
"I haven't seen him since this morning. He was out looking for Graystripe I guessed." she meowed. I stomped my paw in annoyance. Then shocked murmurs sounded outside the den. Me and Bluestar hurried out to see what happened. Graystripe was walking through the entrance with kits at his paws. Fireheart and Cinderpaw were beside him with Tigerclaw lingering in front of them. "What's happened?" Bluestar asked. Graystripe had his head bowed in grief while Fireheart was filled with shock. Cinderpaw's expression was lost and full of sorrow. Tigerclaw was just looking like Tigerclaw.
"She's dead…" Graystripe whispered. I narrowed my eyes.
"Who?" Bluestar asked with pricked ears.
"Silverstream!" Graystripe wailed in grief. I gasped as I realized what happened. Silverstream gave birth… but she didn't make it… oh Graystripe… Bluestar narrowed her eyes.
"These are your kits?" she asked. Graystripe nodded and whimpered. Tigerclaw sniffed and looked at them in disgust.
"I say we give them to Riverclan. Or better yet chase them out." he meowed. I gaped at him in shock and anger.
"That's not fair!" I protested.
"What kind of kit wants to be raised without a mother?" Tigerclaw snapped. Bluestar lifted her tail at me warningly as I opened my mouth to reply. I growled and dug my claws into the dirt.
"I'm sure one of the queens could care for them." I retorted through gritted teeth. Brindleface stepped forward.
"I'll take care of them." she offerd. Tigerclaw glared at her.
"Don't you already have a kittypet to look after?" he snapped, flashing his glare at Fireheart and Cloudkit. Brindleface lifted her head with pride and her gaze didn't waver.
"Any kit is a blessing." she said calmly. I smiled as Bluestar nodded.
"Alright. If that is what you wish, Brindleface. Thank you." Bluestar meowed. Graystripe padded over to the nursery with Brindleface and the kits.
"Thank you." he murmured in her ear. Brindleface gave him a comforting smile and ducked her head as she went inside the nursery. I sighed and looked at Tigerclaw. He looked furious as he watched Graystripe walking into the nursery with the kits. Longtail and Darkstripe were sitting beside him.
"Another pair of rogues we have to look after." Darkstripe snickered as he glared at the kits. I bristled and stomped over to them.
"Instead of sitting around and glaring at innocent kits, why don't you two go out hunting and actually benefit the clan?" I snapped. Darkstripe grumbled and led Longtail out into the forest. Tigerclaw glared down at me. His eyes were amber this time. I watched them a little longer to make sure Killing Storm didn't come out.
"You have no right to talk to my warriors like that." he said bluntly. I struggled not to slice his ears off.
"Well at least I didn't gather a group of rogues and order them to kill them." I retorted. Tigerclaw winced but he forced himself to stand taller to the point he towered over me. I glared at him with unscared eyes and I lifted my chin with pride. He snickered as he looked down at me.
"You truly are my daughter. Nothing can scare you." he murmured. I opened my mouth to snap but he continued. "I remember, when you first walked out the nursery and you saw the clouds. You were terrified because you thought that they were going to come down and eat you whole." he chuckled softly. I flattened my ears and looked away. "Then I would reassure you that they weren't going to move and you would sit down and watch them to prove me wrong. And when one moved as slow as a snail, you would let out a little squeak of triumph." I snapped my gaze to him.
"Why are you changing the subject?" I snapped.
"Why are you trying to disown me?" Tigerclaw countered. I flinched and looked at my paws. "We were so close, Leopardstorm. What happened to that?"
"You changed… I thought I could trust you…" I whispered. Tigerclaw lifted my chin up to face him.
"You can still trust me." he mewed. I shook my head.
"Not when you're like this. You sat and watched as those rogues tried to kill me. And to make matters worse, you're the one who ordered them to. How am I supposed to trust you after that?" I said.
"But remember, I'm also the one who ordered them to stop." Tigerclaw murmured. I looked into Tigerclaw's eyes. His eyes were half hidden but they couldn't hide the emerald green of his iris. I growled and shoved him away.
"I can't believe you, Killing Storm!" I snarled in rage. Killing Storm burst out laughing.
"Your face! That was priceless! That was the most fun I had in years!" he laughed. I growled and struggled not to leap at him. Tears began to form in my eyes but I blinked them away. Killing Storm already noticed and bent down to the ground to look up at me with innocent eyes. "What's wrong, itty bitty leopard? Don't you enjoy a good laugh?" he gushed. I swiped his nose in rage.
"When I get back to Leopardclan, I will slice your throat out!" I snarled. Then I turned heel and ran out into the forest. How could I've been so stupid? Tigerclaw would never say things like that! Tears streamed from my eyes as I ran through the trees. Then I bumped into Brambleclaw.
"Whoa! Slow down, Leopardstorm!" he chuckled. Tawnypelt was beside him with a squirrel in her jaws. She looked at me with worry.
"Leopardstorm? What's wrong?" she asked. I burst out in tears and shoved my face into Brambleclaw's shoulder. He looked at Tawnypelt in confusion and uncertainty before patting my back with a paw.
"It's ok?" he mewed. Tawnypelt cuffed his ear then licked my head.
"What happened?" she asked. I shook my head.
"I don't want to talk about it." I muttered. Tawnypelt settled beside me and licked my ears.
"Well whatever it is, we're here for you. You can trust us."