Gamer4 in. Well, I have nothing to say.

Disclaimer: I don't think I've gained control of either Warriors or A Christmas Carol since last chapter.

Chapter I

Several Years Later

Tigerstar opened his eyes. It was Christmas Eve. Hurrah. Another chance for the clans to try and take advantage of his clan. He slid out of the leader's den and looked around the hollow. His deputy, Fireheart, was putting together some patrols to find some fresh-kill, mark the borders, etc. Tigerstar grimaced. He had only made that kittypet deputy because he'd received a sign from Starclan. On seeing his leader awake, Fireheart hurried over.

"Tigerstar, I need to talk with you about something," he said, looking at him seriously. Tigerstar sighed.

"Very well," he said. "Make it quick, though. We don't have all day."

They headed into Tigerstar's den. Fireheart, on entering, turned to face him.

"What is it?" Tigerstar demanded.

"Well, Tigerstar, the thing is, tomorrow's Christmas, which I'm pretty sure you know, and the clan- including me, for that matter,- were wondering-"

"Wondering what?" Tigerstar cut his deputy off. "If you could laze around all day tomorrow, with no thought for consequences of inaction?"

"'Consequences of inaction?'" Fireheart repeated, looking stunned. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that, just because our clan thinks it's okay to slack off just because of this idiotic holiday doesn't mean the other clans think that way. We've been having trouble with Windclan, in case you haven't noticed, and I've never trusted Shadowclan."

"But they celebrate Christmas too," Fireheart insisted. "Even Blackstar is humbled by a holiday like this one."

Tigerstar opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by a loud, singing voice. They turned to face the source. "Starclan rest ye, merry gentlecats, let nothing you dismay!"

Tigerstar felt exasperated as he recognized the voice. Sure enough, it was his nephew, Brambleclaw, that jumped into the den, still singing at the top of his voice. "Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, oh, tidings of comfort and joy! Merry Christmas, you two!"

"Merry Christmas!" Fireheart said, looking at his friend.

"'Merry Christmas?'" Tigerstar asked, looking at Brambleclaw in wonder. "What right do you, of all cats, have to be merry about anything?"

"Well, what do you, of all cats, have to be angry about?" Brambleclaw retorted. "It's Christmas, Tigerstar!"

"Christmas is just another day for the Clans to sit around, neglecting their duties! At best!" Tigerstar shouted. "At worst, it's an opportunity for the clans to take prey freely! I can't think of a day to be less happy!"

Brambleclaw looked at his uncle in astonishment. "You never fail to amaze me, Tigerstar."

"What did you come here for, anyway?" Tigerstar demanded.

"Well, me and some warriors from all the clans are going to throw a bit of a party in the abandoned twoleg den, and I wanted to invite you to come."

Tigerstar looked at his nephew, who's eyes were shining with hope, and felt no remorse in breaking his spirit (that was nearly impossible to do anyways) by saying, "I refuse to get any more involved with this holiday than is necessary. Leave me."

Brambleclaw turned to Fireheart. "What about you, buddy?"

"Sorry, Brambleclaw, but I've already made plans to be somewhere else on Christmas. Me and some others are going to have a dinner over at where Daisy used to live."

"Okay, I'll get out," Brambleclaw said, stepping out.

Tigerstar rounded on Fireheart, who looked a little unnerved. "Very well. If you get out of my den now, I'll let you all have half the day off of work tomorrow, for your little parties. But I'll want you up and moving all the earlier the next day."

"Thank you, Tigerstar," Fireheart said, bowing his head. "I'll go tell the clan."

As Fireheart turned to leave, Tigerstar once again left his den. He had barely made it out when he scented something that didn't belong. Windclan! He turned toward the entrance to the hollow, where Dustpelt and Thornclaw were coming into camp with two Windclan warriors between them: Crowfeather and Ashfoot.

"They want to speak to you," Dustpelt said, allowing them by.

Tigerstar looked at them. "And what do you want?" he growled.

"Windclan is going through some hard times," Crowfeather said, looking up at him. "Our prey is becoming scarcer than ever, and our kits may be starving. We want to borrow some fresh-kill, even if it's not much."

There was the quiet hint of a plea in his voice. Tigerstar felt anger surge through him. Here was proof of what he'd been saying about Christmas! Windclan hadn't thought to hunt for themselves, and now they were trying to take prey from his clan!

"If I can speak," said Thornclaw's voice. "I think we should give them some. We definitely have a surplus, and if it's true that kits are starving-"

"No," Growled Tigerstar. "You won't take any of our prey."

"Please!" Ashfoot said, looking up at him. "We need this!"

Tigerstar, stepping forward, smelled the scent of milk coming from her. This explained a little bit, at least. Her kits were among those who could die. However, if their clan had chosen not to hunt, that wasn't Tigerstar's business.

"Leave this camp," he growled.

"We can trade you!" Ashfoot cried desperately. "If you need herbs, we can provide them, we've had absolutely no shortage of those!"

"OUT!" Tigerstar bellowed. "GET OUT OF MY CAMP!"

Dustpelt and Thornclaw walked forward, and gently moved them toward the exit. As they left, Tigerstar thought he could hear Ashfoot crying a little. Still filled with anger, he left the camp to hunt.

As he came back, carrying a sparrow and a rabbit, he heard another voice as he approached the camp. It wasn't a voice he recognized, however. As he approached, he realized it was the voice of a kit, or at least a young apprentice. However, it wasn't from the clans. Right now, it was singing at the entrance. "Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright!"

It was a nice voice, but Tigerstar wasn't enchanted. He walked right up to the cat, and, glaring down at it, growled, "What are you doing here?"

The kit jerked around, but smiled as he looked up at Tigerstar, obviously not noticing the anger. The cat was pure black, aside from a single white paw. "Me and my brother and sister live in the twoleg den across the lake!" he said. "Right now, my sister is sick, and we need some medicine to help her! Could you please spare some-"

"No!" Tigerstar said. Why was it that everyone considered Christmas a time to mooch off of Thunderclan?

"But," the kit said, it's smile faltering, "if she doesn't get medicine, she might-"

"I don't care!" Tigerstar said, unsheathing his claws. "Get off this territory!"

The kit jumped back as Tigerstar raised a claw. Eyes widening in fear, the kit ran away, not looking back once. Tigerstar, still feeling anger, picked up his fresh-kill again, and walked into camp.

Well, that's all for now. Please R&R, constructive criticism is not only fine but welcomed with open arms, flames are bad. Gamer4 out.