Chapter 60: New Beginnings
It appeared lightning could strike twice because the next morning, Darkstripe found Swiftpaw awake. The poor tom looked miserable, but he was alive. Cinderpelt was frantically checking on the two apprentices now that they were conscious, but both she and Darkstripe knew the two apprentices were hurt more than anything physical. They were both traumatized. Darkstripe's inner mother hen awoke to comfort the two cats. He'd been in a similar position initially. He decided to place himself beside Swiftpaw while Cinderpelt went out to retrieve Longtail and Goldenflower.
"Swiftpaw? How are you feeling?" Darkstripe cautiously asked the apprentice.
"Like I'd been hit by a monster." Replied the apprentice glumly. All his ambitions of being a warrior and proving himself seemed to have been lost in the fight.
"That… isn't too far from the truth. You've been wounded. Some of it will never heal. You'll never get your tail back, and from what Cinderpelt has told me, you'll always have a feeling of numbness in your paws from the wounds you received. Your back will take time to heal, but it will recover. You and Brightpaw both made a foolish decision in confronting those dogs, but I can at least say a bit of good came from it. The big red is dead and the rest we've got a plan to get rid of. This has not come without cost. Brindleface was attacked and killed by the dogs after we increased patrolling."
Swiftpaw could only stare at him with unblinking eyes. His once heroic bravado was lost.
"I… I got so many cats hurt." Mewed the apprentice with his voice cracking.
"You did." Darkstripe reluctantly agreed, "but that wasn't your intention. You meant to protect the clan and be the hero I know you are. I've told many cats this, but there are an infinite number of things that each of us could or could not have done. They don't matter. They don't change anything. Instead, I want you to focus on what you can do. You and Brightpaw still need to recover. You'll need to compensate for your new disadvantages. Above all else, you'll need to teach. A cat's failures aren't only their own. We failed you if you thought it was necessary to prove yourself to us. We have always been proud of you and Brightpaw. Now it is your turn to teach us and the next generation. Teach them of your failures so they don't repeat them. Become an inspiration and hero to them. Prove your injuries didn't break you."
Darkstripe could tell Brightpaw was listening in because of her breathing pattern. He hoped she'd take inspiration from his speech as well. The two cats needed a little hope. As Longtail made his way in with Goldenflower, Darkstripe made his exit. The news of the two apprentices awakening was already spreading around camp lightening every cat's spirit.
Unfortunately, trouble was brewing in the neighboring clan. Crookedstar had just recently passed away due to a bout of greencough sneaking into camp. The clan had been devastated, but the newly named Leopardstar wasn't about to be idle with her new power. Riverclan needed a victory to cement her rise, so she decided another battle of Sunningrocks was in order.
Fireheart, Sandstorm, and Cloudtail were on the Riverclan border patrol when they heard Leopardstar call the attack. Immediately, five Riverclan warriors threw themselves at the patrol. The Thunderclan patrol was easily outnumbered. Leopardstar was overzealous in her attack. Her swipes could all too easily become fatal wounds. She tried to corner Fireheart. She leapt, meaning to give the Thunderclan deputy a bite that would spell his end when one of her own warriors shouted out a warning.
"Fireheart! Behind you!"
Fireheart spun and barely dodged the newly made leader's attack. Retaliating, he struck a hard blow across her face before rolling her into a pin. His claws bit painfully into her flesh as he raked them across her pelt. Leopardstar had no choice but to retreat but not before dealing with the cat who yowled out the warning.
"Greystripe! You are exiled from Riverclan! If we find even a hair of your pelt on our land, we'll shed you to pieces."
Leopardstar fled knowing her first battle as leader would forever be marred by a loss. Her own wounded pride had also cost her a warrior. She never had a great hate for Greystripe. He was useful in teaching dry hunting techniques, but she could always feel his loyalty would never be to the clan. She knew she acted rashly, but she would not back down from what she'd done. She felt she needed to instill confidence in her clan by being uncompromising in her decisions. Crookedstar had been lax in his leadership, so now Leopardstar planned to be a firm paw. In the back of her mind, her confidence to lead the clan was waning. She'd already made some poor decisions. Her clan didn't look up to her like Crookedstar. The duties were overwhelming, but she still had some fight left in her.
Greystripe and the rest of the patrol returned to the Thunderclan camp much to every cats' surprise. Initially Bluestar was hesitant to allow the returning warrior into Thunderclan's ranks, but given how close of a relationship the grey cat had with her deputy and Darkstripe, she felt some leniency could be had. With a bit of ironic smugness, she decided the best option was to accept him as an apprentice. His mentor until he proved himself would be Brackenfur. With the roles reversed, maybe he'd learn some loyalty and humility. That does not mean she did not feel for Greystripe's plight at having his kits a clan away, but sometimes a little cruelty can be kinder than letting everything be a bygone.
Fireheart was excited to have his friend back. Even if he had to assign Greystripe apprentice duties, the camp felt more complete than it had in moons. Fireheart used his free time to catch up with his old friend unknowing of the jealous stares of his two mates. Darkstripe and Sandstorm knew it was just Fireheart catching up, but the way he opted to join his old friend over them left their minds uneased and paws twitchy.
The two spurned mates decided to concoct a plan. This plan was to turn the tables on that unsuspecting tom. They'd be the ones leaving Fireheart twitchy, angry, and uneasy. They'd go out of their way to make Fireheart jealous. It began with Sandstorm choosing to eat with Darkstripe over Fireheart. Then Darkstripe would pass by Fireheart at the usual time he'd pester the deputy for attention instead looking to Sandstorm for conversation. What finally pushed Fireheart over the edge was when Darkstripe teasingly asked Sandstorm what their kits would look like. Fireheart threw himself at the two.
"How dare you two go behind my back. If any cat is going to give Sandstorm kits, it's going to be me!"
Darkstripe had to throw in a playful jab. "Aw. And here I thought you'd moved on to my little brother. With how you pad after him, we only had each other for comfort."
Fireheart's face burned in embarrassment. He knew his mistake, but he also caught on that the two had been playing him.
"I'll try to make some more time for you both."
Once again, Darkstripe went in for the last word. "Better hurry with giving Sandstorm those kits. Who knows when I'll make a move?"
Fireheart stormed off thoroughly embarrassed while Darkstripe and Sandstorm laughed at their mate who they so expertly pranked.