Short-ish chapter today. Been working all week, and I have a pound cake to make for Mother's Day. Sooo motivation has been on the low side this week.
Every chapter gets us closer to the end! That's about as much good news as I can give to you guys at the moment haha... but as long as you're enjoying it...
Also I still don't own Warriors. Erins don't sue me please.
Reviews are super appreciated!
Dusk was gathering under the trees as the last glance of sunlight faded from the sky. The air was warm and filled with the fresh scents of newleaf. The whole forest seemed full of hope and recovery, and yet Bramblestar knew, as he leaped onto the top of the mudpile, that he was about to lead his clanmates into another deadly battle. Looking down on them, seeing the gleaming eyes of every cat turned toward him, Bramblestar's courage wavered and for a moment he didn't know what to say. Then he met Firestar's calm, trusting gaze, and he felt stronger again. The dragon was evidently nervous about seeing his hatchlings go off towards battle, but nevertheless still held a gleam of pride in his eyes.
"Cats of Thunderclan," he announced. "I know what I'm asking of you, and I want you to know that I trust every one of you to fight with courage tonight. Remember that we've taken on badgers before and won. We defeated the Dark Forest cats, and they were far more dangerous than a few badgers! Starclan fought alongside us then, and they may be not with us in the same way now, but they'll be watching over us, just as they always have. Thunderclan warriors, to victory!"
"Bramblestar! Bramblestar!" his clanmates yowled. Bramblestar realized with a stab of relief that after their earlier hostility they were all with him now, ready to risk their lives to save Shadowclan and to rid the forest of the threat from badgers.
Jessy and Frankie looked as enthusiastic as the clan cats, joining in to call his name. Jessy's eyes were sparkling with excitement. Bramblestar nodded to her, inviting her to walk beside him as he sprang down from the mudpile and prepared to lead his cats out of the camp.
He saw Jayfeather and Brightheart exchange some words, before Brightheart broke away to position herself at the edge of the clearing. He had purposely left some warriors behind, just in case the badgers either made their way to their temporary camp, or if his patrol desperately needed some fresh warriors as backup.
He hoped if worse came to worst, Firestar would hear the sounds of battle and direct the remaining warriors on what to do.
'At least this way, he's helping but not actually interfering,' Bramblestar tried convincing himself. If Firestar could contain himself to just roaring last time, then surely he can muster up enough self-control and let Thunderclan handle themselves.
Bramblestar led his warriors out of the clearing, hearing the voices of the cats who remained echoing through the trees behind him.
"Good-bye! Good luck!"
"Give the badgers a few good scratches from me!"
"We'll keep the camp safe!"
At last the voices died away, and the Thunderclan cats padded in silence through the darkening forest. The moon appeared above the tops of the trees, shedding a silver light over the open spaces, while the shadows of the undergrowth seemed even darker. The warriors crossed the top border into the wild woods, and along the line of the ridge to the invisible border with ShadowClan's extended territory.
Here Bramblestar paused. He could feel that his cats were tense and anxious as the moment of the battle drew closer. Turning to face them, he spoke to them again, his voice lower so that they had to gather around tightly to listen. "Remember that this is Shadowclan's battle first," he meowed. "Our help is unexpected."
"More like unwanted," Dustpelt muttered, glaring into the darkness.
Bramblestar ignored the interruption. "Whatever happens," he went on, "however Shadowclan reacts, we do not get into fights with them. We're here to drive out badgers. Nothing else."
Murmurs of agreement rose from the assembled cats. They waited, quivering with anticipation, a few tail-lengths inside Shadowclan territory. Bramblestar's ears were pricked for the first sounds of battle, but he was still aware of Dovewing by his side. She was shaking from ears to tail-tip, and working her claws frantically into the loose earth.
"Are you okay?" Bramblestar whispered, pressing himself against her for a heartbeat. Dovewing gazed up at him, her blue eyes wide and scared.
"I don't know how I can fight without being able to see or hear," she confessed.
"Like any other cat," Bramblestar told her. "Dovewing, you're an amazing fighter. I know you can do this. You won't let Thunderclan down."
To his relief, his words seemed to calm Dovewing. Her trembling died away and her chest heaved as she took deep breaths. Dovewing had distracted Bramblestar briefly, and an outbreak of distant screeches, ripping through the dusky air, took him by surprise. A heartbeat later he recovered himself. "The battle has begun!" he hissed. "With me- now!"
.
.
The immediate area around Firestar was quieter now that at least half the clan had left camp, but that didn't mean that he couldn't hear what was going on. His head was lifted towards the sky, the fins that made up his ears extending outwards as he picked up the sounds of battle coming from Shadowclan territory. He could hear the yowls and screeches of voices that he assumed were Shadowclan warriors, and the unmistakable hissing of badgers.
Then came the more familiar yowls of his clan finally joining the fight. He bristled uncomfortably as he tried picking out Bramblestar and Squirrelflight. It was harder picking out certain cats in the middle of a battle where he could only rely on his hearing, especially because he also had to pick out Jayfeather's voice in case the medicine cat needed him to relay a message to Brightheart.
His wings itched to take flight and end the battle himself. He dug his claws into the earth, trying to ground himself.
What dragon wouldn't want to protect his hatchlings from danger?
The stone's heat washed over his chest uncomfortably.
These badgers are in your territory, possibly hurting your hatchlings. What King stands back and lets such a thing happen?
Firestar let out a shaky breath. He had claimed the lake to be his. These badgers were in his territory! Why was he-?
"I know it's hard," Sandstorm murmured from his side. Her body pressed against his scales, almost like another pulse of heat emanating exclusively at his side; and yet he treasured her presence.
"Bramblestar wants to prove that Thunderclan can handle this," she reasoned.
"I know," he murmured.
He tried refocusing on the battle. The screeches hadn't gotten any more intense than before, but they weren't dying down either.
"…need comfrey.."
Had that had been Jayfeather? He tried focusing in on the voice.
"Can you hear me? I'm running out of comfrey!"
He snapped to attention. "Brightheart," he called towards the she-cat. She emerged from the edge of the clearing, already running towards where Jayfeather kept his herbs in the tunnel.
"He's running out of comfrey," he said, then paused as a particular yowl brushed against his senses.
The unmistakable sound of his hatchling in pain.
If Jayfeather had run out of herbs and his hatchling needed medical attention now-
'Brightheart won't reach them in time! What if Squirrelflight dies by that point? What if Bramblestar loses a life?'
His thoughts ran wild, all the while the stone burned and stung at his chest.
As soon as he saw Brightheart exit the tunnel, comfrey in her jaws, he rose to his claws and held one out to her.
"You won't reach them in time. Get on," he growled.
There were meows of alarm around him at the dragon's sudden demand.
"You know that's not what Bramblestar wanted you to do," Sandstorm said, a paw on his scale.
Why have this power and not use it?
He loved Sandstorm. He cherished everything she did for him, even if it meant keeping him from making rash decisions and impulses such as this one. He didn't want to disappoint her, or his hatchlings.
But the stone was also right.
"I don't care," he snarled, body lightly trembling.
The remaining cats within camp edged away from him warily, and he saw Minty duck back into the tunnels out of the corner of his eye.
"He would be faster than if Brightheart ran there herself," Graystripe argued, smiling weakly.
Sandstorm looked resigned as Brightheart hesitantly climbed into his claw, her own claws digging into his scales.
"Hang on." The harsh wind produced from his wings violently shook the surrounding trees and bushes. Cats yowled as they tried preventing themselves from being blown away by his wingbeat.
Brightheart's own screaming was muffled by the herbs she was desperately trying to keep in her mouth, while at the same time trying her hardest to keep balance on his claw.
Within a few heartbeats he was airborne and soaring across the still flooded territory. The yowling only got louder as he approached, even with the wind whipping and lashing at his ears.
His eyes were hyperfixated on the outskirts of Shadowclan's temporary territory.
Firestar felt a roar bubbling up in his throat. Not even his own hatchling's request would keep him from making sure his treasures were safe.
He didn't need a reason to protect them.
Now you're finally acting as you should.
Tl;dr: Firestar finally gives into instinct for once in his life and interferes, like he usually does.
Interfering is about as natural instinct as you can get with him actually.
He's not going to want to let his three remaining treasures out of his sight for while after this...
Tell me how I did.