Woah, sorry about not updating in so long. Major writer's block combined with starting university just killed my ability to write anything. Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to update more often now that I've gotten back into it. ~ Capitaine Jaf

Chapter Fourteen

His Plan

"So, what did he want?" Fox's bright green eyes followed me as I paced back and forth.

"I'm not allowed to say."

"Why?"

"Because I may be talking to a ShadowClan spy."

Fox purred, "You caught me, Shatter. Now stop pacing and tell me what he wanted."

I sat down and curled my tail around me. "Apparently our fearless leader knows this forest cat," I explained. "He told me his story, briefly. He was a kittypet at one point in time, apparently. He had two siblings who used to follow him around. One day, he led them into the forest, but they ran away scared. Then this huge tabby showed up with some other forest cats and attacked him. Apparently he held his ground pretty well, but he's had a grudge ever since. Anyway, he came to this place and his natural air of command just sucked in the other cats."

Fox looked doubtful. I purred. "I know, I know. I don't believe of word of it, but that's what he told me. In any case, this Tigerstar is the tabby, and Scourge's been forming a plan. Him showing up today was just a bonus."

"So, what does he want you do?"

"Go into the forest and find out what's going on."

"Why you?"

"He didn't specify. Probably because I'm big enough to be intimidating, but he doesn't care if I don't come back."

"Why wouldn't you come back?"

"If I'm killed."

"You? Killed?" Fox shook his head. "That's impossible."

"Well, what do you think?"

"You should go, I guess. Gain some favour."

I flicked my tail in annoyance. "I don't want him to think he controls me."

"He's getting you out of the way because he can't control you," Fox meowed. "Every cat will know that."

"Why not send you with me, then? He can't control you, either."

Fox got up and walked over to me. "What cat said that I wasn't come with?" He gently head butted my shoulder, then continued walking. "I'm going hunting."

I got up to follow him.

(***)

Fox and I headed to the forest to hunt. Maybe it was because of the thought of us having to go live in it for awhile. Hunting in the forest was different than in the twolegplace, but not any harder. Fox killed a fat squirrel, I got a young rabbit. We sat side by side to eat our meal.

"You want to come with me?" I couldn't help but ask. The question had been running through my head since out previous conversation.

"Well, why not?" Fox meowed. "You can't honestly think that after all this time of being with you, I'm going to let you go off on your own. We're family. Besides, Shatter, Wren told us to take care of each other." He glanced at me then. "I… I can't forget that."

I nodded. A moment later, I pressed myself closer against his side. "And so, my friend, we'll take care of each other."

We settled back into eating. Both of us remembering Wren. Both of us taking comfort from the other's presence.

(***)

We waited a couple days before going back to Scourge's alley. Bone tried to stop us at the entrance, but for the first time I managed to brush my way past without him stopping me. Fox trailed after me. After my rough push past, Bone stepped out of the way from Fox.

I stopped in front of the pile of twoleg stuff that made up Scourge's den. I sat down and waited for Fox to reach my side before yowling, "Scourge!"

Brick, who was half-asleep in the sun nearby, jumped to his feet. "Stupid cat! You can't adder-"

"No, Brick. It's alright." The little cat walked out from his den to sit in front of me. "Well, Shatter? Your decision?"

"We'll do it."

"We'll?" Scourge glanced at Fox. "Of course, the minion."

I hissed.

"Calm down, Shatter. Of course you'll bring the tabby with you. I expected as much." He was lying, I could tell. He didn't understand the friendship I had with Fox.

"He has a name," I meowed.

"Of course he does," Scourge agreed dismissively. "So we'll discuss the plan. Bone!" he meowed loudly.

Bone was at his side in an instant. The two of them sat down in front of me and Fox.

"Tigerstar believes that BloodClan will help him win his battle," Scourge meowed. "This is, of course, incorrect. He will allow us to get close, and then we'll turn on him. I plan to kill the cat. Before I make any further decisions, however, I need to know more about him. About how he runs his clan, how obedient his cats are. That's where you come in, Shatter."

"And Fox," I meowed. Fox rolled his eyes at me. Strange how Scourge's indifference towards him bothered me more than it did him.

"Yes, and… Fox," Scourge meowed impatiently. "You will go to his clan, pretending to be loners looking for a place to stay. If my thoughts about him are correct, he'll want you, Shatter. Let him think you're loyal. Let him think that you'd die for him. Convince him of this. And do a better job than you did trying to convince me."

"I didn't bother trying."

Scourge appraised me for a moment, obviously wondering if trusting me on this job was worth the risk. He seemed to come to a conclusion. "Yes, you're a leader. You don't enjoy being controlled by anyone. I could tell when I first saw you. You're not a cat to be trifled with. I'm not going to pretend to have any power over you."

That came as a shock. My eyes widened.

"Oh yes, I know you'll never submit to being controlled," The little cat glanced at Bone, then back at me. "Bone is an excellent deputy, I couldn't ask for better. But you'd make a better leader."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was Scourge truly considering me to lead BloodClan after him? He hated me!

"So, once you understand Tigerstar, you'll return and tell me all you know. This is when I will plan the final details. Then, BloodClan will go to the forest. And we'll take it over."

I was still confused by his admittance of my power, but I still was paying enough attention to nod when he finished describing his plan.