Tigerclaw

It was evening by the time Fireheart returned to camp. He had simply melted away for the entire day. Tigerclaw wasn't happy with this. Every warrior needed to pull their own weight if the Clan was to prosper. And now there was this Fireheart going out of his way to even train an apprentice.

The deputy approached the younger warrior as he entered the camp, "Where have you been all day?"

The ginger warrior shrugged, "It seemed a good day for hunting." He padded towards the fresh kill pile and dropped a pathetically small mouse onto the mound.

"We also need warriors," Tigerclaw replied, "And Cinderpaw's training is your responsibility." Anger flashed briefly across Fireheart's green eyes, but it was gone as quick as it had come.

The young warrior dipped his head, "I understand. I'll take her out tomorrow."

"Good." Tigerclaw eyed the warrior critically. He couldn't have spent all day hunting one scrawny mouse. It just didn't make sense. He turned around and padded back towards Darkstripe and Goldenflower. He would finish his meal and worry about this insolent warrior later.

Darkstripe took a bite out of a chaffinch as Tigerclaw approached, and Goldenflower nudged a vole towards him.

"Here," his mate mewed, "I got you this." He quickly licked the top of her head before sitting down,

"Thank you."

They ate in silence for a few moments, then Darkstripe glanced at Tigerclaw, "What was that discussion with Fireheart about?"

Tigerclaw swallowed a bite of vole before answering, "He hasn't been doing anything all day. He just walked out of camp at sunrise, and he just got back."

"I'm sure he was just trying to get a bit of fresh air." Goldenflower mewed, "An apprentice is a big responsibility."

"But that's no excuse for leaving the Clan out to dry," Darkstripe replied. Goldenflower nodded in grudging agreement, and Tigerclaw let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm worried about him," he admitted, "He just seems to be so… so… I don't know. There's just something fishy about him."

Goldenflower swallowed some mouse before mewing, "Maybe it's a kittypet thing. He probably has trouble getting used to all of our rules."

Darkstripe didn't feel so merciful, "I don't care if he's a dog, if he wants to join ThunderClan, then he should be willing to follow the rules just as much as any cat. Personally, I don't see what's so special about him. Both Dustpaw and Sandpaw are fine apprentices, yet Bluestar promoted Fireheart first."

"Don't forget Graystripe," Goldenflower mewed.

A mischievious glimmer shined in Darkstripe's eyes, "Hah, now there's a puzzle. How did that rock in a cat's body get promoted?"

"Darkstripe! Don't be mean!"

"Sorry Goldenflower, I know the truth is difficult to deal with at times."

"It's all Bluestar's decision in the end. We have to trust her judgement." Tigerclaw pointed out.

Darkstripe's mew had lost its humor, "You're right. We just have to trust her judgement."

The moon was already high in the sky before Tigerclaw found a chance to speak with Darkstripe in private. He had assigned his former apprentice with the night watch, and he slipped out of the warriors' den at the first opportunity.

He glanced around the camp once, but nothing could be seen except the high walls of the ThunderClan camp. The other cats were asleep. He approached Darkstripe, and sat down beside him.

"I met with Princess last night." Darkstripe only nodded slowly. Tigerclaw continued, "She told me that there are groups of cats who break the Code for their own benefit. That they trade things and manipulate the Code."

Darkstripe's mew was grim, "I've been suspecting something like that for a while. It seems that whenever you have rules, there's always the cats who want to break them."

Tigerclaw had to agree, "You're right. But I've been thinking. Do you think that maybe Fireheart is one of those cats? That would explain why he disappears out on his own every so often."

This was news for Darkstripe, "You're right. That would explain some things. Especially how he got promoted so fast."

Tigerclaw glanced up at the sky, watching the moon floating through the sky, "You think Bluestar is in on this?"

"Like I've said before, that is a possibility. But if there's another leader or deputy who are part of these Code breakers, then they could also have suggested that Fireheart should be promoted." Tigerclaw considered this. That would mean that Bluestar was innocent. After all, a leader's word, even if it was from another Clan, carried a lot of weight.

"Should I talk to Bluestar about it?" he asked.

"Wait for a good moment. Fireheart needs to make a move first. The instant he gives himself away, you pounce."