Chapter 20

Panic flooded Tinyclaw. "Where?" he demanded. "How many?"

Cinderpaw's whole body was fluffed up in shock, the whites of her eyes showing. Yet she flicked her tail towards the undergrowth and reported, "Over there – I saw them creeping through the undergrowth."

Tinyclaw frowned. Creeping? That wasn't good. His heart was thumping in his ears but he meowed, "Go back to camp – tell Tigerstar. We need warriors out there right now."

Cinderpaw nodded. "And you?" she wondered.

"I'll be fine," he insisted. "Go!"

Cinderpaw sped off, a gray streak in the undergrowth. Tinyclaw dropped into a crouch and crept forward, keeping himself low and out of sight. It wasn't long before he could hear the sounds of a great number of cats moving through the forest – blundering, more like. He picked up the sounds of their cursing as they tripped over roots and stepped on twigs.

Tinyclaw pushed himself into a bush and peered out between the leaves. To his horror he saw WindClan and ShadowClan walking together, just like Cinderpaw had reported. This was no party sent to talk, either – there were too many, and they all had anger in their eyes.

His heart plummeted at the sight. Tallstar and Nightstar were in the lead, walking side by side as if it was something they'd always done. Mudclaw walked beside Cinderfur, Onewhisker, and Stumpytail were trotting along, Wetfoot and Deadfoot were shoulder-to-shoulder as if they'd been littermates all this time.

Swallowing the lump in his throat Tinyclaw fled the bush and rushed back to camp. Inside he was torn – those WindClan cats were his friends, and it was very clear now that a fight was imminent. He didn't want to fight these cats, especially when the fight was so unnecessary. Tinyclaw padded up the ravine, only to find that it was already filled with cats.

Atop the ravine Whitestorm and Oakheart had gathered every warrior. Tinyclaw breathed a sigh of relief that Cinderpaw had made it in time – but by the time that Tinyclaw joined the other warriors, ShadowClan and WindClan were already bursting through the undergrowth.

The flat top of the ravine was full of writhing, spitting cats almost immediately. Tinyclaw was spun about in the confusion, eyes widening as he saw friends fighting friends. Morningflower clawed Longtail until he squealed; Onewhisker slashed at Dustpelt's face with Stumpytail by his side. Sandstorm came to quickly back up Dustpelt, and Tinyclaw sprang at Morningflower.

His heart ached when he slapped at Morningflower with his paws. She released Longtail and spun, allowing her foe to escape down the ravine. Morningflower's eyes flashed before she sprang onto Tinyclaw, who dodged her easily.

Flashing before his eyes as they fought was the time he'd carried her lone kit back from the Thunderpath tunnel. How he'd stayed by her side and made sure she made it across a dangerous Thunderpath on the way home. How she'd been the first to settle into the nursery. Tinyclaw pushed the memories away and swiped at her face, but somewhere deep down he could not bring himself to wound her.

Morningflower had stopped, looking at Tinyclaw with great sorrow. Then, she fled. Tinyclaw sighed and knew then that not every WindClan cat was eager to fight.

He was not let alone for too long. Wetfoot slammed into him, knocking Tinyclaw's breath from his body. Before Tinyclaw could recover Wetfoot began clawing at his belly. Tinyclaw suked in a great breath, pushed past the pain, and slammed his hind legs into Wetfoot's stomach. The tom let out a screech as he was flung across the clearing.

Tinyclaw got to his paws and leaped with a roar, scoring his claws down Wetfoot's side. Wetfoot wailed as blood welled up beneath his fur, and when he squirmed Tinyclaw released him, grunting in satisfaction when Wetfoot fled into the undergrowth.

He turned, only to find that the top of the ravine was almost empty. Tinyclaw sped to the edge, looking down – most of the fighting had shifted there, down at the bottom just before the camp. The united force of ShadowClan and WindClan had pushed ThunderClan back too quickly for them to keep up. They were outnumbered.

Tinyclaw scanned the crowd. He spotted Tigerstar amidst the crowd, fighting with Whitestorm by his side. Their foe was Tallstar, who was unafraid of Tigerstar's greater size and strength. Tinyclaw's paws quivered in fear for his leader, but he knew that Whitestorm would not let Tigerstar fall.

Grunting, Tinyclaw leaped down the ravine and back into the fray. His fall was broken by Stumpytail, who was still harassing Sandstorm and Dustpelt. The brown warrior buckled beneath Tinyclaw's paws, and he shrieked like a kit. Sandstorm and Dustpelt took the opportunity and leaped into the fray, and together all three of them managed to drive off the ShadowClan tom.

The gorse wall of the camp waved as the fighting grew more intense. Though ThunderClan was picking off one or two warriors here and there, they were still greatly outnumbered. Tigerstar's voice roared over the crowd: "Fall back! Defend the camp!"

Tinyclaw squirmed through the fight, following the other ThunderClan warriors as they flowed back into the camp and spread out in a defensive line in the clearing. Gorse prickled and tore at Tinyclaw's pelt as he broke into the camp. By then the nursery had a line of defenders, and their attackers were flowing into the camp.

Tigerstar let out a great roar and the battle resumed. With Whitestorm and Oakheart by his side, he lunged at Tallstar and Nightstar. The two leaders were stunned, brought down into a mass of writhing cats. Sandstorm was pulled down before the nursery by a cruel-looking ShadowClan tom – only to be shocked as Bluefur's claws scored down his side from within the nursery. Together she and Willowpelt drove off the attacker.

Tinyclaw drove off a WindClan warrior with three swipes and a nicked ear, and slowly but surely ThunderClan was bouncing back – though they all knew why this fight had started, none of them were going to be brought down within their own walls. It wasn't just about Brokentail anymore, it was about the honor of ThunderClan.

Yellowfang let out a screech as a ShadowClan cat rushed at her. Her matted fur bunched and ruffled, her orange eyes fierce like flame. Tinyclaw soared across the clearing and grasped her attacker by their haunches. He dug his claws in deep until they screeched. With a few more strikes, Yellowfang was safe.

"Thanks," she rasped. "I won't let them take him."

Tinyclaw frowned. She was standing before Brokentail's nest, secluded in the overgrowth of the elder's den. Yellowfang's great secret lay back there, blind and grasping – her son, whom she could never acknowledge.

He only nodded to her and turned – but the battle was already over. Tigerstar released Tallstar and Nightstar from his grip, and the two sounded the retreat. Almost as quickly as the battle began, it was over, and the clearing was splattered with dry blood and tufts of fur.

Immediately as the adrenaline rushed out of him, Tinyclaw's body ached. It seemed that the rush had left every other cat too, for they crawled into the clearing to lick their wounds. Tinyclaw spotted Cinderpaw limping towards the center, and he caught up with her.

"You did well," he offered, giving her ear a lick. "Like a warrior."

"T-Thanks," she stammered. A hunk of fur was missing from her flank, but she looked proud of herself. Her claws were clogged with enemy fur and she settled down to clean them.

Yellowfang and Brackenpaw appeared suddenly, herbs packed into their jaws. As the Clan gathered in the center of the clearing, in the shadow of the Highrock, the two medicine cats began distributing healing herbs to the wounded. Tinyclaw settled down to lick his scratches as Tigerstar padded atop the Highrock.

"You brought this upon us!" screeched Darkstripe. "You made us keep Brokentail, and now we've been torn to pieces for his sake! How long until one of us dies for that heartless fox?"

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. He was bleeding from a wound on his side, but seemed all right otherwise. "Doing what's right isn't easy, Darkstripe," he growled. "I never thought it would be."

"But this, for Brokentail?" Darkstripe countered. "For a few mousetails I'd kill him myself!" The murmur of agreement in the crowd showed that he wasn't the only one.

"Darkstripe," meowed Bluefur. She commanded not only his attention, but the Clan's. The tip of her tail was bleeding, and it was clear that she had fought for her kits. "That is your leader you are talking to. Show respect."

Darkstripe backed down, and the Clan muttered even more quietly. Tinyclaw frowned. Was Bluefur really agreeing with Tigerstar's reasoning, or was she just biding her time? Tinyclaw knew she hated the thought of Brokentail being in camp… or did she?

He recalled that not long ago she had been sighted speaking with Brokentail as if they were friends, Clanmates even. Was there another reason for her change of heart?

As he thought this Tinyclaw saw the gorse tunnel twitch. In came Graystripe, fur sleek and undamaged and a sparrow in his jaws. The gray tom took one look at the wrecked, bloodied camp and dropped his sparrow in shock.

"What happened?" he gasped.

"What happened? he asks!" mocked Darkstripe. "Where have you been?"

"Hunting," Graystripe replied, pawing the sparrow. "What happened here?"

"ShadowClan and WindClan attacked," Oakheart replied. His eyes narrowed. "We needed every warrior."

"I'm sorry," Graystripe murmured. His tail was fluffed in shock. "I… I didn't know. I was by Tallpines!"

You were with Silverstream, Tinyclaw corrected. He sighed and wondered if Graystripe was beginning to realize the gravity of his situation at all.

Darkstripe thrust his muzzle forward. "You're away far too often for my liking!" he spat. His dark fur was bristling. "Perhaps -"

"Enough!" growled Tigerstar. His voice boomed throughout the camp. "Graystripe had no idea what had happened here. He was only doing his duty for the Clan. Any one of you could have been off hunting while this was happening. It does no good to accuse in a time like this."

Darkstripe's neck bristled, but he backed down. He spat a curse and padded towards Brackenpaw. Tigerstar grunted and padded down the Highrock. He headed for Yellowfang, and the sting in Tinyclaw's side suggested he ought to do the same.

Yellowfang was just below the Highrock, mashing berries with her paws. Tigerstar was laid out before her, and Yellowfang placed the mash along the worst of his wounds. Tinyclaw waited until she was done before he approached.

Tigerstar's ears pricked. "I thought you'd been seen to already," he grunted.

"I was waiting," Tinyclaw offered. "My injuries aren't as severe."

Yellowfang rumbled in agreement: "You're right; mostly lost fur, nothing more. A few scratches but nothing deep. You're almost right as rain but I want a little marigold on your flank just in case."

"If you've the supply," Tinyclaw told her.

Yellowfang tossed her head and sorted through her leaves. As she did so, she meowed to Tigerstar, "I am sorry for this. If I hadn't insisted we take in Brokentail…"

"Enough," Tigerstar sighed. "Yellowfang, despite what Brokentail has done he deserves our compassion now." His eyes flashed at the dark she-cat. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

Yellowfang sighed, her tail flicking. She touched her nose to Tigerstar's head and muttered, "He has brought great danger to my adopted Clan, and for this I am sorry."

Tigerstar grunted, but said nothing. He stretched and, as Yellowfang applied marigold to Tinyclaw's flank he couldn't help but stare at his leader, who was looking far away. Out of the ravine, over the trees… to where?

Tinyclaw frowned. Tigerstar had been so strange lately – so contemplative. Ever since Tinyclaw had told him about Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw having a ThunderClan father he'd wondered about RiverClan, worried about their warriors, and now seemed almost softened by some knowledge that Tinyclaw couldn't grasp.

And yet…

Tinyclaw frowned. No, I must be mistaken. A lot of cats had similar shapes to Tigerstar – the wildness was in their blood over the generations. Yet Tigerstar's distinctive broad shoulders, his dark amber eyes, his great muzzle… Tinyclaw had only seen them in two other cats, too close for coincidence.

Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt.

That can't be true.

Could Tigerstar have been their ThunderClan father?