Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. And I probably never will.

Chapter 17: The Forest of Darkness.

"Redtail! Willowpelt! Redtail! Willowpelt!"

Thunderclan cheered for it's newest warriors. Many moons had passed since the two littermates had been kits. Spottedpaw, their sister, had finally decided to train as a medicine cat, and had yet to receive her full name.

Tigerclaw meowed a short "good job" to Redtail and Willowpelt, before walking towards the freshkill pile. He hadn't gotten far when he felt something clutching at his tail. Turning his head around, Tigerclaw saw it was Ravenkit and Dustkit, Fuzzypelt and Robinwing's newest litter. It was Ravenkit who had pounced at his tail. Dustkit was right behind him. Ravenkit had finally dared to go outside the nursery. He hadn't gone out of his nest for three moons! Stupid, weak scaredy-mouse! And now he's grabbing my tail like he owns it!

Whipping his tail around, he glared at Ravenkit. "Stop using my tail as if it was your toy!" Ravenkit looked up at him with wide, frightend eyes. Then he ran back to Dustkit, who was looking at Ravenkit and whispering, "you shouldn't have done that. Don't tell Robinwing, she'll kill us for disturbing the clan's strongest warrior!"

Tigerclaw felt a smile creep up to is face as he heard Dustkit call him the clan's strongest warrior. He had finally proven that he was the most powerful.

Suddenly, Thisteclaw dashed over to him out of nowhere, and pushed him outside the camp. Tigerclaw hissed in surprise.

When Thisteclaw was done dragging him over to a thick clump of ferns, Tigerclaw snarled at him. "What in the name of the forest are you doing?!" Tigerclaw no longer used the term, "StarClan" anymore ever since his encounter with his sisters at the Moonstone. He hated StarClan even more than before.

Thisteclaw paced around, muttering. "I can't believe it! This can't be happening? Why... How?..." Tigerclaw stared at him. "What? What happened?"

Thistleclaw faced his former apprentice. "You know Bluefur had kits?" Tigerclaw nodded. "Of course I know!"

Thisteclaw went on. "And ever since that fox came into the nursery and stole them, Bluefur is back on warrior duties." Tigerclaw growled, "get to the point! I already know all this. I haven't been hiding under a rock!" The grey and white tom ignored the comment. "I just overheard this. Sunstar thinks that Bluefur should be deputy! And Bluefur excepted the offer!"

"What?" Tigerclaw stared at him. Now I'm never going to become deputy! Tigerclaw knew Bluefur didn't really trust him for some reason. And Thisteclaw had promised to make him deputy once he was leader. And for Thisteclaw to become leader he had to be deputy, and for him to be leader he had to be deputy too...

SKKKTCH!

Tigerclaw gasped. Blood soaked his cheek. The tips of Thisteclaw's claws were wet with blood. My blood, Tigerclaw thought.

"LISTEN TO ME." Thisteclaw gaze pierced Tigerclaw. "This is serious." Tigerclaw glared at him. I can't be a scared of a scratch, even if it is a deep one. "Why is it so serious?" Thisteclaw froze. His gaze faltered.

Tigerclaw noticed the reaction and pressed harder. "I know it isn't just about being powerful for you. What is it that makes you want to rule ThinderClan so much?" Tigerclaw felt a sudden calm, as if time itself had stopped. "You have taught me everything about strength, power, and patience. And in return I gave you complete loyalty to you, and given hate to the weak. And now I want to ask one small thing from you: an answer. Will you give this answer to me?"

Thisteclaw backed away slowly. "No... No no nononono... It's too soon... Too soon... He can't know yet..." Thisteclaw suddenly stiffened. The grey and white tom's ears twitched. Tigerclaw waited, remembering the lesson of patience he learned seasons ago.

"Has it been so long?..." Thisteclaw began murmuring slowly to himself. "Must I tell him now? Surely at least two more seasons..." Thisteclaw stood still, as if waiting for an answer. Tigerclaw couldn't understand who he was talking to.

"I know, I know... No more than five seasons and I have to tell..." Thisteclaw paused to look at the dark brown tabby sitting beside him. Tigerclaw met his gaze. His clanmate glanced away. "Yes... The Shadow Blood begins will begin after the New Dark ceremony... So I suppose..."

Now Tigerclaw was really confused. Shadow Blood? New Dark ceremony?...

Thisteclaw bowed his head and stood up. Motioning to his former apprentice, he began to pad away. "Come."

Tigerclaw pushed himself to his paws, and followed his clanmate.

• • •

Thisteclaw had lead Tigerclaw over to a oak near the edge of the territory. "Climb up." Thisteclaw began to claw his way up the tree. Tigerclaw followed.

When Thisteclaw reached a sturdy branch strong enough to hold his weight, he sat down. Tigerclaw rested on the branch below his former mentor.

"Well?" Tigerclaw asked when the silence had stretched for quite a long time. Thisteclaw sighed and turned towards to look at the dark brown tabby. "You know about StarClan?"

"Of course I know."

"And you know that when the so-called 'good' cats die, the go there?"
"I told you, I knew this when I was a kit!"
"Well, StarClan isn't the only place cats go to when they die."

"What?" Tigerclaw stared. He had hated the idea of going to StarClan, wishing so badly that he could find a new place to live there, where the most powerful cats could wander. And now Thisteclaw was telling him his wish. "Do cats get to choose where they go?"

"No. If StarClan thinks you are worthy to go to their territory, they will let you in. But if they think you are not worthy, they will send you away into... Into somewhere else." Thisteclaw muttered.

"That still doesn't answer my question. Why are you so keen for you or me to be leader?"

The grey and white tom cat hissed. "For revenge! Revenge on the clans for being so soft and meek! Revenge to rule the four clans! Revenge on StarClan for making the warrior code so stupid!"

Tigerclaw's eyes widened. Thisteclaw flicked his tail. "I ask you one important question."

The dark brown tabby nodded. Thisteclaw took a breath. "Do you approve of this?

Tigerclaw thought for a moment. Revenge... Revenge on the clans.. Revenge so the possibility to rule the forest is greater... Revenge on...StarClan.

Tigerclaw turned towards his former mentor. "I'm in." Thisteclaw smiled. "Good." Tonight, focus on your hatred for StarClan. I and the rest of our group will be waiting for you."

Tigerclaw was puzzled. "Um... Where will you and the rest of the group wait for me?"

Thisteclaw laughed. "Why, in your dreams of course."

Tigerclaw bristled. "I thought that is what StarClan did." Thisteclaw waved his tail dismissively. "StarClan aren't the only ones. Now come on, let's go back to camp."

"Wait."

Thisteclaw turned towards his former apprentice. "Yes?"

Tigerclaw began slowly climbing down. "You never told me what this place is called."

Thisteclaw grinned. "Excited, aren't you? Well, that particular place is called,"

"The Dark Forest."

I'm SOO sorry that this chapter took forever to upload! I accidentally deleted it and then I had to redo it, and then there was a horrible error that didn't allow me to upload chapters... Well, thanx for your patience, enjoy the chappy, and R&R!