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Chapter 23: Yellowfang
Tigerclaw felt fury surge through him as he heard Bluestar speak. His eyes must have given away his anger, but he didn't want any cat to see so he dipped his head down as if in agreement.
A brush of pride and joy swept over him for a heartbeat as he saw Lionheart beaming with surprise and honour. Lionheart, Whitestorm and himself had grown up together, all the happy times...
No, what are you doing? Tigerclaw shook his head. Stop that. He went up to congratulate Lionheart, nudging him a little harshly as bitterness overcame him, extinguishing the flame of happiness he had felt heartbeats before.
I should've been made deputy! I'm much stronger than Lionheart! I'm worthier than him! Tigerclaw turned and padded to the Warriors den, weariness overcoming him. The events of today had worn him out.
"Tigerclaw, may I have a quick word?" Bluestar meowed softly behind him. Tigerclaw turned around, irritable. "What?" He snapped.
Bluestar's tail flicked a little crossly at his tone but went on, "though I have not appointed Firepaw a mentor and I am not sure who I should choose right now, I ask that you and Lionheart both be his mentor. Just for now."
Tigerclaw nearly spat in disgust. Train a kittypet? No way! "Sure." Tigerclaw replied out loud. He turned and disappeared into the Warriors den, settling into his warm nest. Bluestar stayed outside a moment longer before Tigerclaw could hear her walk away and sit next to Redtail for a night of mourning.
• • •
Tigerclaw opened his eyes, expecting to see the shadows of the Dark Forest, only to realize he was staring at the wall of his den. I didn't dream of it tonight! It seemed as if ever since he had seen Thistleclaw and Snowfur together some cat had been pushing him farther away from there.
Tigerclaw stood and stretched. Oh yes, apprentice training with the weakling and the kittypet.
Pushing through the branches of the Warriors den, he found Lionheart padding out from the medicine cat's den. As the golden warrior spotted Tigerclaw,the new deputy went up to him.
"Ravenpaw won't be training today, though he will probably recover enough to join us tomorrow. Spottedleaf says he injuries are still bothering him." Lionheart answered.
Tigerclaw tail twitched, disapproving. "Fine." Tigerclaw muttered. "So we will be having the k- Firepaw," Tigerclaw corrected quickly, "and Greypaw yes?"
"Yeah. And Tigercaw, listen..." Lionheart hesitated. "You haven't been close to Goldenflower. At all. Wasn't she supposed to be your mate?..."
Tigerclaw unsheathed his claws. "No." He growled coldly.
The two of them had drifted away and she had taken a liking Patchpelt, before he died from greencough. She was nursing a black and white kit, Swiftkit, in the nursery right now. He looked suspiciously like Patchpelt and Tigerclaw was pretty sure who the father was.
"I know that she grew close to Patchpelt and all but didn't she announce you two were mates?..." Lionheart asked. Tigerclaw flattened his ears. He didn't like where this conversation was going.
"Come let's go, I see Greypaw and Firepaw." Tigerclaw changed the subject abruptly. Lionheart looked slightly frustrated but obliged and followed the dark tabby to the entrance of the camp.
Greypaw and Firepaw bounded up to them. I can still smell his kittypet stink. It reminded Tigerclaw horribly of his fathers betrayal. Going off to be a kittypet! Fool!
It was nearing sunhigh, and Tigerclaw glared at them. "In the future, I expect you both to be punctual."
Lionheart contradicted him. "Don't be to severe, Tigerclaw; it was a busy night for them. I expect they are just tired."
Tigerclaw ignored the statement as Lionheart explained to Firepaw that they would be sharing the job as his mentor.
"Come." Tigerclaw meowed. "Today we are going to show you the edges of our territory, so that you know where you will be hunting and what boundaries you need to protect. Graypaw, it won't do you any harm to remind yourself of the clan's outer limits." Tigerclaw hinted on the fact that the dark grey apprentice had strayed into the Twoleg place.
Tigerclaw turned and raced out of the camp, hearing the other cats' pawsteps following him.
• • •
"You all know why I've gathered you here." Bluestar meowed to them. She had called a meeting with only the senior warriors. "WindClan did not come to the last gathering, and ShadowClan seemed to be thinking they own all four clans."
Tigerclaw growled. "I smelled those fox-hearts a couple days ago. They were too close to the border for my liking."
Darkstripe nodded. What a copier. Just agrees to anything I say. Tigerclaw thought contemptuously. That kind of loyalty is beneficial to you though. Use it well in the future.
Willowpelt put in, "ShadowClan seems to have gotten more... Dark, since Brokenstar became leader."
Tigerclaw suddenly remembered he had fought with a certain Brokenpaw at the gathering when he was an apprentice. And that's when some cat named Wolfpaw came and told me Brokenpaw would be leader!
Tigerclaw was staring into space, wondering if Wolfpaw was right about other things. What else was in his dream or whatever? Blood and blue eyes or something... Why did he tell me again? It didn't concern me. I think.
"I think we should go and visit WindClan." Lionheart cut in through Tigerclaw's thoughts.
Whitestorm nodded and Bluestar dipped her head approvingly. "Good idea. Lionheart, you will stay in charge. I want..." The blue-grey she at looked around at her warriors.
"Willowpelt, Tigerclaw... Darks-" Lionheart suddenly spoke up. "Sorry to interrupt, but can Greypaw go with you? He is going to be bored with me being busy taking charge of the camp."
Bluestar nodded. "Of course. So Willowpelt, Tigerclaw, Darkstripe, Greypaw and I will go to WindClan. Meet me at the Great Sycamore at Sunhigh."
Everyone nodded to show they understood, and Bluestar dismissed them with a flick of her tail.
Tigerclaw rose, stretching, and went over to the freshkill pile for something to eat. Choosing a magpie, he carried over to where he normally ate, under the ferns.
He was about to sink his teeth into the prey before Whitestorm hurried over and sat down.
"Yes, Whitestorm?" Tigerclaw meowed. Whitestorm fidgeted. "Why don't you go sit with Goldenflower?"
Not this again! "Did Lionheart put you up to this?" He growled. Whitestorm flinched. "N-not exactly, we both are kind of concerned and-" Tigerclaw took a bite and began chewing noisily on purpose, drowning out the rest of Whitestorm's words.
Whitestorm fell silent, before nibbling at his vole.
• • •
Tigerclaw paced around the Great Sycamore. Willowpelt and Darkstripe were here, but Greypaw and Bluestar still hadn't come. It was nearing Sunhigh.
Willowpelt pricked her ears. "I smell Bluestar!" Darkstripe and Tigerclaw turned around to see the bushes rustling a moment before the leader stepped out.
"Are we all here?" Bluestar asked. Tigerclaw shook his head. "Greypaw's lat-"
The thick furred apprentice burst through the lush ferns near Darkstripe. "I'm here!" He gasped. "Sorry I'm late! I was hunting and I guess I lost track of time I realized it was near Sunhigh only heartbeats ago-"
"That's okay." Bluestar soothed him. "Come on, let's make up for the delay by going quickly to WindClan." She raced off, with the patrol following close behind.
• • •
"Careful. I smell ShadowClan." Tigerclaw growled.
They had reached WindClan's territory, and when no patrol went by after a long while of waiting, they set off to the camp. They were almost there when Tigerclaw had scented ShadowClan.
"What's ShadowClan scent doing here?" Greypaw spat. No cat answered his question, but Bluestar and Willowpelt exchanged concerned looks.
"There scent markers were stale." Darkstripe commented. "They haven't been renewing them."
Bluestar opened her mouth to taste the air better. Her eyes widened in shock. "I smell blood!"
Tigerclaw tasted the air as well, and sure enough, the metallic scent of blood was stale, but definitely there, and only fox-lengths away. But on top of that was the reek of ShadowClan.
Tigerclaw bounded after the patrol as they sprinted to the WindClan camp. The mingle of the enemy clan and blood grew stronger still. Tigerclaw soon overtook Bluestar at the front.
The entrance loomed ahead, the shrubs' leaves were bent and many were on the ground. A branch was broken from a rather tall shrub. Tigerclaw leapt through the damaged entrance and burst into the camp, the patrol on his heels.
Scraps of fur were scattered around the camp. Claw marks were scratched into the soil. A den had a crumpled entrance. Dried blood was splattered on the ground. There was even a bloody claw on the floor, no doubt torn from a battling warrior.
Greypaw was the first to speak. "What happened here?"
"Let's investigate. Greypaw, go with Darkstripe to the left side, Willowpelt look near the entrance, Tigerclaw go to the right, and I'll look around the middle." Bluestar ordered.
The patrol seperated. Tigerclaw sniffed a spash of blood on the floor. It smelled a little like WindClan. In fact, it was mainly WindClan's blood.
Pathetic. They deserved to lose if the can't defend themselves. Tigerclaw searched for any sign of where WindClan had gone, but it was all pointing to...
"ShadowClan must've driven WindClan out." Bluestar hissed from where she was standing.
"Snake-hearts! They can't just barge in and drive them out of the camp!" Tigerclaw went over to her. Privately, he thought it was a daring and brave plan, but he wasn't about to let Bluestar know that.
"Snake-hearts!" Darkstripe agreed. "They're just greedy for more territory."
"We'd better go back to ThunderClan territory and tell the rest of the clan." Bluestar meowed heavily. Willowpelt nodded and the patrol padded away from the WindClan camp.
• • •
Tigerclaw stiffened. "I smell ShadowClan." The scent was extremely faint but still there.
Bluestar nodded. "Be careful now." She whispered. She stepped forward quietly. The rest of the patrol followed her lead. Creeping forward, Greypaw pricked his ears.
"I smell Firepaw too!" He meowed. Tigerclaw shushed him with a hiss. What is that kittypet doing now?
Bluestar relaxed slightly, but still went forward with caution. "Seems like one warrior, in a very bad condition, a she-cat."
She stepped out of the bracken. Firepaw was crouching there, a long-furred dark grey she-cat with scars around her body. The remains of a rabbit was littered on the floor, and Tigerclaw saw Firepaw lick his lips nervously.
"H-Hi." Firepaw mewed timidly. Greypaw meowed back friendly, "Hi Firepaw!"
Tigerclaw felt annoyance boil up in him. Stupid! This isn't the time to be saying greetings. "Silience!" He snapped.
Tigerclaw turned his attention the the enemy cat and realized it was Yellowfang, the ShadowClan medicine cat. Warrior or not, she is still ShadowClan, and an enemy!
"Firepaw? What have we here? An enemy warrior- and recently fed by the smell of you both." Bluestar asked cooly.
"She was weak and hungry..." Firepaw mumbled. Tigerclaw snorted in contempt. That's no reason to feed this useless scrap of fur! If they are weak they don't deserve to be fed, they should just find food themselves.
"And what about you?" Bluestar replied. "Was your hunger so great that you had to feed yourself before your clan?" He voice was calm, but her eyes were furious slits."I assume you have a very good reason for breaking the Warrior Code?"
Yes, exactly! Speaking sense Bluestar! Tigerclaw whipped his tail angrily. Just like a kittypet, stuffing himself with no consideration for others. "Once a kittypet, always a kittypet!" He snarled.
Bluestar's gaze shifted to Yellowfang, and her voice changed significantly into a more pleasantly surprised tone. "Well, well Firepaw! It seemed you have captured us a ShadowClan cat. And one I know well."
Yellowfang must be really roughed up if she can't defend herself from a kittypet who is barely trained!
"You are ShadowClan medicine cat, aren't you? What are you doing so far in ThunderClan territory?" Bluestar went on. Yellowfang flattened her ears and hissed, "I was the ShadowClan medicine cat. Now I travel alone."
Tigerclaw smirked. "Yellowfang! It looks like you have fallen on hard times if you can be beaten by an apprentice!"
Darkstripe got the idea Tigerclaw didn't like Yellowfang on their territory, and quickly jumped in to back him up. "This old cat is no use to us. Let's kill her now. As for this kittypet," he sneered, "he has broken the warrior code by feeding an enemy warrior. He should be punished."
Fool! That's not how you are going to win Bluestar's trust. The leader purred, "keep your claws in Darkstripe. All the clans speak of Yellowfang's bravery and wisdom. It may help is to hear what she has to say."
Bravery and wisdom! Yeah right. Really fierce, that Yellowfang. Tigerclaw thought sarcastically. Being beaten by a kittypet.
"Come; we'll take her back to camp and decide what to with her." Bluestar meowed. "And Firepaw. Can you walk? Or do you need help?" She asked Yellowfang.
Take her to the camp?! She will share all our secrets to ShadowClan!
Yellowfang snapped an angry retort, but Tigerclaw didn't stop to listen and padded to Firepaw, shooting him a threatening glare. It's not like he should feel proud to capture a over-sized rat. Bluestar led the way through the trees, Tigerclaw following close behind.
• • •
The patrol seperated, Darkstripe following Yellowfang closely. Tigerclaw hurried over to Bluestar.
"What are you thinking, bringing a ShadowClan cat into the camp?! She'll tell her clan our secrets an-" Tigerclaw was cut off when Bluestar replied abruptly, "she is wise. She can tell us things that have been happening in ShadowClan, why they drove WindClan off or where WindClan have gone."
Yeah right! She's not going to tell us that!
"It's just too dangerous to bring an enemy warrior into the heart of ThunderClan! Now that she knows the camp, even the smallest ShdowClan kit will hear of it. We will have to move." Tigerclaw growled. He was exaggerating, but he had to let her know is was a foolish idea. They will try to drive us out just like WindClan.
"Calm down Tigerclaw." Bluestar's careless tone infuriated the tabby warrior. "Why should we move? Yellowfang said she was traveling alone. There is no reason for ShadowClan to hear of it."
Is she serious? Yellowfang could possibly be lying! If Firepaw hadn't messed with this...! "Do you really believe that?" He spat. "What on earth was that foolish kittypet thinking of?!"
"But think Tigerclaw, why would a ShadowClan medicine cat choose to leave her own clan? You seem to be afraid that Yellowfang share our clan secrets with her clan, but have you thought of how many ShadowClan secrets she could share with us?" Bluestar reasoned.
Hmph. Nice point of view Bluestar, but still... He nodded briskly and stalked off to the freshkill pile.
Tigerclaw picked out a vole for himself. He smelled Firepaw, and looked up to see him bending down, ready to pick out a mouse for himself. Idiot! He already ate. Just like a kittypet, stuffing himself when he had his share of rabbit with Yellowfang. Nor did he bring back prey.
He got up quickly and pushed the mouse away. "Not for you. You didn't bring back any prey. The elders will eat your share. Take it to them."
That's a fair enough punishment for Bluestar right? He glanced at Bluestar, who nodded and replied, "do as he says." Tigerclaw felt confidence rise in him. Bluestar had agreed with him, meaning she was beginning to trust him more. That is important for if you want to be deputy.
Once he was finished his freshkill, Bluestar called a meeting. She began explaining about the ShadowClan scents in WindClan territory, and the evidence of a battle.
Cats gathered below began asking for answers, but Bluestar shook her head to all of them. "I don't know the answers to any of your questions. Brokenstar has not given any hint of threat at the last gathering."
"Perhaps Yellowfang has answers?" Darkstripe snarled. "After all, she is ShadowClan!"
The dark grey she-cat snorted in disgust. "I am no traitor! I would never reveal ShadowClan secret to a brute like you!" Darkstripe fluffed out his fur, and the two cats hissed, ready for a fight.
Tigerclaw approved of how Darkstripe reacted, but knew that Bluestar wouldn't like it. We need to gain her trust Darkstripe!
"Stop!" Bluestar commanded. "That's enough. This situation is too serious to be fighting among ourselves. ThunderClan must prepare itself. From this moonrise onward, warriors will travel in larger groups. Other clan members will remain close to the camp. Patrols will travel the borders more frequently and all kits must stay in the nursery." She filed out the orders.
"Our need for warriors is our greatest obstacle. We shall get around this by speeding up the training for all of our apprentices. They need to be ready even sooner to fight for our Clan." Bluestar went on.
All the apprentices looked excited at this, except Ravenpaw, who was looking nervous. Tigerclaw was shocked. She doesn't mean making them warriors now does she?! Ravenpaw is definitely not ready! And Firepaw just started his training!
"One young cat has been sharing mentors with Graypaw and Ravenpaw. By teaching him, I shall speed up the training of all the apprentices."
No way!
"I shall take Firepaw as my own apprentice."
Shocked gasps met this announcement. Tigerclaw too was stunned. "So Firepaw is to be rewarded, not punished, by feeding an enemy warrior when he should've been feeding his own clan?" He growled.
"Firepaw is my apprentice now. I will deal with him." Bluestar replied. Is that why you made him your apprentice?! So that I wouldn't be able to punish him how I wanted him to be punished?!
"Yellowfang will be allowed to stay here until she has recovered her strength. We are warriors, not savages." Bluestar added. Darkstripe looked up at her, eyes wide with disbelief. "But the Clan cannot support Yellowfang we have too many mouths to feed already."
Exactly! Tigerclaw thought. Bluestar ignored the indignant retort from Darkstripe. "We shall kill two prey with one blow, as it were. Firepaw, as punishment for breaking the warrior code, it will be your responsibility to care for Yellowfang. You will hunt for her and tend her wounds. You will fetch fresh bedding and clear away her dirt."
Hmph. Announcing his punishment took you long enough. "Yes. Bluestar." Firepaw meowed submissively. I would've punished him more severely. A good whack on the head and no meals for a day would do, along for caring for Yellowfang. That's how you teach lessons, making it one that they won't forget.
Tigerclaw turned his attention away from his thoughts and back to his leader. He had missed some of her answers to the taunts of Firepaw's punishment. He would've liked to join in the jeering comments, but he made himself sit respectfully.
"I would like to have a word with my senior warriors now." Bluestar jumped off of the Highrock and padded into a quiet corner of the camp.
What does she want? Tigerclaw padded to join Whitestorm, Lionheart, Willowpelt, and Darkstripe who were all padding over to join Bluestar in the corner.
When every cat was settled down, Bluestar began.
"I know some of you have been doubtful about me bringing a kittypet into the clan. But I have... Good reasons for it. We have been low on apprentices, and less of a fighting force, which is more important then ever."
Yes, but a weak and foolish kittypet is not going to make a difference! Tigerclaw thought, irritated.
"Now, we do need more guards on the border of ShadowClan. White-"
Bluestar's voice cut off abruptly.
A sudden flash of light blinded Tigerclaw and he sank his claws into the soil.
Voices echoed around him. What's this? Where did everyone go?!
Silvery light was everywhere, stars sparkled around him. "Tigerclaw, great to see you again." A small black kit with green eyes spoke. "Who are you?" Tigerclaw growled. "Where have you brought me?"
"Have you forgotten already?" She asked sadly. "I'm Nightkit, your sister."
Re-read the super short chapter 16 if you don't remember Nightkit ^^ and if you don't remember the whole Wolfpaw telling Tigerpaw about Brokenstar thing re-read chapter 11.
Thanks for reading and Review!