Chapter 33: On The Way
"It's not my fault!" Tigerclaw spat, fury rushing through him. How dare she blame me?!
Mapleshade was lashing her tail. "Yes it is! If you were smart enough you would've gone yourself, made her come instead of sending an apprentice who was much less authority than you!"
"It wasn't my fault!" Tigerclaw repeated. "If the stupid, foolish kittypet didn't interfere and watch out for- For-"
His throat tightened oddly. "For Cinderpaw, then I would be leader now!"
The she-cat in front of him suddenly sprang, claws out and aiming for him. Tigerclaw whipped away to one side. Mapleshade hissed in frustration.
"Well Tigerclaw, I hope you're ready for more serious commitment to becoming leader." Mapleshade snarled. "And stop worrying about a few shattered lives."
She knows. She knows about Cinderpaw.
Tigerclaw unsheathed his claws. "I don't know what you mean." He growled. "I was fine with Redtail wasn't I?"
Mapleshade narrowed her eyes. "You know very well what I mean."
Tigerclaw felt his anger spill over. Why can she see this clearly in my head?!
He slashed his claws towards Mapleshade. To his surprise, his claws made contact and blood, a strange, dark blood came out of the wound.
Mapleshade hissed in pain. That's what you get you stupid little-
The Dark Forest warrior launched herself at him. Tigerclaw sprang forward as well, meeting her in mid-air. His greater weight forced her back down.
Tigerclaw pinned her to the ground. "You may be a Dark Forest warrior, all stuck up and think you're the greatest, but you've got to stop being so self-absorbed!" He snarled. "Think about your imperfections for once, and stop ordering me around!"
Mapleshade was breathing heavily underneath him, and didn't reply. Tigerclaw went on furiously, "Whatever happened to 'I'm you guide' and 'I'll help you' and all that? Some help you are!"
Mapleshade's yellow eyes blazed. "You think I'm your friend who will gently help you through every mistake you do?"
"I don't think you're a gentle little kit, but I'm asking for a little more respect here!"
The tortoiseshell underneath him suddenly widened her eyes. Tigerclaw suddenly wasn't sure what reaction his words would bring.
"HA!" Mapleshade let out a loud, choking laugh. "Respect? Tigerclaw, surely you should know by now that in the Dark Forest, no cat is your ally, no cat here to give you respect. We are all equal as enemies and what StarClan calls 'evil cats' here. Perhaps not to the point of loathing of each other but we certainly aren't allies. Respect is something not given in the Place of No Stars."
• • •
It was Sunhigh, and though there was a chilly wind blowing the sun was warming the air.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"
Tigerclaw and the rest of the clan padded over. The deputy sat down at the base of the rock.
"Sandpaw and Fireheart have brought good news. The river is frozen over." Bluestar began. "We will take this opportunity to make a raid on RiverClan's hunting grounds, to send the message that they must stop stealing our prey. Our warriors will track down one of their patrols and give them a warning that they'll remember for a long time!"
The clan began chattering excitedly. "Tigerclaw! Are our warriors fit enough for a raid on RiverClan?" Bluestar asked.
Tigerclaw nodded. We're always ready for battle! He flexed his claws. "Excellent. Then we shall leave at sunset."
Every cat yowled approvingly.
"It feels warmer today. A thaw would make the ice too dangerous to cross." Some cat contradicted.
Tigerclaw swung his head around to see who had been the one who had said it. Who wants to show weakness?! Do you not want to battle? It was Greystripe who had spoken, looking nervous yet a little defiant.
"You're not usually reluctant to fight." Tigerclaw meowed suspiciously.
"Yes, Graystripe- you're not afraid of those RiverClan fleabags, are you?" Darkstripe sneered.
"Looks like he's scared!" Dustpaw hissed.
"Yes, of getting his paws wet! Graystripe's fallen through the ice once this leaf-bare; he's not keen to do it again." Fireheart quickly defended his friend.
The clan purred with amusement at his words. Greystripe didn't look too happy being the centre of attention.
Tigerclaw wasn't convinced at Fireheart's words. Why doesn't Greystripe want to fight now? And why-?
"I must discuss the raid with my senior warriors." Bluestar promptly leaped off of the rock, and headed into her den.
Putting Greystripe out of his mind, Tigerclaw followed the leader, Whitestorm and Willowpelt behind him.
"Now," Bluestar meowed once they had all settled inside. "Greystripe does have a point. The sun is high in the air, and it could be dangerous."
Willowpelt nodded. "We wouldn't want cats being drowned."
Whitestorm murmured an agreement.
"But if we go quickly," Tigerclaw urged, "We may be able to attack before the ice has melted." Willowpelt still looked a little uncertain. "What about when we come back?"
"The sun would have set by then, and hopefully under the cold air that will have returned with the setting of the sun will freeze the ice once more. We could still get back." Whitestorm pointed out.
Bluestar raised her tail for her warriors to fall silent. "Thank you for your opinions. Willowpelt is correct, the sun will be melting the ice."
We have to fight! Maybe I could even find out what Greystripe is doing with RiverClan...
"But Tigerclaw and Whitestorm are also right. Like Tigerclaw has suggested, I agree we must attack at once, to be able to cross the river when the ice is still firm. I must tell the clan immediately."
Bluestar stood up and left the three warriors to follow.
"Willowpelt agrees with young Graystripe, a thaw is on the way." Bluestar announced. Tigerclaw watched Greystripe closely. He flashed a quick, rather smug look towards Fireheart. Fireheart didn't seem offended, but almost relieved.
"So we will attack at once!" Bluestar's final words were met by cheers and yowls of enthusiasm.
Tigerclaw saw Greystripe's expression change to horror. Fireheart looked a bit scared. Too scared to fight warrirors kittypet?
"We will leave a patrol of warriors here to guard the camp. We have to remember the possible threat from ShadowClan. Five warriors will make the raid. I will remain here." Bluestar added.
"Tigerclaw will lead the raiding party." Tigerclaw turned towards Bluestar, nodding his head in agreement. "Darkstripe, Willowpelt, and Longtail will go with him. That leaves one more place."
Tigerclaw opened his mouth to suggest Greystripe when some cat asked-
"Can I go?"
Tigerclaw's gaze focused on Fireheart once more as the ginger warrior spoke. His eyes shone slightly desperate and were almost pleading.
Bluestar beamed. "Thank you, Fireheart. You may join the patrol." She purred, looking quite proud. "There's no time to lose, I can smell the warm winds myself. Tigerclaw will brief you as you travel. Go now!"
Tigerclaw motioned for his patrol to follow. With a swish of his tail, he and his patrol behind him pounded out of the camp.
Past the undergrowth and past Sunningrocks, Tigerclaw led his patrol quickly to the river.
Even before they had reached the river however, Tigerclaw could see that it wasn't frozen anymore. There was the rushing sound of running water as the patrol halted, staring at the now unfrozen river.
"We'll have to wait." The deputy growled, flexing his claws. We will get a chance to attack some other time. Turning around, he trudged back to camp with his clanmates following.
Tigerclaw looked back over his shoulder, wondering if Fireheart felt happy about not battling RiverClan. He certainly didn't look too displeased.
By the time he had reached the camp, the sun was beginning to set, casting dark shadows along the camp.
Bluestar looked up at the not battle-scarred warriors, looking a little bewildered. "Have you fought them already?"
Tigerclaw shook his head, "The ice had melted. We weren't able to cross." More cats had come to listen. "We had no choice but to return. Lucky for those mangy fish-faces, they won't be involved in a defeat by us. Once we've found another way to teach them a lesson about intruding on our territory though, their luck will run out."
The cats who had all looked a little subdued brightened up a little at his words. Disintegrating into smaller groups and going away, his clanmates left him as he padded towards the freshkill pile.
A sudden snarl and hiss made his head turn. Greystripe and Fireheart were locked in combat, rolling across the dusty camp ground, spitting and growling to each other. Tigerclaw caught words of: "My own choices" and "Trying to protect you".
You aren't supposed to attack a clanmate! Bluestar will be very angry with the little kittypet! Tigerclaw couldn't hold back a delighted smirk, curling his lip to show his sharp teeth.
"Stop this at once!" Bluestar yowled. The whole clan was staring at the two friends who were clawing each other, and at their leader. Goldenflower suddenly appeared at Tigerclaw's side. "Why are they fighting?" She gasped. "I thought they were friends!..."
Bluestar continued to reprimand at the two. "Fireheart, I want to see you in my den- now! Greystripe, go to your nest and stay there!"
Oh Fireheart is going to get punished! Glee shot through him. That's what you deserve!
Tigerclaw and the rest of the clan left the clearing, most slipping into their dens for a night of sleep.
• • •
"Alright, there is a thaw going on now, and we must take this chance to regain our strength and catch more prey." Tigerclaw told the group of cats listening to him.
We would've had more territory if we had raided RiverClan. If we hadn't wasted so much time we would have more territory to hunt, meaning more prey, and sending a message to the clans we were strong... He thought to himself distractedly.
Fireheart padded over, and Tigerlcaw turned his head to meet him. "Nice of you to show up."
"Graystripe"- Tigerclaw jerked his head towards the grey warrior.-"just joined us too. He's been having a word with Bluestar."
Fireheart flashed a glance towards his friend, who didn't meet Fireheart's green eyes. The ginger warrior hurriedly went over to sit beside Sandpaw.
"During this thaw, the woods will be alive with prey. They'll be hungry after sheltering in their burrows. This will be a good chance to catch as much as we can." Tigerclaw repeated.
"But there's still fresh-kill in the snow store." Dustpaw meowed.
"It'll be crowfood soon." Tigerclaw told him. "We need to take every opportunity to hunt. As leaf-bare goes on, the prey will start to disappear, and what stays around will be too thin. Longtail, I want you to organize the hunting parties." The deputy ordered.
There, that's settled. I must check if Bluestar gave the two a fair punishment for their ridiculous squabble. Tigerclaw headed towards the leader's den while Longtail turned to his clanmates and began sorting them out into patrols.
"Bluestar, I wish to speak to you."
"Come in." Bluestar had her paws tucked under her chest, blue eyes half-closed.
"Have you given Fireheart and Greystripe a punishment for fighting each other when they are supposed to be clanmates?" Tigerclaw asked.
"No."
"Why?" Tigerclaw demanded.
"Feelings are running high in the camp. Just a few days ago I heard Sandpaw and Dustpaw arguing. It might only be their empty bellies. Have you sent out hunting patrols?"
Tigerclaw nodded curtly, but refused to let the topic be changed. "That is no excuse for attacking a fellow clanmate." He spat.
"Empty bellies mean bad tempered cats, that's the way it is." Bluestar mewed softly. "I'm counting on you to keep our clan at least some-what fed."
Tigerclaw forced back an irritated growl. "Of course."
Bluestar dismissed him with a flick of her blue-grey tail. Tigerclaw dipped his head and slipped past the lichen hanging over the leader's den.
• • •
Tigerclaw lifted his head. After a patrol, he had slipped into his den for some rest. The scent of a stranger had reached his nose, accompanied with a young kit's mewling.
The deputy stepped out, unsheathing his claws in case it was a dangerous intruder.
Shock shot through him as he found the scent was coming from a small white kit squirming around in Fireheart's jaws.
A kit! Where did that kittypet find it? Just what we need, another mouth to feed!
Bluestar slipped out of Yellowfang's den. Most of the clan had come out to find the source of the noise.
"What is this?" Bluestar asked with an edge to her voice. Fireheart set the kit down and wrapped his tail around it to keep the fluffy ball of fur warm. "It's my sister's firstborn."
"Your sister!" Tigerclaw snarled. A kittypet kit! Even worse!
"You have a sister? Where?" Speckletail meowed. Longtail swished his tail, "The same place as Fireheart was born of course. Twolegplace!"
Bluestar's eyes widened. "Is that true?"
Fireheart bowed his head. "Yes. My sister gave it to me to bring to the Clan."
"And why would she do that?" Bluestar's gaze was hard and showed no sympathy for the kit who was meowing more loudly.
"I told her about Clan life—how great it was..." Fireheart flattened his ears.
"How long have you been visiting Twolegplace?" Bluestar asked, eyes flashing. Fireheart shifted his paws, and wrapped his tail tighter around his kin. "Not long, just since leaf-bare began. But only to see my sister. My loyalty still lies with ThunderClan."
As if I believe that! Most of the clan seemed to agree. "Loyalty?" Darkstripe spat incredulously. "And yet you bring a kittypet here?"
"Isn't having one kittypet in the Clan enough?" One-eye rasped.
"Trust a kittypet to find another kittypet!" Dustpaw hissed.
Bluestar can't let it in, not with the whole clan disagreeing! She'll have to give Fireheart a punishment, teach him a lesson... "Why have you brought it here?" Tigerclaw yowled.
"We need warriors..." Fireheart mumbled.
Caterwauls of dissent met his words.
"But a kittypet?! Ridiculous!"
"Would've never happened back in my day. Kittypets joining the clan!"
"We need strong, clan-born warriors, not a kittypet kit!"
"The Clan has enough to worry about already without this." Runningwind glanced pointedly at the rather small pile of prey.
"It'll be nothing but a burden, it'll be at least five moons before it's ready to begin training." Mousefur added.
"You shouldn't have brought this kittypet here, Fireheart, It'll be too soft for Clan life." Whitestorm agreed.
"I was born a kittypet. Am I soft?" Fireheart lifted his head boldly, challenging every cat. Tigerclaw felt extremely pleased when he saw there was not a cat that looked like they were going to defend the ginger tom.
"If it carries Fireheart's blood, it'll make a good Clan cat." Greystripe meowed. Fireheart looked gratefully at his friend.
Pfft! Some good that will do! If any cat carried Fireheart's kittypet blood, they'll never be a good clan cat.
"Makes a change to see you speak up for your friend, Graystripe." Longtail taunted. "Last night you wanted to shred him!"
"Yeah, Graystripe!" Darkstripe sneered. PHow do you know Fireheart has blood worthy of ThunderClan? Did you taste it last night when you tried to take a chunk out of his leg?"
Bluestar raised her tail for silence, eyes worried. "Fireheart, I believe that you meant no disloyalty to the Clan by visiting your sister, but why did you agree to bring her kit here?"
No disloyalty?! Tigerclaw thought incredulously. No disloyalty?!
"It is not your place to make decisions like this." Bluestar continued. "What you have done affects the whole Clan." Turning to her deputy, she meowed, "Tigerclaw, what do you think?"
Oh, you want my opinion? I'll give you my opinion. Tigerclaw lifted his chin and unsheathed his claws menacingly. "What do I think? I think he should get rid of it at once."
Bluestar glanced at Tigerclaw's mate. "Goldenflower?"
"It certainly looks too small to survive until newleaf." Goldenflower murmured.
Soon, yowls of insult rang out.
"It'll have greencough by sunrise!"
"Or it'll eat our fresh-kill until next snowfall and then die of cold!"
"That's enough." Bluestar commanded. "I must think about this." She slipped behind the lichen and into her den, leaving the clan muttering.
What's to think about? It's obvious! Let it die, leave in the cold, we don't need a stupid kittypet here.
Rain began pounding down from the sky, wetting Tigerclaw's dark tabby pelt. He noticed Fireheart heading off to the nursery, following Frostfur. Why bother sending it to the nursery? It's going to leave anyway.
If there is one thing to teach Fireheart a lesson for all the disgrace he has brought my clan, it's watching his kittypet kin suffer while it slowly dies in that freezing forest. Tigerclaw thought maliciously. I should suggest that I leave him in the forest, the kit will catch Greencough in this rain and die quickly.
He quickly headed to her den. Bluestar was with Frostfur.
"—So yes, Brindleface has agreed to nurse the ki— oh. Hello, Tigerclaw."
Tigerclaw nodded curtly to the she-cat. "Could I speak to you alone?" He addressed Bluestar. His leader nodded and dismissed Frostfur. The queen padded out of the den.
"You have decided the fate of the kit?" Tigerclaw asked, his tail twitching in strained excitement.
"Almost." Bluestar murmured.
"Almost?" Tigerclaw echoed. "Isn't the choice obvious?"
Bluestar didn't speak for a while. Tigerclaw waited, fighting his impatience.
"I suppose I... I have reached some sort of idea of what to do with Fireheart's kin." Bluestar meowed softly.
"So, will you tell the clan?" Tigerclaw stood up. "I can get the ki—"
"Get the kit?" Bluestar looked slightly alarmed. "Why? What do you want to do with it?"
What?
"You... You... You are sending him away, right?" Tigerclaw felt foreboding flood him.
"No, Tigerclaw. I have decided he will stay with us, and grow up to be a ThunderClan warrior."
• • •
Bluestar sat down on the Highrock, Tigerclaw beside her. He felt livid, and was fighting to not show it. The rain was still splashing down. The rivers would soon be flooded and the snow melted from the water— Newleaf was on its way.
"Cats of ThunderClan, no cat can deny that we need warriors." Bluestar began, the clan already gathered under the Highrock.
"We have lost one cat to greencough already, and there are many moons until newleaf. Cinderpaw has been gravely injured,"— Tigerclaw felt another odd stab of guilt— "and she will never be a warrior. As Greystripe rightly pointed out..."
"Graystripe's turning into a kittypet himself these days!"
Dustpaw's hiss was heard quite clearly to the whole camp. Bluestar stopped mid-sentence and glanced at him. One of the elders shushed him.
"As Graystripe pointed out," Bluestar meowed once more, "this kittypet carries Fireheart's blood. There is every chance the kit will make a fine warrior."
Bluestar paused, and Tigerclaw felt resentment burn inside him. "I have decided we will take this kit into the Clan."
Fireheart's green eyes blazed with joy. "Brindleface has offered to nurse it, so Fireheart will take on the duty of providing for her." Bluestar added.
There was another pause from the leader sitting beside Tigerclaw. Mouse-brained leader! If I was leader, if I was the one announcing the fate of this kittypet... The fate of death in the cold forest, watching Fireheart get what he deserves, suffering while the kit dies with nothing he can do...
"Finally, the kit should have a name. It shall be known as Cloudkit." Bluestar finished.
"Will there be a naming ceremony?" Mousefur asked from the throng of cats below.
That kit doesn't deserve one! Fireheart didn't even deserve to step paw in this camp, but be chased or killed on the spot...
Bluestar lifted her chin, and Tigerclaw caught a flash of the cold blue eyes. Voice frosty and impassive, she meowed, "No."
Sorry this chapter didn't come as early as they usually do, I have been and still am sick unfortunately. -_- Hopefully I'll get better soon. :P
Check out my other Fanfiction, Raining Feathers!
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