"Really?" Leafdawn asked. "When?"
"Yesterday," Whitetail replied. "I think having the body of the leader of TigerClan in our camp is what really sealed it."
"Does at least Tornear know?" She had not heard mention of this from Firestar. Petalnose nodded, looking up from where she was grooming Frostkit.
"She spoke with him before leaving." She shook her head, "And just when the real danger was taken care of."
"Daisy doesn't know that," Brightheart pointed out. "We don't truly. TigerClan's unstable now. Who knows what could come from this? I don't blame her; she doesn't understand Clan life yet." Daisy had headed back to the barn the day prior. While Leafdawn had not known about this, it was not too surprising. She had been nervous since Barkface's death.
It was a shame. She had settled well into the role of a queen. The medicine cat looked at Goosekit and Brightheart.
"How are you two coming along?" The warrior looked over at her.
"It's going well," she said. "About as well as I can hope with such a young kit." Her paw went in front of her muzzle, her toes curled over. "Goose," Brightheart said and the kit looked up, paying more attention to the warrior than the moss ball she had been tussling with. Leafdawn purred.
"Run them through with Brambleheart soon," she said. "He can show me them later." Brightheart nodded.
"Of course."
"What's going on with the Gathering in a few days?" Whitetail looked at the medicine cat, curiously. "We won't have to give up territory, will we?" Tornear had announced some of what they had talked about with Leopardstar to the Clan earlier.
"We're not losing any territory," Leafdawn assured.
"I don't see how we're truly involved with that," Petalnose admitted. "This is all TigerClan business."
"It involves the other Clans and so it involves us," Brightheart replied. "You'll get more used to interclan relations as things start to settle."
"Hopefully, that will be soon," Whitetail muttered. Leafdawn meowed in agreement.
Falconkit tucked his tail closer to himself as he eyed the other kittens. Both he and Tigerkit were huddled against Mothwing's side. The queen gritted her teeth.
"It's okay," Mothwing assured. "They just want to say hi."
"Yeah!" Hollykit raised her tail, "I'm Hollykit, this is my brother, Birchkit." The little silver tom mewed a greeting and the kits shrunk back again. Mosspelt glanced at Mothwing. This was not good.
Thanks to Tigerstar's orders, the kits had been largely isolated from most of the camp. They had not met the other kittens before. They were all at least a moon older than the littermates.
"These are our Clanmates." Mothwing nudged Tigerkit forward and the tortoiseshell squeaked in protest. The queen pulled away, frustration gripping her.
She did not know what she was doing. It was wrong, though. She had messed up with these kits. She did not know how to fix it.
There was movement at the entrance. Mothwing looked up as Tawnyclaw poked her head in. Falconkit raised his tail.
"Tawnyclaw!"
"Hey, little ones," She padded forward, waving her tail in greeting to the others in the den as she licked her sister's kits. "I'm going to need to take your mother for a moment, alright?" It was nearing time, then.
"No!" Tigerkit looked up at Mothwing. "Can we come with you?" Hopeful amber eyes stared up at her. Mothwing shook her head.
"This is warrior's business." More meows of protest rose and Tawnyclaw spoke.
"You, little warriors, are going to be so brave," She looked over to Mosspelt. "And make some friends. Have you met Willowkit, yet?" The tortoiseshell queen shook her head.
"Come here, you two." She blinked at the young kittens, "You can meet her when she wakes up. You'll be safe with me." The kits looked up at their mother and she nosed them toward Mosspelt.
"You'll be alright," She assured. The kits did not look like they believed her. Mothwing blinked at Mosspelt as she tucked the kits against her.
All Mothwing felt was guilt as Tawnyclaw led the way out. "They're still not used to it?" Tawnyclaw asked. Mothwing shook her head.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong." They were more assured by Tawnyclaw than her. The older warrior's tail brushed against her shoulder.
"You're not doing anything wrong," Her voice was gentle. "I know you're doing your best." Mothwing was unsure whether or not Tawnyclaw believed her own words.
"How's ThunderClan?" Tawnyclaw had been in ThunderClan camp since Hawktalon had been buried.
"They're confused," Tawnyclaw answered. "But they're accepting that I'm there." Tawnyclaw led her away from where they could be heard. Mothwing was confused.
"Aren't we going to Leopardstar's den?" She asked.
"In a bit," the warrior replied. "Leopardstar's explaining what happened now. I wanted to talk to you about something else first," Her voice was hushed. They were still along the wall of camp.
Cats had been on edge all day. Fear of the uncertain was high.
"What do you want to talk about?" Mothwing asked.
"Runningnose is staying with ShadowClan and Littlecloud will be with ThunderClan," The warrior began. "RiverClan needs a medicine cat." Mothwing's eyes widened.
"I have kits," She began. Tawnyclaw interrupted.
"That you did not want." Her words almost made Mothwing flinch. "You're not attached to them, are you?" Tawnyclaw's meow was brutal. The queen could not respond right away. None of this still did not feel real.
She missed Hawktalon. She was here because of him.
"It's not their faults," Mothwing meowed quietly.
"It's not your fault either," Tawnyclaw said, gently. "Those kits deserve a mother who wants them and you deserve what you want." Green eyes blinked at her. "Leopardstar knows I'm talking to you about this, she wants you."
"Runningnose and Littlecloud don't like teaching me because of this." Mothwing's voice was quiet. Tawnyclaw scoffed.
"That sucks for them," she said. "I saw you talk to Leafdawn." The queen stiffened. "You two get along well, I think she'd have your back."
"I was planning on going with ThunderClan," Mothwing responded. "What about my warriors?" She did not want to abandon them. She did not want to hurt these kits either.
"Mudclaw will be here," Tawnyclaw replied. "I can take the kits if you'd like? We think this would be easier on them if they were in a different Clan." Mothwing looked at her half-sister, surprised.
"You want them?" Tawnyclaw was about to become leader! She had so much going on. Her sister shrugged.
"I don't mind having a few scraps running around," Tawnyclaw meowed. "Tallpoppy's still producing milk and they'd be with kin." Mothwing thought for a moment before responding.
"They should be in ThunderClan, then." She meowed, "With their father." That was, assuming that Rainfoot would want them. Surprise lit up Tawnyclaw's eyes before she nodded.
"You would need to stay with them until they were weaned, then." Mothwing nodded. She could do that. It would not be long before they were.
She hoped Rainfoot would want them.
"Come on," Tawnyclaw looked toward Leopardstar's den. "They're waiting for us. We'll talk to the medicine cats later." They headed toward the den.
Warriors were eying each other as the warriors entered. Leopardstar was speaking.
"Until we have this meeting, I want order to be maintained." She looked across them, "Territories and leaders will be figured out there."
"You can't expect our cats to join up with Rusty," Mudclaw began. Tawnyclaw looked at him as she sat.
"We don't," She meowed. "Your cats chose to join TigerClan, you're ThunderClan now." The dark tabby's ears flattened.
"We were promised the hills. If we are already splitting up the territories –" Tawnyclaw interrupted.
"You chose to leave WindClan," She looked intently at the tabby tom. "Tallstar made Firestar deputy. That is the rightful WindClan. These are the consequences of your actions." Mudclaw's ears went back. Leopardstar touched her tail to Tawnyclaw's side.
"You were promised them by Tigerstar," Leopardstar meowed. "Not me."
"Are we just going to let Rusty get away with this?" Dustpelt's tail flicked. "Regardless of anything else, he is responsible for two leaders' deaths." The ThunderClan tom did not look pleased.
"Is he?" Tawnyclaw looked to Blackfoot. Her gaze was piercing. "Blackfoot, what happened the day Bluestar died?" The white tom looked back at her, surprise clear in his gaze.
"After Rusty was caught –"
"Blackfoot." Tawnyclaw's tone made Mothwing's fur want to rise. The tortoiseshell spoke calmly. "I've already spoken with Tangleburr and Nightwhisper. If your answer doesn't a line with theirs…" She trailed off. The warrior's ears went back.
"It was Tigerstar," The warrior's voice was low. "We worked with Tigerstar the whole time." Dustpelt hissed, rising to his paws.
"What do you mean?"
"Tigerstar promised us places in the Clan if we helped him become leader," Blackfoot responded. "He promised he could get us back into ShadowClan." Dustpelt almost looked horrified. Mudclaw's ears had flattened.
"You could be lying," Dustpelt meowed. "All of you."
"How would Firestar have become leader of ThunderClan from there?" Tawnyclaw looked at the dark warrior. "Even with Blackfoot and the other's help? ThunderClan outnumbered them. Use your brain, Dustpelt." The warrior's ears flattened and he let out a breath.
"Thank you for clarifying," Tawnyclaw meowed to Blackfoot. The white tom dipped his head to his leader.
"Now," Leopardstar looked across the warriors. "I want Blackfoot's confession to be made known and I want order to be maintained. We will separate after that meeting." Meows of agreement rose and the toms rose to their paws.
"Dustpelt." The tabby paused, looking at Leopardstar. "We would like to talk with you a moment longer." The warrior looked confused but sat. Leopardstar continued once the other camp leaders were out of the cave.
"You've maintained the island well," Leopardstar meowed. "We have a proposal for you. One, which, we have discussed with Firestar already."
"What is it?" The warrior's voice was low.
"Dustpelt," Tawnyclaw meowed. "Do you want to be leader of ThunderClan?" Yellow eyes widened.
"What about you – or Mothwing?" He looked at her and Mothwing shook her head.
"I'm not joining ThunderClan." That was such a strange thought.
"What?"
"She will be part of RiverClan," Leopardstar looked to the queen. "As our medicine cat. ThunderClan will get Littlecloud and ShadowClan, Runningnose. Tawnyclaw will lead them." Dustpelt stared at them, shocked.
"Medicine cats can't have kits."
"They'll be with their father," Mothwing's voice was low. "In ThunderClan." Dustpelt looked at Leopardstar and Tawnyclaw.
"That can't be allowed."
"We need one more medicine cat," Tawnyclaw responded. "Mothwing's willing. Mothwing will be RiverClan's medicine cat and Firestar is leader of WindClan. Deal with it. If you don't want to, we can find another cat to lead ThunderClan."
"No," The tom's voice came out a rasp. He cleared his throat. "I'm – honored." Leopardstar nodded.
"We will announce this at the Gathering," She meowed. "Head back to the island, prove we have made the right choice." Dustpelt dipped his head, rising to his paws. His tail twitched as he stepped out of the den.
"So, is it Tawnyclaw or Tawnystar?" Squirrelflight asked. The TigerClan warrior chuckled.
"You're a bit premature," Tawnyclaw meowed. "I'll go after the Gathering."
"Well, congratulations in advance," Stormfur dipped his head. Feathertail glanced at him, surprised. She was not leader yet. Either way, this was Tawnyclaw.
"Thanks," Tawnyclaw replied. "How's my brother?"
"About as good as he could be." Tawnyclaw nodded before looking to Feathertail.
"How far is it?" The silver tabby asked.
"Close enough," Tawnyclaw waved her tail toward the forest. "Are you going to be good? It's uphill a bit." Stormfur tensed next to Feathertail and the she-cat shot the enemy warrior a cold look.
It was bad enough when her Clanmates did this. She did not need Tawnyclaw patronizing her. "I'll be fine." Tawnyclaw dipped her head before turning. Squirrelflight was by her side as they entered the forest, talking. The littermates followed after.
"Are you sure –" Feathertail cut Stormfur off.
"We're already with her, Stormfur." The tom's ears went back.
"I know," his voice was quiet. "Just – after last night." Feathertail had to keep her fur from rising. Last night was irrelevant.
She had had a nightmare last night, the first one since they had left the colony behind. The Clan kept acting as though she was going to break if they did the wrong thing. She hated it.
"I'm not going to not see him," Feathertail replied. Her brother looked like he wanted to protest. She shot him a look and he looked ahead.
Silence fell between the littermates as they followed the she-cats. Tawnyclaw slowed in her step, looking back to Feathertail. "Here," She gestured to some fresh soil near a mess of briars. "I buried him here." Silence fell between the warriors. Feathertail broke it.
"Did he get a vigil?" Tawnyclaw's tail twitched.
"I got his mother to see him before he was buried," Her meow was low. "But no." Feathertail glanced up to the sky. It was later in the day and Tornear knew they were here.
"He deserves one." Meows of agreement rose.
Stormfur stayed by Feathertail's side as they settled in. It soon got dark.
Feathertail dislodged Stormfur's head from her back as she rose from her crouch at dawn. The others rose with her.
Tawnyclaw led the way back to the border. Goodbyes were exchanged.
"Tomorrow is bound to be interesting," Tawnyclaw meowed. "I pray that things are able to go smoothly." Feathertail paused in her step, looking back at the enemy warrior.
"This doesn't forgive your actions," She meowed. Stormfur and Squirrelflight both glanced at her but said nothing. The tortoiseshell warrior held Feathertail's gaze steadily.
"I know." she said and the group broke apart one last time.
