Chapter 64: Darkness in Shadows
Darkstripe let out a long breath, taking a moment to reconsider his decision before taking his first step. Did he really need to do something so risky? The faces of his loved ones flashed through his mind. For them he could do it. The once hesitant step turned firm. This was the right choice. This final journey through Thunderclan territory was emotional. Soon, the feeling of roots and forest soil would be just a memory. The way the sun peaked through the leaves would become unfamiliar. The dread of leaving the familiar was only overcome by his conviction to protect what he had left.
Darkstripe waited patiently just inside the Shadowclan border. His fur was slightly messy to appear as if he had been more stressed recently. He paced back and forth as if incredibly impatient, but to Darkstripe each heartbeat before a patrol spotted him was a blessing. They were seconds he could compose himself for the coming interactions with Tigerstar. Tigerstar… Even the name left his fur raised. He had to be ready to lie to the face of the one he feared most. Each lie needed to be seeded with half-truths to not arouse suspicion. He'd have to manipulate in a way he'd never done before, pull every single dirty negotiation trick, and appear the incompetent fool the whole while. It was the ultimate challenge.
Darkstripe's thoughts were interrupted as a kit made an appearance. It was Tawnykit.
"Tawnykit? What are you doing here?"
"I saw you leaving, and I wanted to leave too. I never felt accepted in Thunderclan. I'm unseen and those that do see me just see me as Tigerstar's kit. Maybe over there I'd be seen as something else."
Darkstripe's heart pained to see this kit so dejected, but his own plans were already too far in motion. He'd have to play it off as a proof of allegiance. If he was lucky, Tawnykit may turn into an ally in the future. He stopped pacing and sat with the kit.
"Tawnykit. If I'm going to take you to Shadowclan, there is something I need you to promise me something. You can't let Tigerstar know about my relationship with Firestar. Please don't call me out for anything I say that seems a little off. This is both for my protection and for the safety of the rest of Thunderclan. Even if you don't see them as your clan, you still have family there."
Tawnykit must have picked up how serious he was because she responded with a firm nod. A bit of trust seemed to have brightened the kit's mood. Darkstripe instead passed the time by entertaining the kit with his tail. The Tawnykit was a bit old to be a kit, but she appreciated the attention he gave her.
Soon a patrol came into sight. They spotted the duo easily due to the kit's squeals in their play. Darkstripe froze and looked at the patrol stone-faced.
"Thunderclanner! What are you doing on our territory?"
As monotony as possible Darkstripe replied, "I need to speak to Tigerstar. His daughter wanted to come as well."
The Shadowclan cats looked at Darkstripe with suspicion, but Tigerstar had let them know previously that his former apprentice may try to join at some point. They reluctantly guided the pair back to their camp. Those malicious traitor golden eyes were waiting for me. Darkstripe carefully swallowed his fear. Unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, a stutter still came out.
"T-Tigerstar. It's been a long time."
Those eyes burned through him. Tigerstar's response was cold and concise.
"Darkstripe. What brings you here?"
This was it. This was the moment he fed Tigerstar a lie and gets immediately called out and jumped or he fools the traitor king.
"I've realized the error of not following you."
Tigerstar's face lit up with interest. The first lie had worked.
"Oh?" Was his semi-interested response.
"I realized what once was my home clan is nothing more than a collection of cowards and kittypet worshipers. Even before Fireheart became Firestar, the clan had already fallen apart due to Bluestar's madness. I stayed because I needed to know the truth. Now I know, my loyalty is first to you above all else. You are what the clans should be."
A smattering of lies mixed with some truth was the foundation of the lie. Tigerstar was also a sucker for complements, so Darkstripe hoped it covered any holes in his logic.
Tigerstar looked at his former apprentice with interest. Darkstripe not only would be a source of up to date information on Thunderclan, but his dealer connections would be invaluable for his future plans. Tigerstar looked closer at his apprentice and they shifted under his gaze. Were they flustered? Tigerstar had always known Darkstripe was a bit more drawn towards males, but was he smitten with him? He could work with that.
The look on Tigerstar's face filled Darkstripe with dread. It was the same one he used on Goldenflower. It was his flirting face. It made his heart pound in all the wrong ways. He instantly knew Tigerstar read him wrong, but correcting the tyrant wouldn't be the best play. He'd have to let him flirt and pretend to reciprocate. Darkstripe faintly hoped Tigerstar's plan was to string him along.
"It must have been lonely in Thunderclan without some cat as great as me to guide you. It must have been trying. Now you're here where you belong, by my side. We'll fix it all. Soon the forest will be made the way it was meant to be. Why don't you tell me everything that happened, and I'll be by your side the whole time."
"Ick" was all Darkstripe could think. Even in his flirting, he was bragging about himself. Darkstripe suppressed his outrage that another cat demanded his affection and began his act. Just as softly as a molly, Darkstripe pressed himself against Tigerstar and wove a tale full of half-truths and lies to make Thunderclan seem more helpless than it was. Tigerstar's pelt was long and stiff. Darkstripe found it like pressing himself into a young pine tree. Repressing his distaste, he feigned affectionate rubs. Tigerstar then pulled away much to his relief, but the face he showed looked put off and slightly hurt.
"I have some things I need you to do to prove your loyalty. Already you've given some proof returning my daughter. Once you've done some, I'll reward you with my time. For now, you'll be shadowing Blackfoot so you can get used to the territory. Leave."
Darkstripe obediently obeyed. Once he was out of Tigerstar's sight, he wanted to wash himself. He felt dirty to have even touched the treacherous tom, but that wouldn't fit the story. He let Tigerstar's scent linger on him, cleaning the rest of his Thunderclan scent. It felt horribly wrong, but Darkstripe was prepared to live in discomfort until the tyrant was ousted. Whatever it took, he was prepared.