Firepaw had long since been taught the importance of patience so that the moment for one of his many plans fell into place. To those in the know the clan was unstable with too many cats trying to grab power or retain it. After three moons of training the apprentices, he has long since made himself popular and, trustworthy with the other young cats and most of their mentors. Now it is time for him to grab a little power.
"Yes Bluestar I made sure that the patrol went perfectly, and there is no threat in our territory," Redtail said making sure that everyone knew of his growing ability to lead.
Bluestar had started to let Redtail take on his old responsibility though many still have their own reinvention about his position. Firepaw knew that this angry Tigerclaw to no end thought his work was being thrown away. Firepaw had to take him out of the camp before anyone could see him lose control.
"This is why I should kill him!" Tigerclaw tail lashing out growling softly.
"Settle down. I have a plan." Firepaw said calmly sitting down and grooming his ears ignoring Tigerclaw obviously angry.
"Your plan is why I'm not deputy right now!" Tigerclaw whorled around snarling furiously at Firepaw who just glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and then went to groom his tail as if Tigerclaw was just a big kitten throwing a fit.
Finally, Firepaw turn his full attention to Tigerclaw eyeing him up and down. Tigerclaw pauses at the look something in him understanding an almost dangerous type of opponent. It reminds Tigerclaw that Firepaw might be young but that doesn't mean he was as foolish or simple-minded as most of the clan. Tigerclaw found that he liked the type of feelings Firepaw brings into him it was new and interesting.
" So you would rather your apprentice see you kill a then respected deputy. You were so blinded by ambition that you didn't check to see Ravenpaw. You became too narrow- minded you forget everything it is why I stop you. I told you I can make you a deputy, and I plan to just make me a warrior in return. Let me make the plan you just play your part you've to know when to act." Firepaw said standing and walking away.
Tigerclaw started hunting as a cover for the clan letting Firepaw do what he need to. Tigerclaw knew that Firepaw seem to be distant lately as though he was lost in thought whatever it was that he was planning he know it was most likely a long-time plan. Tigerclaw was interested in the chaos that Firepaw would bring.
Firepaw was sitting at the edge of Shadowclan territory he had long since found the tunnel being the Thunderpath and had been talking with some of Shadowclan for a while. Firepaw ear twitched at the sound of soft paws coming to the border as a very tiny, fluffy black-and-white tom with a face striped like a badger's. This young kit should be going through base training rather than on the frontline like Brokenstar first wanted.
"Hello, Badgerpaw is your training going well?" Firepaw asks the kit who was to one day be one of his knights. Firepaw believes that the four clans just barely saw its true potential like his birth clan it was almost perfect but he had ideas for a better clan.
"My training is going great. Better even after all of your advice. Brokenstar even said that I would be a credit to my clan. Oh, you remember that fox I told you about?" Badgerpaw asked excited to impress his unofficial mentor.
"Yes, you know if you could convince Brokenstar to send it to Thunderclan you're be praised for your quick thinking. If you do so tonight in a few days I could find more time to train you better. What do you said think you are good enough to manipulate your leader? Are you smart enough to put a great leader in their place?" Firepaw challenged knowing that Badgerpaw wouldn't back down from his challenge.
"Of course, I can. Brokenstar was going to chase it off soon anyway it won't take too much to convince him. His ego would let him back down from a challenge." Badgerpaw assures already convince that Firepaw will keep his word. Badgerpaw didn't know what kind of plan Firepaw has but he knows that it wouldn't endanger Shadowclan. Firepaw promises him he has a high position even better than a clan leader. He will outrank even Brokenstar he just needed to listen and obey his true mentor.
As Firepaw return to camp with prey he made sure that any scent of Shadowclan was long gone. Firepaw knew that by now the fox should be in Thunderclan territory after seeing a whole patrol of warriors run by while he hunted a squirrel in a tree. Firepaw could see that the camp was full of warriors Redtail the deputy didn't bother to make a dusk patrol believing that all was right in the territory. He look around and could see Tigerclaw speaking with the other senior warriors Redtail was with Bluestar all was ready.
Firepaw pick up his freshly caught rabbit and went to the nursery like he was doing for moons now. Firepaw sees Frostfur talking with Goldenflower while her kits Swifkit and Lynxkit playfight. Firepaw knew that Frostfur's own little who was younger would most likely be in the nest sleeping.
After he started taking an interest in the kits. No one said anything when he bring toys and play with the kits he was a good friend to the kits feeling their head with grand advance and gaining their trust. Firepaw look into the nursery and saw a claw-out area in the back of the wall small enough for kits. Firepaw smiles when he sees no kits sleeping at all he'll be a warrior tonight. Firepaw wails loudly running out of the nursery and putting on a great act as he barrier over Frostfur and Goldenflower.
"Firepaw what is the meaning of this?" Bluestar yowl as the whole camp looks to Firepaw confused and a little worried.
"The kits they are gone!" Firepaw cries out. Immediately Frostfur ran into the nursery the hear her own cries of fear running out to confirm his claims.
"Around up patrol find the kits now. Some warriors are to stay in case of attack."Bluestar announces calmly. Firepaw just ran out of the camp not even waiting to be assigned a patrol he might have ambition, but he wasn't going to have innocent kits die when they could be useful in the future. Firepaw soon heard pawstep behind him hearing some break away while one was almost on his tail following him. He glanced behind him seeing Tigerclaw follow closely by Foxpaw, Nightpaw, and Rosepaw he flick his tail turning quickly to where he knew the kits will be hopeful the fox wasn't close by. Nearing the small clearing not far from the Great Sycamore and close enough to Shadowclan that if the fox was close their picked up its scent soon enough.
Firepaw slows to a stop near the clearing letting the other catch up turning to the apprentices.
"The kits often talk about this place. They could be close spread out and search for them."
Firepaw explains knowing that these three will take his word for it and won't ask questions they most likely pass this story down to the clan.
As they start looking the scent of fear and fox flow the area and the small patrol immediately races to save the kits. Firepaw was the first to get there and attack the fox pushing it away from the corner feared kits. They whirled around trying to bite back but Firepaw roll away quickly back of his paws launched for the fox's hind legs. The fox reared trying for an attack at his neck until Tigerclaw slam into its claws first ripping out fur and blood. Firepaw leaps for the fox's back and put all his weight to bring it down biting down on its neck. Tigerclaw sees an opportunity to slash down the fox's front throat rip it out and kill the fox. When the body went leap both tom back off catching their breath both for the running and fighting off the fox. Tigerclaw look over at the fox seeing some scar and smelling a faint bit of Shadowclan on the fur of the fox.
Tigerclaw realizes that Shadowclaw must have chased the fox over the border it would explain why it was easy to fight off. Out of the claw of one clan patrol and into another thinking it has an easy meal with the kits and not paying attention to anything else.
'So this was his plan all along. Putting the kits in just enough danger would be heroic but he needed witness to prove himself. He must have been planning this for moons now tricking the kits to be where he wanted them he must have tracked that fox that was in Shadowclan since the last gathering. No one could say that he overreact because he was around the kits for a while now spending time with them every day. So this was how Firepaw wanted to join clan politics. Finding lost kits is one thing but saving them from a predator and holding his on even without Tigerclaw's help with witness to his deed. 'Make me a warrior.' Firepaw words from early came to mind. This was Redtail's last chance it was his choice to lower patrol.' Tigerclaw knew that by the end of tonight, Thunderclan would have both a new warrior and deputy.
So the cats make their way back home carrying the kits both Tigerclaw and Firepaw didn't bother cleaning the blood off. They were a sight to see most of the clan was back after failing at their own search it seem that their group was the last. The clan tense smelling the blood and saw the kits being carried in by the apprentices which immediately tension feel when the kits ran to their mother.
"What happens?" Bluestar asked sitting on the high rock and staring down at Frostfur nuzzling her kits and putting them in the nursery.
"The kits were near the Great Sycamore where a fox had them corner. Firepaw got to it first and bravely leaps to their defense holding it off. I join the fight soon after and together we manage to not only fight it off but to kill it as well. "Tigerclaw announce glancing at the whole clan and seeing all the horrified looks on their faces at nearly lost four kits when it was assured that there was no predator by their deputy.
Frostfur ran out of the nursery clearly hearing what Tigerclaw said because she immediately attack Redtail ripping into him and no cat even bother to pull her off.
"Frostfur enough that is your deputy!" Bluestar yowl outrage
"It was his inaction that has caused the near death of my kits" Frostfur snarl showing the outrage of a mother.
"It was your kits that choose to sink out of the camp. You have not done a well enough job of caring for or teaching them right from wrong. Prehep this littler came too soon for you."Bluestar in sinch a callus tone the clan couldn't help but look on in disgust.
"Frostfur is right the kits clearly were here when Redtail said it was safe. He wouldn't allow a dusk patrol. He comes in after one patrol making a big show to everyone who will listen. Of course, if a kit only hears how a suppose great deputy personally patrols in and gives the all-clear they will think it safe to sink off." Foxpaw himself calls turning his back on his father as a show to renown his own father. All of his siblings except Sandpaw who could only lower her head in shame. Yowl of agreement rise to the sky all of the clan looking like they would attack so call deputy.
