The damp air of the tunnel was slowly starting to be replaced by the fresh moorland breeze as Russetstripe squeezed her way out of the tunnel that led into the ridge right above WindClan's camp. Blackdove and Gorseflight were behind her, and once they reached the moorland, they all let out collective sighs of relief. They had succeeded in their mission without losing their heads in the process.
"Right, camp is just down there," Russetstripe said. "We should be able to get there without any problems."
"Russetstripe, what are you going to do if your father asks where you've been?" Gorseflight asked.
Russetstripe's ginger fur fluffed out. She had been so preoccupied with Emberpaw – and then the journey back – that she hadn't thought of it. She faced Gorseflight, determination steeling her resolve as she stared at him in the eye. "I'll tell him exactly what I did."
"No, Russetstripe, you can't!" Blackdove protested. "I know what we did was the right thing, Russetstripe, it really was. There's no doubt in my mind about that. But if you tell your father you snuck out a WindClan hostage into ThunderClan territory, no matter who you are to him, he'll do something horrible to you! You told me before what he threatened you with if you didn't take Brambledusk as a mate."
Gorseflight's eye whiskers shot up.
"So, you may be his daughter, but you saw how willing Swiftstar was to fight Adderstripe," Blackdove went on. "He'll see you as a traitor, too. No matter what you do, Russetstripe, you've got to deny it." Her friend's voice shook. "Please!"
Russetstripe glanced at Gorseflight, and the mottled tom gave a slow nod. "I agree with Blackdove."
"Okay." Russetstripe lowered her head. "I'll deny it. Then you guys have to, as well."
"Yeah, don't worry about that," Gorseflight meowed, flicking his tail.
Blackdove nodded. "We will."
Russetstripe's paws trembled as she headed towards WindClan's camp. The stars were beginning to twinkle in the indigo sky, and she wondered if it was the last night she would see in her life. Blackdove had brought up a point – Swiftstar had been fine nearly killing Adderstripe, and if what Russetstripe did equaled treason, then he would be fine killing her as well. A conversation rang through her mind.
"Perhaps you missed the part where I told you that you had no choice." The dangerous threat that had lurked in her father's gaze.
"Or what are you going to do me? Exile me?"
"If you refuse to obey me, the consequences will be more severe than that."
Could he really do something horrible to me if he found out? Russetstripe thought. A shudder ran down her spine, and she realized…
She really didn't want to find out.
I've got no regrets saving Emberpaw, Russetstripe pondered. But I don't want to die. Blackdove is right, I've got to deny it. The anxiety of facing her father swelled in her chest further and further until her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear. Gorseflight brushed against her, and Blackdove blinked encouragingly at her until the three cats made their way towards camp.
"Wait!" Blackdove shot off, her black tail swinging behind her. Russetstripe watched her, bewildered. What is she doing? Gorseflight watched her go, an amused smirk playing on his lips. Russetstripe exchanged a glance with Gorseflight, and moments later, Blackdove returned, a rabbit hanging from her mouth. She spit it in front of Russetstripe. "Take this. We can't go back empty-pawed."
"Smart thinking. Thank you." Russetstripe glanced down at the rabbit, and then back at her friends. She wasn't sure if Gorseflight and Blackdove knew how grateful she was for them – she never wore her heart on her sleeve, and she wasn't the best with words. But they need to know. "…Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Gorseflight meowed, flicking his tail.
Blackdove nodded. "We did the right thing."
Russetstripe picked up the rabbit in her jaws, its dead body swaying in her jaws as she led the two cats down the hollow and into camp. The moment her paws made contact with the ground, she caught the glimpse of a bundle of fur, laying on the grass in the clearing, with the entire Clan surrounded around it. Russetstripe peered her head closer, and her jaw gasped when she recognized the spotted tabby fur of Spottedwing.
They already fought! Russetstripe thought, and the gashes and wounds each cat wore, padded with cobwebs and ointment, alongside the exhaustion they wore on their faces, told Russetstripe it wasn't a very good fight. Well, what did I expect? They were going to fight anyway. Russetstripe exchanged a nervous glance with Blackdove. Blackdove flicked her tail, disappearing into the crowd, and Gorseflight nodded to Russetstripe. Russetstripe disappeared from the two cats and dropped the rabbit on the bare fresh-kill pile. She spotted Scorchclaw in the middle of the grieving cats, but remembering how he talked to her earlier that day, scowled and turned away from him.
Just as she turned away, the familiar rage and fury she had associated with one cat for so long surrounded her, and she turned around to see her father stalking towards her. Oh, hells. Russetstripe could feel Swiftstar's anger sparking from his pelt, and she turned to face her father, her ears flattened as he loomed over her. Gods, he knows.
"Did you have anything to do with Emberpaw's escape?" Swiftstar demanded, not beating around the bush.
Russetstripe flattened her ears. "No."
"Do not lie to me," Swiftstar hissed at her. "You are my daughter. I can tell when you are lying and when you are telling the truth!" The ginger-and-white tabby leaned closer into her. "And I see it in your eyes. You are the cat who helped Emberpaw escape!"
The WindClan she-cat rose her hackles and unsheathed her claws, staring at her father with indignation turning her face hot. She could feel her green eyes burn with fire. "And if I was?"
"That's treason!" Swiftstar yowled. "You have made a grave mistake, Russetstripe!"
"Oh, I'm the one who made a grave mistake?" Russetstripe shot back at her father. "I saved an apprentice from your cruel behavior. I didn't cause the death of my Clanmates by bringing them into an unwinnable war."
"How dare you?" Swiftstar's lips curled in a snarl. He was seconds away from diving at Russetstripe when Russetstripe spotted Scorchclaw's ginger-and-white pelt, sinking his claws in Swiftstar's pelt and dragging him away. Fear caused Russetstripe's heart to race as she saw Swiftstar's sharp claws, just mouse-lengths away from her face. Scorchclaw pulled Swiftstar back, his amber eyes wide.
"Leave her alone!" Scorchclaw barked at Swiftstar. "Please, Father! Let's talk about this!"
"No, Scorchclaw!" Swiftstar hissed. "I am tired of this! Russetstripe keeps pushing my limits. She tests my patience. She's no better than Adderstripe! She has betrayed her Clan!"
Even as Swiftstar yowled his grievances about Russetstripe to the sky, Scorchclaw held his father tightly with his teeth and dragged him away, towards the Tall Branch. Russetstripe staggered back, trembling in her pelt as she spotted Gorseflight and Blackdove heading towards her, their eyes wide with concern.
He… he was going to hurt me… Russetstripe stared at Gorseflight and Blackdove, her green eyes stretched wide. Blackdove raced over to her thick pelt and nuzzled her shoulder, while Gorseflight ran his tail down her spine. But even their comfort couldn't erase what had just happened. He was about to claw me. I can't believe it. Wait… I can.
"He's the worst!" Russetstripe hissed, clawing up grass with her thorn sharp claws and shredding it. "He was fine with imprisoning a cat barely older than a kit, and when I brought him home, suddenly I'm the bad guy?"
"But I said—" Blackdove protested, but Russetstripe cut her off.
"I know!" Russetstripe exclaimed. "I was denying it. But he saw right through me. He just blames me, though. I don't want him to find out about you guys… not at all. So please, promise me you'll keep your mouths shut."
Gorseflight and Blackdove gave her blank nods, and fear kindled in their eyes. Russetstripe sighed, looking at her paws and seeing that they were still trembling. She walked away from her two friends, hoping they wouldn't turn themselves in. Just as she stalked across the clearing, she caught Wildheart's amber eyes.
Wildheart scowled at her, but Russetstripe was in no mood for Wildheart's pettiness. Had Wildheart just risked her life, traveling under the tunnels and in ThunderClan territory, just to nearly get harmed by her own father? Russetstripe turned her back on the tortoiseshell she-cat, hatred for her flooding her pelt. I can't believe Scorchclaw picked an arrogant fur-brain like her!
"Got in trouble with your dad again, Russetstripe?" Wildheart sneered.
"If you think that keeping a kit hostage for material reasons is the best thing to do, then I'd hate to imagine you as a parent," Russetstripe growled, turning her heel and marching towards the edge of the clearing, leaping over a boulder and sitting behind it. She would be lying if she said she wasn't scared out of her mind – would Scorchclaw be able to calm down Swiftstar?
Russetstripe hunched over, watching as the moon rose to its peak in the sky, and yet still no sign of her brother or Swiftstar. Even as Silverpelt draped its twinkling white pelt across the sky, Russetstripe still couldn't fight the anxiety that sent tremors through her pelt. No. She straightened her shoulders, squaring her posture. She wouldn't be afraid of Swiftstar. Not anymore. She was tired of letting her father control her life. She did not regret saving Emberpaw, not for a minute. And if Swiftstar thought there was something wrong with that… he was the cat who needed to be punished, and not her.
The thought that both Scorchclaw and Swiftstar spat out – the one she had been denying with her whole heart – found its way back into her mind. Am I really like Adderstripe? I'd never try to kill my father. I just… don't agree with his orders… but I'm the one who killed Adderstripe. A shudder ran down her spine. No, I'd never betray my Clan. I'm nothing like Adderstripe.
Just as she lamented with her thoughts, she could hear hefty pawsteps behind her, and she turned her head to see Scorchclaw. Exhaustion glazed in his amber eyes and he nodded to her. Russetstripe pressed her lips tight, wondering what he had to say.
"I managed to save your tail," Scorchclaw growled, "but… you're not going to like what he's going to say."
Russetstripe scrunched her eyes at Scorchclaw. You can at least apologize for what you said. She looked over Scorchclaw's shoulder, watching her father trot over to her, the predawn sky illuminating his ginger-and-white fur. There was no telling the difference as father and son stood together, their ginger-and-white pelts alike, their stocky statures the same. Russetstripe stepped back, knowing that she was ginger with a darker stripe along her spine and long fur. She even had green eyes, a stark different from Scorchclaw and Swiftstar's amber eyes. It's like I'm not even a part of the family. Do I even act like it?
"You will be forgiven for your betrayal on one condition," Swiftstar rumbled.
"What is it?" Russetstripe asked, wondering what plan Swiftstar had in mind now.
"RiverClan scents are adrift on the border recently," Swiftstar replied. "You will be at my side when I lead the invasion of their land. I will watch you fight, and if I think you have fought as well as a WindClan warrior should, I will forgive you. If not, I will send you into exile in the most remote part of the land."
"You're going to start another battle?" Outrage climbed in Russetstripe's body and emerged in the form of her voice.
"Russetstripe!" Swiftstar snarled. "This is the only chance I am giving you! Obey, and you will have a home. Disobey, and you will live the rest of your life as a dishonorable rogue!"
I think I'd rather live as a rogue! Russetstripe thought.
"Russetstripe, please," Scorchclaw pleaded, exhaustion in his voice.
Russetstripe looked over her shoulder to see Sunleaf, walking over to them, her green eyes wide with fear. Then she spotted Gorseflight and Blackdove, their gazes silent pleas. Russetstripe turned to Swiftstar, letting out a deep sigh. "Fine."
"I will be watching you. You are treading on thin ice." Swiftstar's eyes burned into Russetstripe's pelt. "The battle is in two days. Prepare yourself." And, with those words shot callously in the air, Swiftstar turned away and stalked into his den. Russetstripe watched him go, bewildered. Then she glanced over to look at Scorchclaw, who was staring at her.
"What is it?" Russetstripe demanded. "Are you going to tell me I'm like Adderstripe, again?"
"No." Scorchclaw shook his head. "I wanted to apologize for saying that. I didn't mean for it to come out that way. What I said was wrong and foolish, and I'm sorry, Russetstripe."
Russetstripe's fur flattened. She couldn't stay mad at her brother forever, but his words still stung at her heart, and she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to forget them. She gave him a curt nod, not saying anything else.
"Anyway…" Scorchclaw let out a sigh. "Swiftstar was really, really mad, Russetstripe. It took a lot of convincing for him… to not do… what he wanted to do. You've got to stop testing him, Russetstripe. It's only going to end in your downfall." Her brother walked over to her and touched his nose to her shoulder. "I know you want to do the right thing. But for your safety, and your Clan's safety, please, just… obey him." His amber eyes clouded. "I'm begging you. I don't want to lose you, Russetstripe."
Russetstripe met her brother's unwavering gaze. Can I really fight against what I think is right? she asked herself. I don't know if I can. But she had to give Scorchclaw an answer.
"Fine," Russetstripe said to her brother. "But there are just some things I can't allow."
"I can't save you all the time," Scorchclaw warned her darkly.
Russetstripe wanted to ask him what Swiftstar would if she disobeyed him again – but, she had gotten her answer that morning. It was clear that her father wouldn't tolerate being disobeyed again, and Russetstripe didn't want to die. She could always have Sunleaf interfere on her behalf, but Russetstripe was a grown warrior, and she could take care of herself. She would take things as they came. When the time comes, I'll decide what to do.
"All right, Scorchclaw," Russetstripe said. "If that's what I need to do."
"Thank you," Scorchclaw meowed. His wounds were crusted with blood, and he was clearly having a hard time staying on his feet. As Russetstripe looked him up and down, he limped away, heading towards the medicine den. Russetstripe sighed and walked away from the boulder, and just as she faced the clearing of camp, she spotted Tinybird, Berrysplash, Smokebelly, and Brambledusk carrying Spottedwing's body away.
If we attack RiverClan, we're sure to have another vigil, Russetstripe thought, making eye contact with Brambledusk as he walked past her. His amber eyes were cold and unfeeling, but Russetstripe couldn't blame him. After all, his mother had died in the battle that Swiftstar had started. When will my father learn? Why can't he realize that fighting isn't always the answer? That cats die when they fight? They don't live to die, so why are they treated as pawns in war?
Russetstripe clenched her teeth as she recalled Swiftstar accusing her of being a traitor. No, I'm loyal to my Clan. Because obedience isn't loyalty. Servitude isn't loyalty. Obligation is not loyalty. Sacrifice is loyalty. She was not a traitor, and she would die to prove it. She was a warrior – she was stubborn and was willing to stand for her beliefs. She would endure torment for the defenseless, she would fight for her belief, and she would not let any cat to tell her what to do.
If she had to die for her cause, that was fine. She would defend those who could not defend themselves, she would develop her life for the greater good, she would be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. She would live her life with courtesy and honor. No one would tell her otherwise. A good warrior fought for her homeland, but a great warrior fought for any cat who needed her protection, regardless of where they came from.
This is what being a warrior really is.