Scorchclaw nuzzled his father's side as the ginger-and-white tom let out a weak cough. Violetheart massaged his sides with two small gray paws and pushed a couple of herbs in front of his mouth. Swiftstar craned his head to chew the herbs, and he winced visibly as he swallowed. Scorchclaw felt a gasp escape his throat at the pitiful state his father was in.
"Is my father going to be okay?" Scorchclaw demanded Violetheart.
Violetheart pressed her lips tight. "Oh, Swiftstar," she murmured, addressing the Clan leader instead of Scorchclaw, "you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"
"I knew it the moment I felt the pain in my stomach," Swiftstar whispered. "It happened to my mother. It shouldn't be a surprise that it happened to me, too." The ginger-and-white tom struggled to drag himself to his paws, and he gazed deep into Scorchclaw's eyes. "Listen, son. I am going to die soon."
"Father!" Scorchclaw exclaimed. No! It can't be! He's not going to die, he would've told me so! "Please, don't say that."
"Just listen to me," Swiftstar growled, his voice tired. "When I was leader of WindClan, I ordered cats to plant new seeds in Violetheart's medicine patches. I tightened security around the borders when new activity was reported. I created patrols solely for the purpose of defending our Clan against animals like foxes or badgers. When the seasons are at their hottest, I assign cats to go on patrols and leave one of them to search the sky for hawks. Hunting patrols always have three cats to keep them safe. In leaf-bare, I ration our prey and give the first pick to the queens and elders. I—"
"Father, please," Scorchclaw murmured, his heart twisting in his chest at his father's tone, as if this was the last thing he would ever do in his life. Stop… stop talking like you're going to die… because I can't face that…
"I have made a lot of mistakes," Swiftstar went on, ignoring Scorchclaw's begs for him to stop. Sorrow shadowed his father's amber eyes. "If you lose your life, there will be nothing in this world. Where is the last resting place for me?"
"I…" Scorchclaw didn't know what to say.
"There are things I regret," Swiftstar went on. "Like the battle with Flintstar. Hollyfrost lost her life, and I sent her off as a rogue. I think about that every night. I wish I could have saved Driftberry. If I knew about Adderstripe, I'd have tried to address it earlier. And gods know I regret what happened with Rabbitfur and I. I have made so many mistakes, I can't even count them on my paws. And… I regret that I won't be able to watch you raise your kits with Wildheart."
"What?" Scorchclaw's amber eyes widened. "You… know…?"
"Of course I do," Swiftstar mumbled, shutting his eyes. "I'm not blind. I guess my kids are too strong-headed to listen to me. Giving you arranged mates would've never worked. I tried my hardest, but your sister snapped at me at every turn, and you… well, I knew you were in love with Wildheart since your training. Hollyfrost or Lilystream would've never worked. You would've fought me, too. My true love… is not Sunleaf. I hate to admit it. Your mother is an excellent cat, and a kind cat. And I do love her. But the cat I will always love is Petalspring, and Petalspring was never arranged for me."
Scorchclaw's claws unsheathed and dug into the ground as his father spoke about his mother not being his true love. Sunleaf had told him this many, many moons ago, and he had never wanted to hear it again. But now, he was hearing the truth, right from his father's mouth. I… I always thought… that she was lying to me… but now I know the truth.
"You and Wildheart will have fantastic kits," Swiftstar went on, "and soon, one of them will lead the Clan, after you join me in StarClan. I will watch them grow up from our ancestors, and I will protect them. Whenever you pray to StarClan about your kits, you will pray to me. I will always be there to help you, Scorchclaw. You are my son, and I love you more than I love my own life." Swiftstar leaned his head to lick Scorchclaw's cheek, and Scorchclaw rested his head against his father's shoulder.
"I don't want to lose you, Father," Scorchclaw murmured.
"I won't leave you," Swiftstar said. "I'll be in StarClan, watching over you. Always." Just as Swiftstar continued to speak, there was a mew at the medicine den. Scorchclaw sighed, blinking apologetically at his father and walking over to the entrance. Deerheart was standing in front of it, glancing at Scorchclaw.
"Is Swiftstar here?" Deerheart asked shyly.
"He is. But you can tell me what you need." Scorchclaw sat down and gazed at Deerheart expectantly. Deerheart looked around and cleared her throat.
"Dapplewing is Dapplestar of RiverClan now," Deerheart announced, shifting her paws nervously as she relayed the news. "We overheard it on a patrol. Otterstar died the other day, apparently."
"Dapplewing is Dapplestar now?" Scorchclaw echoed. He thought back to the times he had fought Dapplewing – first, she had single-handedly defeated his first attack patrol on RiverClan, and then had unleashed a secret night attack on the sleeping WindClan patrol on their second attack. He hadn't conversed with her much, but he knew how powerful of a force she was in battle. But is she going to make a good leader, I wonder?
"Dapplestar?" Swiftstar's voice was a croak as the tom got up to follow Scorchclaw. Deerheart nodded as the old WindClan leader approached them. "How interesting. I think I'd like to meet her."
"Father…?" Scorchclaw tilted his head. But… you're sick.
"I may be sick," Swiftstar meowed, "but I am still the leader of WindClan for however little time I have left, and I'd like to use that to see the next leader of RiverClan. Deerheart, send a messenger. Tell Dapplestar I'd like to meet her."
Deerheart stared at Swiftstar with wide eyes. Then she nodded quickly. "All right. I'll go myself." With that, the dappled brown she-cat turned away from the medicine den. Scorchclaw ushered Swiftstar back into the rock, his amber eyes round.
"Father, you're too sick to visit Dapplewing," Scorchclaw urged him. What if Swiftstar fell unconscious on the way to meet her? Or what if Dapplewing saw his illness and took advantage of it? "Please, won't you reconsider?"
Swiftstar snorted. "I have another day or two at the most, I'm sure. Let me spend my last days serving my Clan as leader. If I meet Dapplestar now, I'll be able to tell you what to do if she starts causing trouble. Remember, I have been a leader for a very long time, Scorchclaw."
"Okay." Scorchclaw lowered his head and nodded. He wouldn't fight with his father, not if he was dying. He'd grant him his last wishes. Grief misted in Scorchclaw's eyes and he felt his entire body tremble. It finally hit him.
His father was dying.
He was on his last life, and after he took his final breath, he wouldn't be coming back. His father had done awful things in his life – Thrushwing, Emberpaw, Adderstripe, the rogues… but he had just admitted what he had done and how he regretted them. He was a leader who had pride but had chosen ways Scorchclaw wouldn't in order to achieve his goal. But… otherwise… he's my father. Scorchclaw dug his muzzle into his father's shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you, Father," Scorchclaw murmured. "I love you."
"I love you too, Scorchclaw," Swiftstar said, limping outside the medicine den and sitting in front of it. Scorchclaw followed him, knowing that he was waiting for Deerheart to return with an answer from RiverClan. Scorchclaw and Violetheart were the only cats who knew that Swiftstar had a fatal illness. As Scorchclaw watched the Clan life go on, he wondered why no one was saying anything. He wanted to yowl to the sky – he didn't want to lose his father! He wanted him to live! But, even if Scorchclaw begged the gods, nothing would heal Swiftstar's illness, or stretch out his lifespan.
He finally accepted my love for Wildheart, though, Scorchclaw thought with relief. He approves of us. I don't have to tip-toe around him anymore or worry that he'll force me to be mates with Lilystream. I'm so relieved.
It had been a few days after the attack with the rogues. Much to Scorchclaw's distress, Gorseflight had been exiled from WindClan, leaving Scorchclaw to lose his best friend. Even though the last interaction they had was Gorseflight snapping at Scorchclaw, they had gone through so much together. Gorseflight had been with him when he met Habu, they had trained together, fought together, and more importantly, they trusted each other with their lives. I wish I could've helped him. I'll miss him.
Smokebelly passed away during that moon. He had been dearly mourned by his Clanmates, especially the older warriors. Scorchclaw had noticed that Swiftstar and Russetstripe barely spoke anymore – not that they talked at all in the first place. Russetstripe kept her distance from her father in camp, and the last Gathering, Russetstripe had been chosen not to go. It was as if they were complete strangers now. Does Russetstripe know Swiftstar is sick? Will she be there when he dies?
Dovewillow entered camp with a rabbit hanging from her jaws, Songbreeze and Heathercloud behind her. They walked over to the fresh-kill pile and dropped the rabbit on top of it. It was in a hole that Swiftstar had ordered to be dug for prey in leaf-fall, so it didn't freeze and go bad. Lightningpaw followed with his mentor, Larchcloud. Lightningpaw's black fur was patched with grass, and Scorchclaw assumed they had been in a training session. Brambledusk followed Larchcloud with Buzzardpaw at his side. Scorchclaw had sent his own apprentice, Harepaw, out with Blackdove earlier today. He wondered how Blackdove was fairing with a cat as excitable as Harepaw was.
How did no cat see that Swiftstar was sick? Or did they not care? No one gave the two cats a passing glance – they bowed their heads at them when they passed the medicine den, but they did not speak. Instead, they simply continued their journey onwards, whether it was towards the fresh-kill pile to eat or towards the edges of camp to take a nap. Scorchclaw sighed, breathing in the early leaf-fall air.
Just as the sun rose to its highest peak, Scorchclaw spotted Deerheart's spotted fur entering the clearing. She approached the two toms, lowering her head respectfully and then looking back up at them. "Dapplestar has accepted," she meowed. "She wants to meet at the Horseplace. Now."
"She thinks she demands the time now?" Scorchclaw snarled.
"Quiet, Scorchclaw." Swiftstar lifted his tail, and Scorchclaw shut his jaws. "I want to see what this Dapplestar is like. I will go, and I will bring a multitude of cats. Deerheart, gather Brambledusk, Russetstripe, Blackdove, Wildheart, Dovewillow, Thrushwing, Sunleaf, and Songbreeze. Just in case Dapplestar has any funny ideas."
"Done." Deerheart raced away from Swiftstar and began to gather the cats he had named. Scorchclaw bit his lip, not sure if this was a good idea. Couldn't he just meet Dapplestar at the next Gathering? But, his father did have a point. What was Dapplestar like outside of battle? How would she lead her Clan? Know your enemy.
Just as the cats gathered, Swiftstar turned to address them from the center of camp. His voice did not ring as loudly as it used to, but there was no doubt it held the command it always had. "Clanmates! We have received news that Dapplewing of RiverClan is now Dapplestar. I am planning to meet her near the Horseplace. I want you all to come, to examine our new enemy. Watch your backs and prepare your claws – we do not know if she will attack."
Swiftstar finished his speech and led the way out of camp. Scorchclaw winced as he realized his father could not run as fast as he used to, and he was having a hard time regaining his breath. Scorchclaw slowed down, hoping his father would too, but his father pressed onwards as the Clan traveled through the moorland. Scorchclaw took a deep breath and followed his father, the grassland scratching at his belly. Swiftstar led us so well through leaf-bare, Scorchclaw thought miserably. What was leaf-bare like before him?
The tall fences of the Horseplace came into sight, and Scorchclaw's belly twisted as he wondered what laid beyond there. The scent of horses trickled up Scorchclaw's nose, wrenched and disgusting. Swiftstar padded towards a small grassy clearing past the fence and parked himself down. He glanced over at Scorchclaw as the ginger-and-white tabby approached him.
"Gather Brambledusk," Swiftstar ordered, his voice firm. "Have him sit on my right, while you are on my left." He pointed with his tail to the positions he had named. Scorchclaw swallowed.
"Um…" Scorchclaw stared at Swiftstar. Brambledusk? Swiftstar didn't trust Brambledusk, not at all. So why was he asking for him?
Swiftstar rolled his eyes. "Brambledusk may have sided with a traitor, but he is an interesting cat. He cares very much for his brothers, and that is what makes me regard him. Get him here."
"All right." Scorchclaw nodded to his father and slipped through the crowd until he saw Brambledusk at the edge of the cats. Brambledusk's yellow eyes narrowed into slits as Scorchclaw approached him, and the sparks flew between them immediately.
Oh, Brambledusk, Scorchclaw thought in dismay. I don't want you to hate me. "My father wants you to sit next to him," he told him.
"Why?" Brambledusk's ears flattened.
"That's just what he said." Scorchclaw shrugged.
Brambledusk got to his paws, suspicion glinting in his amber eyes, but he followed Scorchclaw and sat on Swiftstar's other side. Scorchclaw wrapped his tail around his paws, gazing at the sun and wondering when Dapplewing would come. As the sun bathed in its peak, it slowly started to sink down into the sky.
Annoyance crossed Swiftstar's face. "She's late," he growled.
"I smell them," Scorchclaw meowed, tasting the air as the stench of fish hit his nostrils. The WindClan deputy recoiled, wrinkling his nose as he turned his head away. It smells disgusting. Then he turned his head back, watching the land beyond him. He could see a line of RiverClan cats in the distance, but they all stopped, and only one cat continued to walk. Dapplewing?
Dapplewing's massive, tortoiseshell-and-white figure came into view as she walked through the moorland and approached the WindClan patrol, wearing an arrogant grin on her face. Scorchclaw scowled at her as she came within a few mouse-lengths of them, and just as she made eye contact with Swiftstar, she sat down and wrapped her tail around her paws, her green eyes glowing.
"Greetings," Dapplewing meowed, her confident eyes never once wavering from the three cats. She wore an aura of boldness, a smirk teasing her lips. Who does she think she is, to be so confident when she's just on her first day of being a leader?
Ugh, let's just get this over with. "This is Brambledusk," Scorchclaw meowed, flicking his tail towards the pale tabby on the other side of Swiftstar, "and I am Scorchclaw."
"Is that so?" Dapplewing asked, not bothering to meet Scorchclaw's gaze.
The cool flippantness in Dapplewing's voice made Scorchclaw's fur bristle. Oh, so she's just going to be condescending now, isn't she? What's the point of meeting with her if she's going to act so high and mighty?
Dapplewing met Swiftstar's gaze and dipped her head in acknowledgement of him. "It is an honor to meet you," the tortoiseshell she-cat meowed. "I am Dapplestar, the new leader of RiverClan. It took some time to travel here. My apologies."
Scorchclaw watched his father's tail twitch in barely disguised irritation. She made us wait so long, and for what? Scorchclaw thought in irritation. Swiftstar seemed to share his thoughts.
"I am Swiftstar," his father growled. "Do you always take so long to travel?" His eyes burned into Dapplestar's fur, and to any other cat, having Swiftstar stare at them would make them cower and maybe even run away. But Dapplestar met Swiftstar's gaze fearlessly.
"I was not used to such a trek," the RiverClan leader replied, rolling her shoulders. "I was perplexed."
"You should've picked somewhere easier to meet," Swiftstar said.
Dapplestar tilted her head. "I was worried about meeting you. I feared you may kill me."
Kill her? Scorchclaw couldn't blame the new RiverClan leader. After all, the last time Swiftstar met with a leader under peaceful measures was with Reedstar, and he had killed the RiverClan leader in his camp. But my father is old, now. He doesn't have the strength to kill another Clan leader… and from what's happened over the years, I don't think he would.
"You thought I would kill you?" Swiftstar's words knocked Scorchclaw from his thoughts. "You have brought more cats than I. How could I kill you?"
"They're my loyal warriors," Dapplestar said, a slight chuckle escaping her mouth. "I wanted to make sure you didn't take me lightly. Remember… I am the biggest fool in RiverClan!"
The biggest fool in RiverClan? Scorchclaw recalled some insults about Dapplestar being tossed around at Gatherings, cats calling her the "fool of RiverClan." He hadn't paid much attention to these insults, having been more preoccupied with their rivalry with ThunderClan at the time, but as he recalled back to those instances, the name calling had been particularly nasty. And now Dapplestar was using it to refer to herself?
"I see." Swiftstar eyed Dapplestar. "A great fool, indeed." The tom finally chuckled, and Scorchclaw found himself joining in. "I cannot help but notice you stand alone. Otterstar's senior warriors, such as Mintfeather and Rainbreeze, are not with you."
Swiftstar was right, Scorchclaw finally realized. Although Swiftstar sat with Brambledusk and Scorchclaw at his side, Dapplestar had walked over to them with no cat next to her. Did she have an explanation?
"It's not just them," Dapplestar said, shrugging. "None of Otterstar's senior warriors are with me. It seems a fool like me needs no senior warriors."
Scorchclaw eyed the RiverClan leader. If this cat was going on about how she was a fool and didn't need any senior warriors, then RiverClan would be much easier to defeat than ever. After all, the Fool of RiverClan was leading them.
"No, a fool needs them even more," Swiftstar growled at Dapplestar. "You'll get nowhere without protection."
"Come out here, the three of you." Dapplestar's order shocked Scorchclaw. The three of you? Three cats emerged from patches of grass that were behind Dapplestar. Scorchclaw recognized Shimmerwing from RiverClan, and two other cats, a ginger-and-white tabby tom and a gray tabby tom. Scorchclaw met Shimmerwing's eye, recalling the duel he had with her. She's a strong cat, Scorchclaw thought. But she took a life from my father. Anger turned Scorchclaw's blood cold. He wanted nothing more than to launch at Shimmerwing, for hurting his father, but he had to keep calm. After all, Swiftstar wasn't losing his temper.
"Introduce yourselves to Swiftstar," Dapplestar told them.
"I am Shimmerwing," Shimmerwing meowed, meeting Swiftstar's gaze. A flicker of recognition passed through Swiftstar's eyes, but if he remembered Shimmerwing as the cat who took one of his lives, he said nothing about it.
"I am Runningflame," the ginger-and-white tabby tom introduced himself. The tom was massive, with thick fur and hardened muscles, a feral light in his eyes. I wouldn't want to fight him.
"And I am Rippleheart," the gray tabby said. The tabby was just as big as Runningflame, his pelt riddled with old battle scars, even though he had to be younger than Scorchclaw himself.
Swiftstar lifted an eye whisker dubiously, and Dapplestar started to speak. "These three cats have been by my side all my life," she meowed. "But they are young. In other words, they were not fit for senior warriors under Otterstar. However, they are unmatched in combat. Each has the strength of a thousand warriors. You see, young cats such as they have nothing to lose. They fight to make a home, a Clan, a new world. That is all they fight for."
A new world? Scorchclaw thought. Is that possible? His amber gaze raked the three warriors that stood next to Dapplestar, their muscles braced as if they would defend the she-cat with their life. Is that what WindClan fights for, too? A new world?
Swiftstar said nothing as Dapplestar continued on. "You see, Otterstar used to say that RiverClan is a minor Clan. We do not have the moorland that you have, the pines that ShadowClan has, or the woods that ThunderClan has. But then… we have the rivers, and we have the marshes. A band of upstarts. We have no choice but to make our own way. There's someone like that in WindClan too."
An upstart! Scorchclaw gasped. She's talking about Swiftstar! How did she know Swiftstar was the son of a rogue? He glanced at his father, whose eye was twitching at Dapplestar's remark. He wondered if his father would attack the she-cat, seeing her words as an insult, but he continued to stay silent, letting the RiverClan leader go on.
"And warriors like that are strong," Dapplestar meowed. "They are not the descendants of a Clan leader, there is no blood line. Even a rogue can swipe their claws. And these rogues… can be used as puppets by others. From now on… war, and the world, will change. We must change, too. Don't you think so?"
There was a heavy silence following Dapplestar's words. Swiftstar's gaze did not leave the tortoiseshell leader, while Scorchclaw pressed his lips together, wondering what would break the tension. Brambledusk's yellow eyes examined the cats following Dapplestar, and Scorchclaw caught Runningflame's green glance. Runningflame narrowed his eyes at him but said nothing.
"Now I understand." Swiftstar let out a massive chuckle, breaking the long pause in their conversation. "Otterstar spent his life fighting me. He must think you and I are the same. Dapplestar… you are a fool. But what a splendid fool!"
Swiftstar's words – delivered without a trace of venom – shocked Scorchclaw to his core. He's laughing? He's okay with what she's saying? Father, what happened to you?
"Is that a compliment?" Dapplestar asked the same thing Scorchclaw was thinking.
"You will know… if you figure it out for yourself," Swiftstar replied.
Dapplestar let out a low chuckle, and Swiftstar started to laugh alongside her. The two cats chuckled for a few moments before Swiftstar got to his paws, stretching out his limbs and letting out a small yawn. He focused his gaze on the big tortoiseshell she-cat. "This has been a good meeting, indeed. I'm sure I'll see you around, Dapplestar."
"Thank you for meeting me." Dapplestar lowered her head and signaled to the three warriors behind her. "Let's go."
Oh, thank the gods this is over, Scorchclaw sighed with relief. Brambledusk turned away and disappeared into the throng of cats without saying a single word. Scorchclaw was about to talk to his father when he turned over his shoulder and called out, "Shimmerwing!"
What? Scorchclaw's amber eyes widened. What did his father want with Shimmerwing? The cat who had taken a life from him? Did he not recognize her? For a moment, Scorchclaw wondered if he planned on attacking Shimmerwing as the tawny she-cat approached him, keeping a safe distance of a fox-length away from him. But Swiftstar betrayed no sense of bloodlust nor danger as he gazed at the RiverClan cat.
"What?" Shimmerwing asked, a trace of nervousness in her eyes.
"Dapplestar caught my eye," Swiftstar told her, a small grin on his face. "Shimmerwing, don't let her out of your sight. With Dapplestar on your side… maybe you can do it. You can create a great land." And, with that, Swiftstar turned away from Shimmerwing, padding towards the WindClan patrol. Scorchclaw watched their exchange, bewildered.
Why is he telling Shimmerwing to create a great land? he thought to himself, puzzled. Why can't he create a great land on his own? Why does he think Shimmerwing can do it? All the questions spun in his mind, but he knew he wouldn't receive an answer from his father. Asking it would be mindless. So Scorchclaw simply clenched his jaw and pressed his lips together as he followed his father towards WindClan's camp.
RiverClan had a new leader, now. Just the aura she emitted seemed frightening to Scorchclaw, but during the meeting, she had declared herself the "fool of RiverClan" and had used it to introduce herself. It seemed like a guise to Scorchclaw, though. There was no doubting the fierce intelligence that glittered in her eyes and the strength under her muscles – and the power that emitted from her warriors, as well. The chilling look in her warriors' eyes made Scorchclaw shudder.
Was RiverClan a new breed of dangerous, now? And if Dapplestar was the cat Scorchclaw would compete with as a new leader… could he defeat her?