The sunshine dappled Scorchstar's back as he watched Hawkfire crouch down on the hills, her ears angled towards something Scorchstar couldn't quite see. He sat down and watched her, and then, like a rabbit herself, she shot off in the other direction, running faster than any WindClan cat Scorchstar had seen.
A moon passed since Russetstripe and Sedgefall returned to WindClan's camp. The Clans had been relatively peaceful since Peartuft's rebellion, although Scorchstar didn't think it would last very long. He knew that Peartuft was plotting his revenge and that he would come soon.
She's growing up to be a great warrior, Scorchstar thought as Hawkfire disappeared over the horizon. She was gone for a few moments, and then she appeared again, a fat rabbit dangling from her jaws as she bounded over to Scorchstar and dropped it in front of his paws. Pride glimmered in her green eyes as she gazed at her large catch.
"Great job, Hawkfire!" Scorchstar praised his daughter. "You're doing great as a warrior."
"Thank you, Father," Hawkfire purred.
Scorchstar gazed at her and sighed, surprised at how big she had grown. "It seems like it was only yesterday when you were just a tiny kit in the nursery." And then all the trouble you've gotten into. "I feel old."
"If you feel old, that means Heathercloud is ancient," Hawkfire said, flicking her tail and looking around. "Do you think Peartuft is here, watching us?"
"Well, if he is, are you going to be the one teaching him a lesson?" Scorchstar inquired.
"Of course." Hawkfire unsheathed her claws. "I won't let him lay a paw on you, Father."
"I sure hope so," Scorchstar meowed, gesturing with his tail for Hawkfire to follow him. He didn't want to stay out longer than he had to – he didn't want Hawkfire to get hurt. Anger gnawed at his heart as he realized that he was uneasy about staying in his own territory. But we have to get home. "Let's go back to camp, Hawkfire."
"Already?" Hawkfire pouted, but she picked up the rabbit in her jaws and followed Scorchstar as father and daughter crossed the moor and entered the hollow. Scorchstar frowned as he recognized the scent of ThunderClan – it had only been a couple of days since Russetstripe and Sedgefall had returned, and they still had the scent of oak clinging to them. Maybe it was just one of them. When Scorchstar padded into the clearing, his jaw clenched as he spotted a yellow tabby tom, a golden-brown she-cat, and a silver tom with darker stripes. I know these cats.
Harewhisker walked over to Scorchstar, his eyes flittering back to the cats. "Scorchstar, welcome back. Sunfire, Honeyfeather, and Winterfall have traveled from ThunderClan to discuss a peace offer with us," his deputy explained.
"Huh." Scorchstar's gaze raked the three ThunderClan cats. "Did they?"
Sunfire stepped forward. "Scorchstar, I know there's bad blood between our Clans," he said, choosing his words carefully. "But we've been informed that Peartuft targets your Clan just as much as he targets us."
Who told you that? Scorchstar couldn't help but look at Russetstripe. Her green gaze was focused on the ThunderClan cats. He looked back at Sunfire. "And?"
"I was thinking we could form an alliance," Sunfire suggested. "To fight together against Peartuft and his cats. We shouldn't waste our energy being enemies if we have a united foe. If we work together, I'm sure we can defeat Peartuft easier than we could working separately."
Scorchstar felt his claws loosen and dig into the ground as he remembered just how responsible ThunderClan was for many of their problems. Killing Hollyfrost, causing the loss of one of his father's lives, nearly destroying them with Dapplestar, and attempting to crush them again at the battle at the border. Why should I trust any of you?
"You were right when you said there was bad blood between us," Scorchstar growled. "So why should I trust you?"
Sunfire opened his mouth to speak, but his green eyes stretched wide with horror, and Honeyfeather placed a paw over her mouth as it gaped with shock. Even Winterfall stepped back, and Scorchstar looked over his shoulder. His heart sank to his chest as he saw Seedpaw and Wildheart walking into camp, bleeding from multiple wounds, and on Wildheart's back was the limp corpse of Sandfall. No…!
"Who did this?" Scorchstar demanded as he raced over to Wildheart. Wildheart gently dropped Sandfall's body on the ground, and Seedpaw dug her head into her grandmother's shoulder, sobbing quietly. From the corner of his eye, Scorchstar was keenly aware of Skyheart racing over to her mother's body, and the choked whine that came from her throat. Scorchstar had his gaze focused on Wildheart.
"It seems that it didn't take long for Peartuft to figure out that he did not kill the real Scorchstar," Wildheart said quietly. "They sent another attack patrol, and they found us. We fought them off as long as we could, but…" His mate gazed sadly at Sandfall's body. "We had no choice but to flee."
Scorchstar stared at Sandfall's bloodied and beaten corpse. He felt as if he was about to break into tears as he saw Aspenstep race over to his mate's body, and his blue eyes stretched wide with horror. Grief swelled in Scorchstar's heart – he had known Sandfall since he was a kit, and she had been an excellent warrior. She didn't deserve to die like that. Or to die at all. She deserved to retire.
Sunfire stepped closer to Scorchstar, his voice quiet. There was genuine grief in his eyes as he gazed at Sandfall's dead body, as if he had known the warrior himself. "My offer is still valid."
Scorchstar snapped his head over his shoulder to stare at Sunfire, and he considered his value. Sunfire has a point… it's better to combine our strengths together and to battle a shared foe than to fight two enemies on two sides. I… He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked over at Russetstripe, who got to her paws and walked towards him.
"I trust them," Russetstripe said to Scorchstar. "They are honorable cats who obey their promises. It's in the Clan's best interest to ally with them."
I really don't have a choice, do I. Scorchstar gazed at the ThunderClan cats who stood in front of him. Honeyfeather tapped her paw from side to side, clearly impatient as she waited for an answer. Scorchstar finally nodded. "Sunfire, I accept your offer for an alliance. But it is only good until we have crushed Peartuft and his group of rogues. After that, we will return to being enemies."
"Fair enough," Sunfire said.
"I give you my word," Scorchstar meowed. "The lives of both of our warriors are more valuable than any conflicts we've had in the past."
"Thank you," Sunfire meowed. "I will organize a time and place for you to meet Rootstar to discuss future strategies."
"I'll lead you back to your camp," Russetstripe offered, glancing at Scorchstar. Scorchstar let out a sigh – he'd prefer if his sister stayed in the Clan and away from the ThunderClan warriors, but if she developed a friendship with them, there was nothing he could do about it. And he didn't want to break their recently repaired relationship. He nodded to Russetstripe, and the dark ginger she-cat gathered the ThunderClan cats and led them out of camp. Will you come back? Scorchstar thought as Russetstripe disappeared. You seem so unhappy.
When they were gone, Scorchstar picked up Sandfall's bloodied body and let her rest in the center of the camp. Sedgefall walked out of the medicine den, her pale green eyes glazed with grief as she walked over to her mother and licked her ripped fur. Skyheart huddled next to her sister, whimpering with grief, and Aspenstep hung his head. Pain was shattering into pieces in his dull blue eyes. Scorchstar swallowed a lump in his throat.
I promised that another cat wouldn't die because of Peartuft, Scorchstar thought miserably. Now Sandfall is gone. Scorchstar felt his claws unsheathe and dig into the ground, the grief and sadness slowly being replaced with a cold anger that strengthened his resolve and made his muscles taut. No. This is unacceptable. Peartuft has messed with me one too many times. I'll kill him myself if that's what it takes to protect my Clan.
Scorchstar walked over to Aspenstep. "I'm sorry," he said. Those were the only words he could pull out from himself. He didn't know what else to say.
"Seedpaw says she died like a warrior," Aspenstep muttered.
Died like a warrior. The words cut through Scorchstar's heart like a knife. That's the only way to go out, isn't it? But as Scorchstar examined the old warrior's pelt, the deep gashes on her told him that whoever attacked her… had the intent to kill from the first blow. She survived all of them until the last one, didn't she? Scorchstar let out a deep sigh, his eyes starting to sting.
Wildheart walked over and pressed her muzzle to Scorchstar's shoulder. "It's not your fault," she said.
"Isn't it?" Scorchstar gazed at Sandfall's body. "First Buzzardwing and now Sandfall. Is this ever going to stop?" A haze of red clouded in Scorchstar's vision, and the familiar flames of anger and rage built up inside of him as his claws dug up grass. He was ready to take a patrol out and confront Peartuft personally, if that was what it took to stop the tom from hurting his Clanmates.
"You can't stop Peartuft on your own," Wildheart murmured. "That's why Sunfire came here, so you can work together to stop Peartuft. You're only one cat, Scorchstar. You can't take all of the world's burdens on yourself."
"I'm supposed to be their leader, Wildheart," Scorchstar said. "If I can't protect them, who am I to call myself a leader?"
Wildheart nuzzled Scorchstar's cheek. "This is all Peartuft's fault," she told him. "Not yours. If you keep blaming yourself, I'll have to claw your ears off."
Oh, Wildheart. Scorchstar pressed his head into Wildheart's chest. He wanted to sob, to mourn for Sandfall just as deeply as he mourned Buzzardwing. He would never forget Buzzardwing's heroic, brave sacrifice. It would stay with him forever. Just as Brambledusk took that blazing branch for me, his brother gave his life for me. Scorchstar gritted his teeth. And we lost Sandfall to the same cat!
Just as the sun started to set, Sedgefall approached Sandfall's body. Mallowleaf stood next to her mentor, agony in her blue eyes. Sedgefall stood in her slight stature, and even though the she-cat always portrayed a sense of grace and equanimity, there was no doubt that sorrow was hiding behind her pale green gaze. Skyheart had dug her nose into Sandfall's pelt, while Cinderfall comforted her by running his tail down her spine. Seedpaw and Turtlepaw, Sandfall's grandkits, stood as if the world had come to an end. Mintpaw was gazing at Sandfall's dead body, and even though Lilystream had tried to explain to him what happened, it didn't seem as if he fully grasped the concept of death.
Hawkfire's green eyes rounded with sadness. "She was one of the toughest, strongest warriors we had."
Aspenstep, looked bedraggled and ashen, stared at his mate. Ignoring the eyes of the Clan cats, he leaned in. "It broke my heart to see you go, but I know that StarClan only takes the best. Your life was love and labor, your love for your family. You did your best for all of us. I can't stay here and tell you just how much I love you... we'd be here for ages. But StarClan only knows how much I miss you... in my home that is lonely today."
The agony and suffering that dripped from Aspenstep's voice was enough to make tears swell at Scorchstar's eyes. He lost his mate. Scorchstar glanced over at Wildheart, who was murmuring a prayer under a breath. It's devastating that Sandfall is gone. Aspenstep must be suffering so much. I hope that I won't lose Wildheart – I can't imagine how much it hurts. Scorchstar rested his head against Wildheart's shoulder, hoping that his touch would convey everything he was unable to say. Wildheart shut her eyes at Scorchstar's gesture.
Night fell, and when the pre-dawn light started to trickle into the sky, Sedgefall and Skyheart propped Sandfall's body on top of Nick's shoulders. Aspenstep followed the cats as they brought Sandfall's body to the burial place. Scorchstar felt his eyes open as Wildheart stretched out her limbs and panic grasped Scorchstar's heart as he realized he had dozed through the vigil. No!
"It's okay, Scorchstar," Wildheart whispered to him. "You were tired."
"We're all tired," Scorchstar murmured. He glanced over at the camp entrance, and his heart fell to his chest. Just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, he scanned the hollow, searching for a familiar ginger pelt. "Wait, shouldn't Russetstripe be back by now?" I know she sneaks out at night, but she's back before dawn, isn't she?
Wildheart's amber eyes narrowed. "Maybe she spent the night in ThunderClan's camp."
"No…" Scorchstar shook his head. "She'd definitely be back by now." Anxiety made Scorchstar's heart beast faster, and just as he turned his head over, he caught a glimpse of Blackdove's night-black fur. He raced over to her, his tail bristling. "Blackdove!"
"Hm?" Blackdove looked over at Scorchstar. "What is it?"
"It's Russetstripe," Scorchstar said. "She left with the ThunderClan cats at sun-high, but she's not back yet."
Blackdove visibly flinched.
"Wildheart says she may have spent the night in ThunderClan's camp," Scorchstar said, "but… I don't think that's something she'd do."
"She wouldn't." Blackdove shook her head. "I'll go look for her."
"Please, find her," Scorchstar murmured as the jet black she-cat bounded out of camp and towards the moorland. He watched with his heart tightened, seeing her fur disappear into the grassland. He sat down and sighed, wondering how the moon could possibly get any worse. The only thing he had to thank was that the sickness from ThunderClan hadn't spread into WindClan. But, other than that, they had a new enemy with Peartuft, and…
Whatever happened to Iga? Scorchstar thought as he saw Hotaru return to camp with a rabbit in his mouth. He dropped it on the fresh-kill pile and looked around camp until Iceheart padded over to him. The two young cats twined their tails together. I've been preparing for a fight with them, but they never came. Scorchstar wanted to ask the two cats, but he knew Iga was a touchy subject for both of them.
Camp was eerily quiet, with the knowledge of the threat Peartuft posed and the stench of death in the air that remained from Sandfall's body hanging over every cat. Although Harewhisker ordered patrols as normal, the amount of cats on them reminded every warrior just how much danger they were in. Scorchstar watched his deputy work and was reminded again just how strong and sincere Harewhisker was. I feel bad that I never got to train him as an apprentice, Scorchstar thought, but he's a great deputy. I hope he's forgiven me.
Evening arrived, and there was no sign of Russetstripe – or Blackdove. Scorchstar paced the clearing in circles until he could hear pawsteps behind him, and he looked over his shoulder to see Blackdove, out of breath. But his sister was not behind her. Scorchstar whirled on her, feeling his tail lash. "Why isn't Russetstripe with you?"
"I can't find her!" Blackdove exclaimed. "I searched through our territory, the outlands, I even searched through Ri – the lake, and everywhere I could think of!"
"By all the gods…" Scorchstar let out a gasp. "She must be somewhere! Did you check ThunderClan's camp?"
"I can't cross their territory," Blackdove pointed out mildly.
"We're allies now." Scorchstar leaped to his paws, his claws unsheathing. "I'll check their camp myself!" He started to strut through the clearing, but he stepped back when Wildheart jumped in front of him and glared at him. "Move."
"Scorchstar, you don't feel well, do you?" Wildheart pushed him back. "You haven't slept at all last night, and you won't sleep tonight, will you?"
"Wildheart!" Scorchstar felt anger burn in his chest. "Listen, I don't care if you hate Russetstripe! Trying to stop me from finding her is not okay!"
"No!" Wildheart shook her head. "I'll go to ThunderClan myself and search for her. I want you to stay and rest!"
"I'll go with her," Blackdove said quietly.
"And I will, too." Brambledusk walked over to the two she-cats, giving Scorchstar a deep nod. Scorchstar watched his Clanmates and finally let out a nod.
"Bring her back," Scorchstar ordered. "Don't come back unless you have her."
Brambledusk nodded and gathered Wildheart and Blackdove with a wave of his tail. Then he disappeared into the moorland, the two she-cats behind him. Scorchstar clenched his jaw as he watched them go. He could feel Harewhisker's presence next to him.
"Did I just send off three more warriors to die?" Scorchstar asked Harewhisker.
"No one could've known about Sandfall," Harewhisker said. "None of us wanted her to die. She will be mourned for all the days to come. But Wildheart is right, Scorchstar. It's not your fault and you need to stop blaming yourself."
Scorchstar unsheathed his claws. "Maybe," he reluctantly agreed. "But whatever it takes, I will defeat Peartuft." The vow was deep and ran through his blood as he declared it. Whatever happened, he would not let WindClan fall victim to Peartuft's claws.