Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior Cats series!
Title: Red Pearls
Summary: Brightfur just wanted to be a medicine cat. Her mentor, Ravenwind, has very different ideas on what that means- for her and for ShadowClan. With Ravenwind controlling her every move and more than willing to kill to keep it that way, Brightfur will need more than just luck to live to tell the tale.
Chapter Title: Keep Your Word
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Guest (November 29th)- I'd suggest re-reading chapter sixteen. =)
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Burnstar didn't go down easily. He gurgled and thrashed, striking Berryshade across the face, until finally his legs gave out and he slumped to the dirt in front of the Thunderpath.
"Burnstar!" Huskfrost yowled, the deputy shaking herself out of her shock. The brown and white tabby pushed Berryshade away and pressed a shaking paw to the wound. "Burnstar, you have to get up. We have to get you to Houndface."
Brightfur couldn't take her eyes off the blood pooling out of the leader's throat. Offer to help, frog-brain! You're a medicine cat- it's your job! But she couldn't move.
Burnstar weakly shoved her off. He tried to get up but found himself unable. He settled on fixing a green eye on Huskfrost. "Why didn't you stop her?" he rasped.
"I'm sorry," she meowed, burying her muzzle in his bloody scruff. "Just get up."
"I can't."
"Get up!" she insisted. Huskfrost tried to purr. "I'm not gonna drag your lazy rump across the Thunderpath. You gotta do it yourself."
"Huskfrost," he said. "I'm scared."
"You're not going to die," she replied, but she was settling into a bread loaf shape, her chin resting on his back. Movement broke Brightfur's trance long enough to see Lionpaw curling his face into Tigerpaw's chest fur.
Burnstar closed his eyes. Huskfrost nuzzled his spine a moment before sitting up.
"He's dead," she whispered. Berryshade, her muzzle covered in blood, lowered her head with shame. The queen was trembling.
Alderstar finally stepped closer. "I'm sorry for your loss. If you'll wait a moment, I'll get a patrol to help you carry him back."
Huskfrost slowly shook her head. "ShadowClan's done more than enough," she decided, fixing a cold eye on the elderly tom. "I'll carry him myself. Once I've got my lives... we'll talk about war and peace then."
"Huskfrost-" he tried.
"My brother is dead, Alderstar," said Huskfrost flatly. "If your granddaughter wasn't carrying kits, she would be too. Don't push it."
Alderstar reluctantly dipped his head. "We'll leave you be. Safe travels, Huskfrost."
"Drop dead, Alderstar," she returned evenly, but Brightfur could only feel sympathy as the RiverClan cat carefully slipped under the corpse of her brother. Burnstar was awkward and heavy on her shoulders as Huskfrost stood. She trotted across the Thunderpath without checking for monsters first, disappearing into the bushes with a flick of her tail.
Lionpaw pulled away from Tigerpaw. He stared at the blood on Berryshade's muzzle with muted horror. "How could you do something so awful?" he asked.
Berryshade turned her head away.
"This is bad," Slatestep said; which, to Brightfur, felt like the understatement of the season. "I think we all can agree that Huskfrost is a threat."
Alderstar sighed and shook his head. "I'm not sure. Sometimes, grief can dull even the sharpest claws. I would know."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then I don't doubt that she'll want to even the odds."
Brightfur watched with bated breath as the clearing broke into anxious mutters. Keeping focus on her Clanmates was the only thing stopping her from wiping the smug look off Ravenwind's face. Berryshade, thankfully cleaned of any blood, sat in front of ShadowClan with a grimace. It was almost a parody of a warrior ceremony.
Rainblaze stood. "Should we attack first?"
"Absolutely not," Alderstar started to say, but was cut off by Badgerthroat.
"We'd follow you anywhere, sir," she meowed, lifting her chin to show off her missing eye as proof. "You know that. Don't hold back on our account."
"I refuse to attack a Clan that just lost their leader!" Alderstar roared, shocking them into silence. The dark tabby tom's fur was sticking up in various directions, reminiscent of a pinecone. "We are a Clan of dignity, not a bunch of rogues!"
A dark shape slunk out of the throng of cats, padding over to Berryshade. "What do you suggest we do, then?" Smokestripe asked, tail wrapping protectively around the queen's hindquarters. "We can't do nothing."
Berryshade leaned heavily on Smokestripe's side. "Mom..."
"Alderstar, if I may?"
The Clan turned their eyes on Ravenwind. Alderstar blinked at the medicine cat curiously. "Go on."
"Thank you." She dipped her head respectfully. "If you ask me, I think we're being a bit too hasty. After all, Huskfrost has proven to be very compliant. She came to warn us of Burnstar in the first place, right?"
"Yes, but-"
"ShadowClan as a whole is not at risk. Not if we act accordingly." Ravenwind gestured to Berryshade with her tail. "The warrior code has a very strict rule against killing in cold blood. We'll only be safe if there's no murderers among us."
Brightfur's eyes turned into slits as she lurched to her paws. "You rotten, dung-eating-"
"Enough," Slatestep commanded, blocking her from advancing, claws out, to deliver more than sharp words to her mentor. "Ravenwind, what kind of Clan would we be if we threw pregnant warriors to the whims of Leaf-bare?"
"A Clan that lived to see Newleaf." Ravenwind scanned the crowd. Cats looked away when her eyes met theirs. "Face it. We're all half-starved. We've got four untrained apprentices that would be at risk in a full-scale battle-"
"I'd fight!" Willowpaw called out, indignant, only to be shushed by Brackenclaw.
Brightfur looked desperately up at her grandfather, only to find him watching the medicine cat, ears flat. He's not actually considering it, is he?
Smokestripe seemed to notice as well. She bunched up her muscles and leapt onto the Clanrock, ignoring the surprised gasps from her Clanmates as she met him head-on. "Alderstar, when I told you I was pregnant you promised me you'd care for me and my kits. How can I follow you if you can't keep your word?"
Alderstar turned away.
"I'll go."
Smokestripe whirled around, almost slipping off in her haste. "Berryshade, no-"
"It's fine, mom." Berryshade's voice was quiet but firm. "I... haven't felt like I belonged here in a long time." She looked pointedly at Ravenwind. The molly returned her look without remorse. "I have a place I can go, so I'll be safe. You don't have to worry about me."
Smokestripe's ears fell. "Alderstar, you can't- I can't lose another baby. I can't." She pressed her nose to his cheek. "Please, don't make her leave."
Alderstar met her gaze evenly now, though he looked far from proud. All he looked was old, and sad. "I'm sorry, Smokestripe." He raised his voice. "Berryshade, it's too late now. Spend the night with your kin, then leave before the sun rises. StarClan will keep you safe."
"You've made the right decision, Alderstar," Ravenwind purred, and it was then that Brightfur realized what she must do.
StarClan, give me the patience to play her game, she prayed, forcing her claws back into her paws. I'm going to need it.
Author's Note: Today, on Red Pearls: Alderstar succumbs to peer pressure.
-Mandaree1