Life 4:2
Tigerstar had plans. Shadowclan, which he would argue was hardly even a clan anymore, needed strength, order, and, above all, a blind faith in him. Snakepaw was offering that. Snakepaw claimed that was how Shadowclan once was and could return to. It made him salivate with want. Making Shadowclan powerful would be just the first step. When they crushed the other clans, they would all fall in line. They'd all worship him, take his words as gospel, and he'd change the forest as he saw fit. It all started here with Shadowclan.
"Tell me, what would need to be done to see Shadowclan return to its former glory." Tigerstar asked of his new apprentice.
"Well, there's a lot I simply can't teach. Fortunately for us, the elders still remember. If we can find a few who are willing, we can bring back Shadowclan's old philosophies and reteach group tactics. It shouldn't strain them too much to be instructors as long as they're mainly going over strategies and how to confront problems." Snakepaw answered, already trying to devise ways to return Shadowclan to its group-based tactics and belief in the collective over the individual.
Tigerstar, taking the apprentice's advice, signaled for Blackfoot to join them. "Blackfoot. I saw something this morning that I want to see more of. What was it? Shadowclan overcomes?" He mewed, earning a salute from Snakepaw who repeated the salute's words. Tigerstar nodded at it. "Yes, that. Something died here long ago that we have the chance to revive. In Thunderclan we used to fear Shadowclan, the unknowable clan who always seemed to out position everyone while remaining hauntingly silent. It is time for Shadowclan to return to form, but with this revival, we deserve a new salute to mark the change. Snakepaw, do the salute with your other paw and say 'The tiger watches.'"
Snakepaw frowned at the order but did as he was told, raising the opposite paw in salute and mewing the words "The tiger watches." Tigerstar beamed at the sight. This cat was saluting him and him alone. It meant the cat was his. It meant Snakepaw pledged his loyalty to Tigerstar, not Shadowclan.
"Isn't 'the tiger watches' a bit vain? I'm not arguing to change it, but some cats might take offense to just praising you and not Shadowclan itself." Blackfoot tested.
"Bah. Tigers are creatures of shadows. They should feel honored to be praising one of the great cats. Either way, I've got an assignment for you. Find those elders who returned Snakepaw's salute and figure out which of them are still coherent enough and of good enough health to instruct on Shadowclan's old ways." Tigerstar instructed.
"What if they just want to take their retirement?" Blackfoot again tested.
Tigerstar spun, annoyed at how indecisive Blackfoot was being. It was not the job of a deputy to question his leader. It was his job to follow orders and make what was asked happen. "It is the job of the elders to advise and teach. For them to refuse would be treason. Remind them that until their patchy furred mangy behinds are tossed into Starclan, they've still got work to do. I'm being nice here. I'm giving them work that only requires their minds, something that still works with them. I want to keep being nice, but I can't be nice if cats keep fidgeting their paws instead of getting to work. Now, take Snakepaw and do as I asked, or I might have to act not as nicely."
Blackfoot grabbed Snakepaw by the scruff and bolted, knowing Tigerstar was just moments away from a meltdown. His ear was still notched from when he'd gotten Tigerstar too mad the first time. 'You'd think I'd learn.' Blackfoot thought. 'It was the exact same way with Brokenstar. I just got to keep my head down and follow orders. I can't change anything, so I do as was asked. At least I got Snakepaw out before Tigerstar lashed out.' Blackfoot thought to himself. Meanwhile, Snakepaw just seemed to be enjoying being carried, playing with the momentum he got with each of Blackfoot's steps.
Blackfoot set the apprentice down outside the elder's den. Blackfoot's eyes were sunken with dull acceptance of the situation. No matter what he did, it always was the same. Follow orders. Hurt and kill in the name of his current master. Take the blame when things go wrong. Don't ask questions. Accept what is tasked of you, even when you know it is wrong. The leader's word is law.
"You alright?" Snakepaw asked quizzically of the deputy.
"I am the same as I have been." Blackfoot answered in a monotone.
"That doesn't mean you're fine. What's got you upset?" Snakepaw asked, genuinely trying to help the cat.
"I never escaped Brokenstar. I just traded paws. Nothing has changed, so I haven't changed." Blackfoot answers.
"I'd say plenty has changed. We have a chance to bring back Shadowclan, the real Shadowclan. Isn't that exciting? We can undo what Brokenstar and Raggedstar did. We can bring back the purpose of Shadowclan. Do you know what the salute I showed means?" Snakepaw quizzed.
"I can't say I do." Blackfoot responded, curiosity starting to slip through.
"It breaks down into three parts. 'Shadowclan survives.' It isn't just saying that we're alive. It is a promise that we'll not only survive any hardship, but we'll survive it as Shadowclan. 'Shadowclan thrives.' This isn't saying that we're pampered like a kittypet or even well off. It means that we embrace the challenge, taking hardship in stride as we continue on. Finally is 'Shadowclan overcomes'. This one isn't just a statement. It isn't a declaration of victory. It is a promise. We promise to keep being Shadowclan even when all odds are against us. Even in death, we will be Shadowclan. We will overcome fear itself and fight to the end if it means we remain Shadowclan. I was sad when Raggedstar moved us away from this, wanting to be more like the other clans and over focus on individuality, which stripped us of our identity. Shadowclan was always about Shadowclan as a collective. We fought together as one. Where one would fail, we would succeed. A badger might be a threat to one, but it was weak to Shadowclan. I want to be a piece of Shadowclan again instead of just a cat from Shadowclan." Snakepaw declared.
"How… How do you know all this?" Blackfoot tested.
Snakepaw was happy that none of his rant drew up the blank stare of a cat who'd forget him eventually, meaning he could give a bit more. "I've been here and there. A bit of everywhere really. I'm something old and something new. I've known the clans since they came together, but you can also say I barely know them at all, only given a taste of each before being spirited on to the next. Right now, I am Snakepaw of Shadowclan, an apprentice privy to the rich history of what once was Shadowclan. Maybe soon I'll give you more, but for now, we've got a job to do that I'm excited to see done even if Tigerstar's salute is a bit silly and narcissistic."
Blackfoot still felt as hopeless as always but the smallest crack of curiosity pierced his defensive façade. He wanted to know what Snakepaw saw of Shadowclan. He wanted to see what was out there besides serving tyrants. The wall still held strong, but a small piece of it was chipped away giving a glimpse of the cat who was underneath the tired servant of tyrants.