Battling Cats

NEXT UP:

2003

Fire and Ice [27/5] 

Forest of Secrets [14/10]

2004

Rising Storm [6/1]

A Dangerous Path [1/6]

The Darkest Hour [5/10]

2005

Midnight [10/5]

Moonrise [1/8]

Dawn [27/12]

2006:

Starlight [4/4]

Twilight [22/8]

Sunset [26/12]

2007:

The Sight [24/4]

The Lost Warrior [24/4]

Secrets of the Clans [29/5]

Firestar's Quest [21/8]

Dark River [26/12]

Redtail threatened Oakheart, but Oakheart did not back down, and the cats flung at each other, Oakheart pinning Redtail down and then… Ravenpaw passes out before he can continue, and a golden tabby, Goldenflower, springs over to him, calling for Spottedleaf. The called for cat heads over, checking Ravenpaw before reassuring that his wounds are not fatal.

As she gets her supplies, Tigerclaw enters camp, carrying Redtail’s corpse in his jaws. People are obviously horrified, grief ridden and sad. Bluestar demands to know what has occurred, and Tigerclaw explains that Oakheart killed Redtail, but he killed Oakheart in revenge; Riverclan will stay away from their territory for a while.

Redtail is passing on into the haven known as Starclan, as Graypaw explains, so the clan grooms him and gives parting words one last time on his goodbye. Bluestar, grief stricken, jumps down from the Highrock to say goodbye, admiring her deputy’s judgement and care one last time.

Firepaw feels sad for them, and Graypaw notes that Dustpaw, Redtail’s apprentice, will need a new mentor. Dustpaw is by the body, grieving silently.

Asking how long Bluestar will stay with the body, Graypaw says probably the whole night, as they were very close. Firepaw admires Tigerclaw’s strength and bravery, while the big warrior approaches Spottedleaf, who is still tending to his apprentice. 

Tigerclaw is displeased at the notion his apprentice dies in his first battle, but Spottedleaf tells him not to worry. Still, he nudges Ravenpaw with one of his long claws, before the healer admonishes him that Ravenpaw needs to rest.

Tigerclaw seems like he’s going to say something, but stops as she reminds him he knows better than to argue. He responds that he wouldn’t dare, turning around and coming face to face with Graypaw and Firepaw. Questioning Firepaw, he learns this is the kittypet that bluestar was giving a chance, and says he will watch Firepaw’s training with interest.

After the warrior leaves, Ravenpaw opens his eyes to ask if he’s gone, and Spottedleaf shoo’s Graypaw and Firepaw away, her patient doesn’t need more stress.

Firepaw is shown around camp, before they meet up at the Elders den, where the old cats invite them to eat. Enjoying a mouse, Firepaw listens in on the elders discussion. One-eye thinks on when Bluestar was deputy, Dappletail adding that it was soon after the now leader had lost her kittens. 

Smallear notes Bluestar’s unhappiness at having to choose a new deputy, but reminds that it’s necessary before midnight. Halftail thinks the choice is obvious. Firepaw notices Tigerclaw’s ear swiveling in their direction, listening in.

Bluestar gets back on the Highrock, calling for another meeting, this time to choose a new deputy. Tigerclaw waits with anticipation, before Lionheart is assigned to the position. Tigerclaw heartedly shoves him in congratulations, and Firepaw learns that it’s likely this was the choice because Lionheart is older.

Dustpaw is also reapprenticed to Darkstripe for the rest of his training.

The closest to the dead move to sleep by him for that night, and Graypaw shows Firepaw the apprentices den. The only girl apprentice, Sandpaw, insults Firepaw, and Whitestorm tells her to lay off, telling the three of them to get some sleep, as training starts early tomorrow.

After the morning, when the sun is high in the sky, signalling Noon, Rusty approaches the spot he had found himself last night, excitement coursing through his veins. Looking around, he is startled as Lionheart speaks quietly in a nearby bush, telling him his senses need some training.

Lionheart did not come alone, having brought a Senior Warrior named Whitestorm, who looks at Rusty silently as the housecat bristles at the strength he can feel in the older cat’s bones. Annoyed, Lionheart tells him to calm down or he might lead something to them, and Whitestorm quietly greets the child.

They then leap off into the woods, leaving Rusty scrambling to catch up. Keeping a quick pace, they do not wait for Rusty and this forces him to keep going through the undergrowth. Finally, they stop, and Rusty is told they are at the camp’s entrance. 

Whitestorm tells him to smell, and Rusty does so, noticing the scents of dozens of cats further in.

The clan is in full swing, talking, sleeping, grooming and just being a community as Rusty gets things explained to him. Of course, the cats notice the new presence, and Bluestar steps out from her den, pleased to see he came.

She asks after his return journey, and hears that Whitestorm was impressed by his determination. After getting the acceptance from her senior warriors, Bluestar calls for a meeting, gathering all the cats in camp around her rock of a den.

Bluestar admits to her warriors that they are low on cats, and invited an outsider to join them. The people are confused by this, with one cat saying whoever it is is lucky to have the chance.

They can smell Rusty’s fear, and Longtail, the cat from before, yells that they don’t need Rusty, that he’d be useless and just a mouth to feed who would not help in the slightest. Lionheart tells Rusty to not back down, and the housecat pounces upon Longtail, starting a fight of claws and teeth.

During the fight, Longtail grabs Rusty’s collar and begins to pull, choking him. Desperate to get away, Rusty squirms enough that the collar snaps, freeing him and therefore proving to everyone he’s worthy.

Bluestar approaches, taking the collar and saying he is now free from humans, ready to join the community. She looks at his flame colored coat, shining in the sunlight, and names him Firepaw. The newly named Firepaw kicks dirt over his collar and is accosted by Graypaw, who is excited to see him.

Everyone greets him, and Firepaw asks where Longtail went, being told he likely went to the clan’s healer, Spottedleaf. Darkstripe, another cat from the clan, insults both Firepaw and Longtail before he leaves, causing Graypaw to make a joke to lighten the mood.

A cat named Smallear suddenly wails, and everyone is on high alert, then watching as another apprentice, Ravenpaw, crashes into camp, panting and terrified. Ravenpaw is the apprentice of Tigerclaw, and was on a patrol with him and Redtail.

Bluestar questions what has happened, and Ravenpaw yells his answer: 

Rusty is now slightly nervous, licking his shoulder before spotting a mouse in the undergrowth. Stalking it, the housecat is startled by breaking twigs, seeing a red bushy tail among the ferns. He hears pawsteps, though is zeroed in on the red before him.

That is, until the pawsteps turn into bounds of speed, and he realizes he’s in danger.

The attacker bowls him over, and Rusty wriggles before flipping over, managing to scramble away as the attacker gives chase. Rusty decides to face his attacker, and manages to surprise them with his bravery, them falling over before getting up and beginning to groom their own paw.

The other cat, gray with long fur, gives him a backhanded compliment, and Rusty forces himself to relax and threatens another fight, to which the other, revealed to be named Graypaw, ignores him.

They talk, Graypaw rambling about his own life as Rusty asks confused questions. Of course, before Rusty questions why he’s not a housecat and Graypaw goes on a rant about how Kittypet life is horrible and he’d wish he was dead if ever put in that place. Then Graypaw says something about blood purity.

Rusty is understandably upset by this, but Graypaw pauses, before hissing that his clanmates are nearby, and Rusty should run. This was too late a warning however, as Bluestar and Lionheart, Graypaw’s mentor, approach from the bushes. Graypaw apologizes for straying from them, and Bluestar compliments the fight after introductions. She even says Rusty could’ve caught the mouse.

Lionheart pushes her for them to leave, saying they shouldn’t be entertaining this Kittypet. Rusty is offended, and says he’s only here for a few mice, surely that’s fine. Bluestar becomes furious, and hisses at him, Lionheart stepping forward as Graypaw looks horrified.