Death of the Redux

Mistfoot and Dustpelt ceased whatever conversation they were having as their leaders approached them. Dustpelt turned sharply and stood at attention, while Mistfoot slowly got to her feet and waved her short tail at Leopardstar.

“We’ve been discussing what our plan should be with the rogues,” Dustpelt said. “Mistfoot suggested we have scouts set up to catch their arrival before they get all the way here.”

Mistfoot nodded, her round face alight with amused eagerness. “I figure those flops won’t know how to sneak through a forest like this. We won’t need more than one scout, if we have someone from ThunderClan watching the border.”

“Except if they try to invade from some other border,” Dustpelt added.

Firestar looked at Leopardstar. “Teaselfoot’s used to that line of work. I think he’d be perfect for it.”

Leopardstar tilted her head thoughtfully, her grouchiness gone. “They could come from the road or down by the river. We need enough time to prepare for a fight, whenever they arrive. That could be in the middle of the day, or late in the night. We won’t know for sure.”

“I can speak with Cinderpelt and see if she has anything for us.” Firestar looked around and caught sight of Cinderpelt and Tornface talking with a couple patched mollies. “Give me a moment.”

“We’ll come with you,” Mistfoot said. “Easier for all of us to hear it.”

“Sure thing.” Firestar led the way over to the conversation, tail high.

Cinderpelt chuffed at something the cream-and-white molly said, but as her eyes drifted and noticed Firestar and his entourage, she stood and, with a quick “Pardon me”, limped up to meet them halfway.

“We just need any more information that you can give about the rogues,” Firestar said. “If you know where they’re coming from, or how many there’ll be…”

Cinderpelt shut her eyes for a moment, humming like she was trying to focus. After a moment, she winced and opened them back up with a grimace.

“Well,” she said, “I know that someone is going to die today.”

Fear and regret froze Firestar down to his bones. “…Who?”

“That I wasn’t told.” Cinderpelt must have seen something on his face, because she added hastily, “It could be anyone! It doesn’t have to be someone from ThunderClan– or RiverClan,” she tacked on at a stern stare from Leoprdstar. “It was a broken rock that I saw. That doesn’t mean… er… I’ll stop talking.”

“Not just yet, my sweet seer,” Mistfoot said lightly, though her expression was uneasy. “Do you know what time of day they’ll come?”

Cinderpelt looked grateful for the change of topic, slight though it was. “The rock was being shone on, so I’m sure it’ll be during the day. I suggest you let everyone rest now so we’ll all be awake for their arrival.”

“Good idea,” Leopardstar said, a tiny bit stiffly. “Firestar?”

“I’ll tell the Clans.” Firestar trotted for the meeting stump, the others in tow.

The announcement was short and to-the-point; Firestar instructed everyone to get their meals and naps in now, which no one seemed to have a complaint with. What they didn’t like as much was his final order.

“No one is to try and kill anyone,” he said, with severe emphasis. “Scare them out, but try to restrain Fury if you can. She has one eye and a half-ear. I think we can convince her to leave us be for good if we talk.”

Leopardstar made a face, thankfully saying nothing. Cats of both Clans muttered, but no one raised their voice.

Teaselfoot was sent out to watch the Houses’ border, and when the meeting was over, Firestar went over to Barley and Brick, who were sitting together and talking quietly.

“You two can stay out of this fight if you’d like,” he said to them. “Fighting your own could be tough, and Barley, I know you have nothing to do with this…”

But Barley shook his head firmly. “Y’all are letting me stay here for nothing. The least I could do is offer what muscle I have.”

“I’ll fight, too,” Brick agreed. “I’ve got something to say to Fury, myself.”

Firestar nodded in acknowledgement. “We appreciate your help, all of us. Get some rest.”

Perhaps out of courtesy, ThunderClan warriors stayed outside, curling up alongside RiverClan cats in the sand instead of retreating to the dens. Some apprentices whispered to each other and were told to hush. Firestar himself laid down by Greystripe and Ravenwing, the pair of them shuffling in front of and beside him, as if to block anyone from seeing him. Firestar marveled at how easily he fell asleep, surrounded by his friends.

When he woke, someone was prodding him, saying his name loudly. He blinked, eyes wanting to stay shut against the strong daylight and body wanting to spread out on the warm sand. When he could see properly, Teaselfoot was withdrawing a paw, tail lashing.

“They’re coming,” he said.

Firestar jumped to his feet immediately. Cats around him were raising their heads and getting up at those two words, Leopardstar among the first.

“Keep the nursery and elders’ den safe!” Firestar called to the rising cats near those dens.

Goldenflower flexed her claws and growled, using her body to fully block the way into the nursery. Beside her, Aspencloud folded her ears back and narrowed her eyes.

Firestar swiveled his own ears, trying to track how close the gang was. It took a few long moments for the shifting of ferns and the smell of the Aulmir to reach his senses; the blatantness of both made his heart clench in pity. These cats had no idea what they were doing.

Don’t let anyone die, he told himself. Not again. Not today.

Someone hissed a command just outside the entrance. In a heartbeat, with a screech of warfare, Fury burst into camp, teeth bared and eye blazing. Instantly, she skidded to a halt, eye now pale in shock and fear, but her followers shoved past her with challenging yowls. They, too, seemed to realize their mistake very quickly. Some of them at the front tried to turn around, but the crowd of rogues kept them from going anywhere but forward.

ThunderClan and RiverClan charged, yowling themselves. Firestar couldn’t do anything; Greystripe was standing in front of him and Ravenwing was swinging at the first cat that approached. Firestar was almost shoved towards the meeting stump, camp quickly becoming crowded with fighters.

“Find Fury!” Firestar shouted to Greystripe. “Don’t let her leave camp! I’ll be fine!”

“Like blazes you will!” Greystripe shouted back. “Stay behind me!”

Truthfully, Firestar would take any excuse not to fight, but he wanted this battle finished quickly. He turned to Ravenwing to give the same order. A single deadpan glance from his friend kept his mouth closed.

Screams of pain and anger drowned out even the harsh sunlight from Firestar’s senses. He jumped onto the meeting stump to get a better look at the battle, and instantly his tail lowered onto the ground.

It wasn’t even fair; the rogues were swinging haphazardly and screeching to sound much more frightening than they were, but they were still thin and untrained. Meanwhile, ThunderClan swatted away any who approached and RiverClanners grabbed any rogue near them and pulled them to the ground with their heavier weight, rabbit-kicking their stomachs viciously. Firestar had to look away, instead focusing on finding Fury.

She had somehow made her way deep into camp, fighting by the elders’ den. Three cats—Dustpelt, Mistfoot, and Privetclaw—had surrounded her and backed her into the log that made up the den. Her back was arched and she seemed to be spitting curses, swiping at them but not able to get away.

Good, Firestar thought. We have a chance with her.

A brown tabby rogue finally noticed where Firestar was, and leaped to land on the stump. Midair, Mousefur crashed into him and the two went rolling to the side. Firestar watched Mousefur dig her claws into the tom’s face and cut open an eye. The tom cried out in pain, shook himself free from her, and sprinted out of camp.

He wasn’t the only one. Fury’s followers were starting to fight their way back towards the entrance tunnel, accepting claws and bites and kicks in the name of getting away. One tortoiseshell tried a parting blow on Greystripe and was slapped hard enough to send her rolling away. She got up and ran immediately.

“Cowards!” Fury screamed at the retreating rogues. “All of you! Come back and fight!”

Only a few cats had stayed, because they were all pinned down. Most of them had the good sense to not struggle, though one blue molly was squirming under Leopardstar’s feet.

Firestar looked around camp and his eyes caught a sorry sight. A ginger cat was on the ground in front of Goldenflower, his life ebbing from his throat. His mother had just lifted her head away from him, bloodied muzzle still wrinkled and breath more of a hiss than a gasp. Aspencloud had her head inside the nursery, saying something soothing to the cats inside.

At least it wasn’t one of us, Firestar’s mind tried to say chipperly. Damp darkness clouded that thought and he let himself grieve the loss regardless.

“Is everyone alright?” he called after a moment.

Scattered confirmations and hums answered him.

“Please bring Fury here,” he said to Dustpelt, and he jumped down off the stump.

Dustpelt, Mistfoot, and Privetclaw surrounded Fury and started pushing her along towards Firestar. Fury looked ready to kill all of them, but she had the sense to just follow, her head low and ears against her skull.

“That was utterly pathetic.” Leopardstar came to stand by Firestar, eyes glinting with contempt as she spoke to Fury. “That was the best you had? That titchy gang was what you chose to come to ThunderClan camp with?”

Firestar gently rested his tail on Leopardstar’s side. When she looked at him, he gave her a kind but stern warning gaze, and she fell silent.

Fury was now in front of both of them, half-crouched and eye darting from side to side, like she was expecting more violence.

“It’s time to let this go,” Firestar said softly. “This resurrection of the Blood isn’t going to happen, and the Clans aren’t going anywhere.”

“What do you know, murderer?” Fury spat, her tail lashing. “I have the entirety of town on my side!”

“And yet you got maybe sot* wretches to fight for you,” Leopardstar snorted. “All of which gave up the instant they were outnumbered.”

Fury growled at her, but said nothing. Her furious eye went back to Firestar.

“I don’t want anyone else dead,” he said. “I didn’t even want Scourge to die. This should never have happened—his rise or your suffering.” He had to fight to keep his voice raised, his awareness of the cats around him watching him miniscule. “I’ve seen how it is in the Aulmir, and I’m sorry that it’s so—”

“You did this!” Fury yelled. “You murdered him and now humans are taking us away! Killing us! Changing us! They wouldn’t even look at us until you Clan cats ruined everything!” Every hair was bristled on her body. “Everything we did, everything we can’t take back - you ruined it! Don’t you dare try to say ‘sorry’ like that fixes anything!”

Her voice was lightning-loud and lightning-sharp… but it was shaky, too. When she set her eye on Firestar again, it was wet with grief.

“And now—” She swallowed. “And now my Claw is gone! He disappeared! The humans took him!”

Mild surprise clicked something in Firestar’s head. Soothingly, he said, “Claw’s alive.”

Fury blinked, caught off-guard.

“He’s left the Aulmir himself with a group of cats,” Firestar continued. “I don’t know what he aims to do from here, but I know he’s alive.” Hopefully remains alive, if the owls don’t get him.

Fury hesitated, her tone still angry, but almost a drop of desperation in it, too. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“Check my bloody Barn,” Barley said, coming up from the side of the crowd now surrounding the conversation. His face and shoulders were scratched up, but he didn’t limp. “Some of you idiots took my home from me. He was one of them.”

Fury stared at him, saying nothing.

Firestar continued. “Some cats have left for a better life outside of the Aulmir. But I think there could be a better life there for those who stay.” He kept his voice calm and supportive. “I can see that you have the skill to gather followers. You could create a new colony, one that would benefit everyone by working together and not just looking out for themselves.”

“What, like you?” Fury growled, but that desperation was leaking even more into her voice. “How do I know that’ll work?”

“It can and it will.”

Firestar blinked, looking to his right. Brick, his ear cut and nose scratched, wove around past Barley to step up to Fury directly.

“I’ve seen it in my time here,” he continued. “These Clans may be a little pious—if you’ll excuse me, Firestar—but they’ve got a system here that’s kept them alive and thriving for more generations than anyone here can count.” He straightened up, tail high over his bald back. “I think there’s something to it that we could follow.”

“‘We’?” Fury looked at him with a narrowed eye.

Brick nodded. “I’ll come with you back to the Aulmir and set up a colony with a system for whoever wants to try it out.”

Several ThunderClan cats murmured in surprise.

“Y’all have taught me quite a bit,” Brick said to them, turning his head this way and that. “And I’m pretty confident that what I’ve learned about a proper group here can work anywhere. Or, at least, I’m willing to give it a test run.” He looked back at Fury. “What do you think? Want to build a better life, or would you prefer to keep going for revenge until you die?”

The rogues that hadn’t left were slowly getting to their feet as their opponents let them rise. The blue molly took a step forward and raised her voice, hesitant as it was. “I think it’s worth a try, Fury.”

Fury didn’t respond to her. Her eye was flicking back and forth as she thought. Slowly, her claws retracted into her toes.

“Whoever sees you again might want you dead,” she said to Brick.

Brick rolled a shoulder. “If they kill me, they kill me. But if I’m with you, they might be inclined to listen before slitting my throat. At the very least, I can explain what I’ve got in mind, so you can tell them after I die.”

There was a moment of silence where Fury looked around herself at the strangers surrounding her—oddly, with a mixture of resentment and curiosity. The Clans politely let her think, everyone quiet until she finally spoke.

“It’ll be on you if we fail,” she said to Brick.

Brick slanted his head with some amusement. “I’ll take the fall, don’t you worry.”

“Are you sure you want to leave?” Firestar asked him. “You’re welcome to stay…”

“We’ve been trying to figure out a solution to this problem since I got here,” Brick replied. “I’m not keen to let an opportunity to test one slip by. I do thank you for letting me live here, all of you, but I’m a street cat at heart. I might as well try to make my old home better.”

Firestar nodded respectfully. “Feel free to come by the border and ask for help. I’m happy to give it.”

Fury raised her voice, looking around for her followers. “Then we’ll go. I better not see a single ThunderClan cat in my territory for the rest of my life.”

“We wouldn’t dream of going back there,” Mousefur said dryly.

Brick turned to her. “You could, if you wanted.”

Mousefur squinted at him in mild confusion.

“The Aulmir could use a cat like you,” Brick elaborated, tail curling. “I know your company would be more than welcome.”

Mousefur snorted. “Don’t even joke.”

“Who said I was joking?” Brick’s voice leaned towards softness.

Unfortunately for him, Mousefur did not take the cue. She just shook her head, saying in her casual tone, “The forest is the only place for me. I hope you all do well out there.”

“As you like,” Brick said with another shoulder-roll, but Firestar saw the disappointment in his eyes. He turned rather quickly to Fury. “Let’s mosey. Help me carry the fellow over there.”

“Pounce?” Fury said, sounding surprised. “Why? He’s dead.”

“Another fun little thing they do around here,” Brick explained, “is respect the deceased. We can find a place to set him down to rest in. Give him some dignity.”

Fury glanced at the blue molly, who nodded, and said, “Fine. Come on.” To Firestar, she added, “We won’t need an escort out of your territory. We’re not coming back.”

Firestar dipped his head respectfully. “Let us know if you ever get in trouble and need help.”

Fury twitched her lip, but walked over with Brick to the tom with the torn throat. Goldenflower, thankfully, let them approach and haul the tom over both of their shoulders. The remaining rogues, surprised and wary, joined up with them, looking back and forth like they were expecting another attack. The Clan cats said nothing as they went through the entrance tunnel. Slowly, their shuffling of the undergrowth of the forest faded.

“They’ll come back,” Leopardstar said to Firestar. “I’m sure of it.”

“We’ll see,” Firestar said lightly. “But I think it’ll be okay.”

Leopardstar rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “You’re too soft on them.”

“Softness is what they need,” Firestar replied. “They’ve had entirely too much of a hard life. Why not treat them kindly?”

Leopardstar scoffed under her breath, even if she looked more amused than doubtful. “Whatever you say.”