Thistleclaw’s Hatred

Then, Darkstripe saw him. A flash of bright ginger and a blaze of fury. Firestar knocked away his attacker, only for a she-cat to leap on him and begin to claw at his shoulders. He’s mine! Darkstripe thought and he leapt into battle, knocking away the she-cat and digging his claws deep into her chest. She ran away with a wail.

He spun on Firestar, who was looking at him with round eyes, full of shock and pain. “You’re mine, kittypet. It’s time for you to die.”

Firestar braced himself for the attack. “So now you’re fighting on the side of Tigerstar’s murderer?” he taunted Darkstripe. “Have you no loyalty in you?”

“Not anymore,” Darkstripe snarled. “Every cat in the forest can turn to crow-food for all I care. All I want is to see you dead.” You’re the reason Tigerstar is dead. I’m going to take away all nine of your pathetic lives! Darkstripe pounced towards Firestar, but the ginger tom slipped to one side, only with careful timing was Darkstripe able to catch Firestar on the side of the head. Firestar landed awkwardly and Darkstripe saw his chance. He landed on top of Firestar and pinned him down. Firestar twisted, trying to free his hind paws. He scrabbled furiously at Darkstripe’s belly but could not shake him off. The warrior bared his teeth, aiming for Firestar’s neck.

Darkstripe sneered with victory but before he could deliver the killing blow he felt a heavy weight knock him aside. He looked up into the bright yellow, very angry eyes of Graystripe. He spat and reared up, knocking Graystripe aside. The gray tom hissed and knocked Darkstripe off of his feet. The moment Darkstripe collided with the ground, Graystripe was on top of him, his claws drawing heavy amounts of blood from his shoulders.

Darkstripe tried to twist to bite into Graystripe’s neck, but quick as a mouse, Graystripe’s paw lashed out and Darkstripe felt blood well up on his throat. The dark tabby gave one convulsive shudder. His jaws parted as he fought for breath. “There’s nothing left . . .” he choked out. “It’s all dark—everything’s gone. . . .”

Darkstripe woke up with a gasp. His eyes frantically searched for anything, anyone, some sign of life. Am I dead? He looked around, heaving himself to his paws. A bright, blinding light focused in front of him and he squinted. From the light came Brindleface, her pale gray pelt shining with stars. “I’m in StarClan...”

“For the time being, yes,” Brindleface’s voice was soft, but her eyes were the opposite, holding a blind fury. “You have betrayed your Clan Darkstripe. Your Clan, your kits, the Warrior Code.”

Darkstripe hung his head, feeling hot shame pulse off of him in waves, “I had to do what I thought was best.”

Brindleface shook her head, “If you did that then you would’ve stopped listening to Tigerstar a long time ago. I wonder,” she paused, licking her lips and gazing wistfully at Darkstripe, “If you had had a different mentor, would you have turned out this way? Would you have turned out to be a better father to your kits or a better warrior to your clan?”

Darkstripe shook his head, “Tigerstar was the best mentor anyone could’ve asked for.”

Brindleface sighed, “In terms of teaching you to fight and hunt I have no doubts. But when it comes to loyalty and honor he taught you the wrong ways. He taught you that he was right above all else, above his own clan leader and the Warrior Code that we have lived by for so long.”

“Tigerstar was the greatest warrior of them all!” Darkstripe spat back, feeling awfully defensive for a cat who didn’t seem to care much for him.

“You are blinded by your own heart. It makes your eyes see things that are not there,” Brindleface gave him one last look of pity, “I hope you find peace Darkstripe, know that I am watching over our kits and I will do so until they die. You will be unable to see their warrior ceremonies or if they have any kits of their own. You will not be there to welcome them into StarClan. I hope Tigerstar is worth it.”

“You promised me that you would be a warrior ThunderClan could be proud of,” a familiar voice whispered next to him.

“Dawnpaw?” Darkstripe spun around, looking at his sister. He felt a flash of guilt, he hadn’t thought about her in seasons.

His sister stood before him, all signs of the illness that had taken her was gone, her pelt glossy and smooth, “You promised me Darkstripe,” she shook her head sadly, “Why did you let Tigerstar corrupt you?”

“Corrupt me? Dawnpaw I was just following my orders!”

“Your orders are to listen to your clan leader,” She silenced him with the glare, “Former kittypet or not. You made your choice a long time ago. I wish that Patchpelt could’ve been your mentor.”

“I’m sorry...I failed you.”

Dawnpaw blinked slowly and bowed her head, “I hope you find peace Darkstripe.” With a final flick of her tail she left him there, frozen in place as the light that had welcomed him turned to darkness. The trees of life turned dead rotten and all signs of prey or running water left in a single heartbeat.

Darkstripe closed his eyes in fear. This wasn’t StarClan. He was being punished for being loyal! Loyal to what though... He choked on a sob and ran, ran as fast and as far as his legs would take him. Foxhearted Firestar! He will get what’s coming to him, one of these days. If I ever see him again, I’ll turn him into crowfood!

Darkstripe had grown used to the shadows, the rotten scents, the lack of life or prey. He often saw cats running by, but they always seemed out of ear-shot. He gave up trying to find someone else to share his misery with. He found that he couldn’t even drown himself in the sludge that made up the river where he lived. No matter how long he spent trying to fill his lungs with the thick, black liquid, he could never seem to fade. Always vomiting it up and hacking up a lung once he realized his efforts were futile.

He could hear something. Something close and something big. He opened his jaws and tasted the air. It smelled of...prey? He knew now that the twitching ferns and leaves meant nothing, there was nothing there. But, he was sure that he smelled something. He dropped into a hunter’s crouch and waited.

When he sniffed again though the scent came through more clearly. It was a cat. A cat he knew from his living days, a cat that he would’ve once followed to the end of time. Tigerstar! Darkstripe thought to himself, leaping out of the bushes and landing near the large tabby, who didn’t even flinch at his presence.

Tigerstar’s deep amber eyes locked on him and he flinched back, pressing his ears to his head, “Tigerstar!” he gasped, sliding to a halt and cowering to the ground. “Where did you come from? I thought I was alone here.”

“Get up, Darkstripe.” The tabby tom’s voice was a rumble of disgust. “Stop cringing like a terrified kit.”

“What is going on here?” Darkstripe asked, standing up and trying to at least make himself look somewhat presentable to his former clanmate. Darkstripe’s heart ached at the sight of the tabby, his body frozen in place in his presence.

“If StarClan thinks they can forget about us, they’re wrong,” Tigerstar snarled. He turned his back on Darkstripe, shouldering his way through the ferns without waiting to see whether the other cat followed him or not.

“Wait!” Darkstripe called after him, racing to catch up, “What do you mean?” Please don’t leave me. I gave up everything for you.

“Firestar thought he won when Scourge took my nine lives. He is a fool. What lies between us is not over yet,” Tigerstar meowed darkly. Darkstripe felt a shiver creep through his pelt at the familiarity of the hatred in his voice.

“But what can you do to Firestar now?” Darkstripe protested. “You can’t leave this forest. I know—I’ve tried. But however far I walk, the trees never end, and there’s no light anywhere.”

“I can scent Brokenstar!” Darkstripe exclaimed. “Is he here too? Brokenstar, where are you?”

Tigerstar stopped and looked back. “Save your breath. Brokenstar won’t answer you. You will sense traces of many cats here, but seldom will you meet one face-to-face. We may be trapped in one place, but we are trapped alone.”

“Then how do you expect to deal with Firestar?” Darkstripe asked. “He doesn’t even walk this forest.”

“I won’t deal with him.” Tigerstar’s voice was a soft, threatening growl. “My sons will. Together, Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw will show Firestar that the battle is far from won.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Darkstripe meowed, tilting his head.

“Of course you don’t!” Tigerstar spat, rounding on Darkstripe with claws unsheathed, “You never really did understand.”

Darkstripe winced. He didn’t want to lose Tigerstar, not again.

“But that is all in the past.” Tigerstar meowed. “I have learned to walk in the living’s dreams and I will teach them how to be better warriors. I will plant seeds of hatred against kittypet softness.”

Darkstripe flinched back into the shelter of a clump of bracken. “They couldn’t have a better teacher,” he meowed.

“They will learn the best fighting skills in the forest,” Tigerstar went on, as if the other cat had not spoken. Darkstripe tried to not let his hurt show. “They will learn to have no mercy on any cat who tries to oppose them. And in the end, they will divide the entire territory around the lake between them.”

“I could help you,” Darkstripe offered.

Tigerstar turned on him with a look of cold contempt. “I need no help. Did you not hear me say that every cat walks this dark forest alone?” Darkstripe shivered. “But it’s so empty and silent. . . . Tigerstar, let me come with you.”

“No.” There was a hint of regret in Tigerstar’s voice, but no hesitation. “Don’t try to follow me. Cats have no friends or allies here. They must walk their path of shadows alone.”

“Tigerstar please,” Darkstripe begged, not wanting to be left alone.

Tigerstar looked at him and blinked slowly, “If you can promise me one thing Darkstripe.”

The black tabby sat up, “Anything!”

“That you will fight beside me, through whatever, against whoever. You will not question my orders and you will swear allegiance to me until the day we both fade away,” Tigerstar’s voice was cold, calculated. His eyes narrowed to slits as he awaited Darkstripe’s answer.

He walked out from his meeting spot and sighed, “I can see you Sorrelkit.”

The young kit stepped out from a fern bush, her ears folded back but her eyes bright, “You didn’t even know I was there!”

Darkstripe paused, thinking about how to work around this situation, “You’re right Sorrelkit, you did very well.”

“Who was that white cat you were talking to?” Sorrelkit asked, bouncing around.

“An old friend, he’s nothing you need to worry about,” Darkstripe meowed calmy, “But we should reward you for your incredible warrior skills.” This kit could ruin everything! “What kind of reward?” Sorrelkit asked, cocking her head to the side.

Darkstripe looked around and spotted a bright red patch of berries. Deathberries... He fought back the shudder. He could make it look like an accident, but still the thought of killing the young kit made him feel sick. He walked over to the bush and pushed a branch down, “These are very special berries, they taste really good! You deserve some.”

Sorrelkit curled her tail over her back and bounded over to the bush, looking up at Darkstripe with happy eyes. Darkstripe shivered, but from the chill of leaf-fall or the fact that he was about to kill a kit, he would never know. Just as Sorrelkit began to munch on the berries Darkstripe held out for her he heard a loud yowl.

“NO!” A massive gray shape crashed into his side. Darkstripe kicked out, startled and smelled Graystripe’s mouse-brained scent. The black tabby hissed and latched his claws into Graystripe and the two went rolling.

Firestar jumped between the two of them, heaving Darkstripe away from his friend. Typical kittypet. Darkstripe sucked in a deep breath, patches of fur were missing from his flanks and he had a cut above his eye.

Bramblepaw and Cinderpelt raced up the gorse tunnel, with Cinderpelt going to treat the young, writhing kit. “Ask this kit-murderer!” Graystripe spat at Darkstripe when Firestar demanded to know what had happened.

“Why would I want to murder a kit?” Darkstripe scoffed, curling his lip.

“That’s what I want to know!” Graystripe took a step closer to Darkstripe, only for Firestar to intervene once more.

“Go on, ask him why he was feeding deathberries to Sorrelkit.” Graystripe growled at the ginger leader.

“You mouse-brained fool.” Darkstripe’s voice was cold as he gazed up at his attacker. “I wasn’t feeding her the berries. I was trying to stop her from eating them.”

“I know what I saw,” Graystripe’s eyes were dark. Darkstripe forced back his fear.

“Explain yourself Darkstripe,” Firestar meowed, obviously trying to keep his voice calm.

“I was coming back to camp,” he began. “I found the stupid kit stuffing herself with deathberries, and I was trying to stop her when this idiot jumped on me.” He stared resentfully at Graystripe. “Of course, we know who the noble Firestar will believe!” Darkstripe sneered. “There’s no use expecting justice in ThunderClan these days.”

“We will wait for Sorrelkit to wake up and she can tell us her side of the story,” Firestar said, flicking his tail to dismiss everyone.

Darkstripe gulped, if Sorrelkit woke up, she could reveal everything. Hopefully the kit won’t live. He stalked his way into the warriors’ den.

Sorrelkit lived, much to Darkstripe’s destain. His new shadow, Brackenfur, sat down behind him the moment Firestar called a clan meeting. Darkstripe was slightly surprised that the meeting started with Thornpaw’s warrior ceremony, followed by Lostface being renamed as Brightheart. When Firestar called out a spout of praise for Fernpaw and Ashpaw, Darkstripe narrowed his eyes. Of course he was proud of his kits and his apprentice, but he mostly just wanted to know what Firestar was going to say about Sorrelkit.

“Cats of ThunderClan.” Firestar raised his voice. “I have also called you together so that you can witness what Darkstripe has to say. You all heard what happened to Sorrelkit yesterday. She’s awake now, and Cinderpelt says she’ll be fine. I’ve talked to her and she confirms what Graystripe said. Darkstripe did feed her the deathberries. So, Darkstripe”—his gaze went back to the dark warrior below —“what have you to say for yourself?”

Darkstripe stood to his paws, “She’s lying,” he winced as his voice cracked. “Or she made a mistake. Kits never listen to what any cat says. She obviously didn’t hear me properly when I told her not to eat them.”

“She’s not lying or mistaken,” Firestar meowed. “And she told me something even more interesting: your reason for feeding her the deathberries. She saw you meeting Blackfoot, the deputy of ShadowClan, on our territory. Would you like to tell us what that was all about?”

Darkstripe felt his heart sink. He was about to lose his clan. Cats all around him began to hiss and bare their teeth at him. He flinched when he saw Fernpaw crouch next to Dustpelt, who had his eyes narrowed and locked on Darkstripe.

“I sentence you to exile,” Firestar spat, “If you are found on ThunderClan territory after moonhigh tonight, we will treat you as an enemy.”

Darkstripe left through the gorse tunnel, with only one destination in mind. He crossed the RiverClan border, to the new TigerClan camp where he knew Tigerstar would be and would hopefully welcome him to TigerClan.

Tigerstar had welcomed him to TigerClan, but not without some harsh words and claw new scars. “You let yourself be ratted out by a kit!” His claws then slashed across Darkstripe’s shoulder. The black tabby cowered, tucking his tail under his body.

“I’m sorry Tigerstar, but I’ve been nothing but loyal to you!” Darkstripe tried to defend himself. Please don’t turn me away.

“Really? When Bluestar banished me you chose to stay in ThunderClan instead of following me,” Tigerstar narrowed his eyes.

“And then I spied for you!”

Tigerstar spat and stalked off, “You are welcome to stay, but I’m watching you.”

Now, Darkstripe found himself facing off against Stonefur. Tigerstar had ordered the murder of all half-clan kits and wanted Darkstripe to kill Stonefur. Desperate to prove himself, Darkstripe circled the former RiverClan deputy. I must show Tigerstar that I am loyal to him and him alone. I will make him proud of me!

Darkstripe launched himself at Stonefur, catching the gray tom off guard and landing a solid blow on his cheek. Stonefur turned and bit down on Darkstripe’s tail, pulling him onto his side. Darkstripe thrashed and kicked out, clawing Stonefur in the chest with a hind-paw. Stonefur staggered backwards. Darkstripe was painfully aware of Tigerstar’s eyes locked on his pelt and he felt waves of shame pulse from his pelt. I must win!

Darkstripe then felt a familiar burn of hatred, one he had not felt for man seasons. He was brought back to his apprentice days, when RiverClan had attacked ThunderClan right in their own camp. Stonefur had beaten him back then, but he wasn’t going to let the warrior have the satisfaction of beating him twice. “Get a move on, Darkstripe!” Blackfoot jeered. “You’re fighting like a kittypet!”

Blackfoot’s words struck a soft-spot for Darkstripe and the black tabby reared up, slashing forward at Stonefur’s ears. Slipping to one side, Stonefur raked his claws down Darkstripe’s side, and followed up with a blow to his back leg as the dark warrior landed awkwardly back on all-fours.

Darkstripe wasn’t prepared for Stonefur to go on the offensive and gasped when Stonefur locked his teeth into Darkstripe’s scruff, hauling him off to the side, flinging him like he was a piece of fresh-kill. Darkstripe felt the RiverClan warrior’s sharp claws dig into his side and he hissed in pain.

Darkstripe struggled to break free from Stonefur’s grip and heard Tigerstar give an order to his large white deputy, “Finish it.” A hot wave of shame fell over his pelt when Blackfoot knocked Stonefur off of him. Darkstripe looked up and saw Blackfoot kill Stonefur with ease, a simple killing blow.

Tigerstar shot Darkstripe a seething look. I’m sorry! Darkstripe bit back the wail. He sat down, ignoring his wounds and trying to lick them clean. He wished for a medicine cat, but didn’t dare ask for any help. Tigerstar was already ashamed of him.

Darkstripe whirled to confront the two half-blood apprentices, both of which were Graystripe’s kits. “Tigerstar,” he meowed, “let me kill them.”

Tigerstar shook his battle-scarred head. “Really, Darkstripe? A prisoner can defeat you, but you think you could take on two apprentices?”

Darkstripe hung his head and shame and turned away. There was nothing more he could say or do. He had disappointed his leader, his friend. Were they even still friends? Tigerstar ignored him more often than not and every time Tigerstar chose to be near Leopardstar or Blackfoot over him, it stung him worse than a wasp. Darkstripe sighed, curling his tail around himself and waiting for another command.

Darkstripe didn’t trust Scourge. The small tom was too calm, too sure of himself, too creepy. When Scourge walked into the TigerClan camp for the first time, Darkstripe had been shocked to learn that he was the leader of BloodClan. An apprentice was bigger than him! But the leader held his head high, his icy blue eyes daring anyone to challenge him. He wore a collar, but it was studded with the teeth of both cats and dogs and let off a rank odor of stale blood. And his claws had been reinforced with sharpened dog’s teeth, making them release a sickening scratching noise with every step he took.

Scourge stopped by about once a day to talk with Tigerstar, much to Leopardstar’s chagrin. Scourge was maybe a third of the height of Tigerstar, but he held no fear in his eyes and his splintering voice was calm with every word he spoke. Darkstripe didn’t like the way the small black tom eyed Tigerstar when the tabby wasn’t looking. There was a fire in his eyes, or maybe more of a blizzard. He radiated authority and power and Darkstripe was sure that Tigerstar had met his match.

He didn’t know quite how right he was until the gathering. Tigerstar had insisted on BloodClan coming, to hopefully persuade WindClan and ThunderClan to join TigerClan. That went about as well as Darkstripe had predicted.

“BloodClan, attack!” Tigerstar’s voice called out. Darkstripe sucked in a breath in anticipation.

Not a cat moved.

Tigerstar’s amber eyes widened and he screeched, “Attack, I order you!”

Scourge stepped out of the shadows to approach Firestar. “I am Scourge, the leader of BloodClan,” he meowed, his voice cold and quiet. “Tigerstar, my warriors are not yours to command. They will attack when I tell them, and not before.”

Tigerstar’s eyes held a cold fire that Darkstripe had only seen reserved for Firestar. He was positive this night was going to end in bloodshed. He tried his best to push back his fear, he knew that Tigerstar could likely rip Scourge to shreds if he wanted to. At least...I hope so.

“Greetings, Scourge. I am Firestar, leader of ThunderClan. I wish I could say you are welcome in the forest. But you would not believe me if I did, and I have no wish to lie to you. Unlike your supposed ally here, I am a cat of honor.” He flicked his tail toward Tigerstar, trying to put all the contempt he felt into the single gesture. “If you’ve believed any promises he made to you, you’re mistaken.”

Darkstripe bit back a growl. How dare Firestar accuse Tigerstar of dishonesty! But he’s right... Another voice echoed in his head. Darkstripe folded his ears back in a vain attempt to block out the voices battling themselves in his head.

“Tigerstar told me he had enemies in the forest.” There was all the cold of leaf-bare in the black cat’s voice. “Why should I believe you instead of him?”

When Firestar opened his mouth to speak again Darkstripe felt a pit of dread open up in his stomach. He knew what was about to happen, just like many of the ThunderClan warriors below them that had begun to shuffle their paws anxiously. He’s going to reveal the truth. Then all hope will be lost. Oh Tigerstar why did things have to end this way...

“Cats of all Clans,” Firestar began, “and especially cats of BloodClan, you have no need to believe or disbelieve me. Tigerstar’s crimes speak for themselves. When he was still a warrior of ThunderClan, he murdered our deputy, Redtail, hoping to be made deputy himself. First Lionheart was chosen as deputy, but when that noble warrior died in a fight with ShadowClan, Tigerstar achieved his ambition at last.”

He paused; a grim silence gripped the whole clearing,broken only by a contemptuous rumble from Tigerstar. “Mew away, little kittypet. It won’t change anything.” Darkstripe silently willed for Tigerstar to be quiet, or to do something. Run away Tigerstar! It’s your only chance.

Firestar ignored him. “Being deputy wasn’t enough,” he went on. “Tigerstar wanted to be leader of the Clan. He set a trap for Bluestar by the Thunderpath, but my own apprentice strayed into it instead. That’s how Cinderpelt came by her crippled leg.” A shocked murmur swept through the clearing.

“Then Tigerstar conspired with Brokentail, the former leader of ShadowClan, who was ThunderClan’s prisoner,” Firestar told the listening cats. “He brought a pack of rogues into ThunderClan camp, and tried to murder Bluestar with his own claws. I stopped him, and when ThunderClan had beaten off the attack we drove him into exile. As a rogue, he slaughtered yet another of our warriors, Runningwind. Then before we knew what he was up to, he had made himself leader of ShadowClan.”

Darkstripe felt the familiar bile rise up in his throat. His former mentor and the cat he looked up to the most really was the most traitorous of them all. He knew all of this, of course, but hearing it out loud once more made the black tabby feel sick. It battled heavily with the loyalty he felt towards Tigerstar.

“But Tigerstar still wanted revenge on ThunderClan. Three moons ago, a pack of dogs got loose in the forest. Tigerstar caught prey for them, then laid a trail of dead rabbits between the dogs’ lair and the ThunderClan camp to lead them to us. He murdered one of our queens, Brindleface, and left her near the camp to give the dogs a taste for cat blood. If we hadn’t found out in time to escape, the whole of ThunderClan would have been torn to pieces.”

“Good riddance,” Tigerstar growled.

“As it was,” Firestar continued. Darkstripe saw something new in the kittypet’s eyes. Relief?  “our leader, Bluestar, died the bravest death of any cat, saving me and all her Clan from the pack.” He expected yowls of outrage, but only silence greeted him as his story came to an end. The eyes of every cat were fixed on him, stunned with shock. Darkstripe glanced at Blackfoot and Leopardstar. The RiverClan leader looked horrified. Blackfoot looked...odd. His expression unreadable. Darkstripe looked down at his paws, unable to face the truth.“This is Tigerstar’s history,” Firestar meowed urgently, turning back to Scourge. “It all shows one thing—that he’ll do anything for power. If he promised you a share of the forest, don’t believe him. He won’t give up one pawprint, not to you or any cat.”

“None of that matters now,” Tigerstar broke in roughly. “We have an agreement with you, Scourge. Fight beside me now, and you’ll have all I offered you.”

“My Clan and I fight when I choose,” Scourge meowed. To Firestar he added, “I will think about what you have said. There will be no battle today.”

Darkstripe almost sighed in relief, until he saw Tigerstar crouch low, bunching his muscles. “Don’t...” he whispered. Blackfoot shot him a look that said it all: Tigerstar was about to face his doom.

“Traitor!” Tigerstar launched himself at Scourge and Darkstripe felt the fur along his spine lift up. Scourge whipped to the side and slashed his claws into Tigerstar’s shoulder, the sharpened dog teeth doing considerable damage.

Tigerstar fell onto his side, exposing his belly to the dangerous black cat. Scourge lifted up his paw once more, the moonlight reflecting off of the teeth and he dug them into Tigerstar’s throat and dragged all the way down his stomach. A horrifying noise escaped Tigerstar as the leader fell still. Darkstripe knew he was losing a life. Come back to us and then run...We can run away Tigerstar. It doesn’t have to end like this! When Tigerstar came too again he began flailing weakly, blood pulsing out of his body and a faint glimpse of bone stuck through the wound. Again the massive tabby’s body grew still for a heartbeat, but again the wound was too terrible to yield to the healing trance. Another spasm seized Tigerstar’s body. His claws tore up clumps of grass in his agony, while his screeches turned from fury to terror.

He’s dying nine times. Darkstripe thought grimly, his eyes beginning to wet. Blackfoot watched the horror show next to him, his eyes guarded, like he wasn’t surprised with this outcome. Not that Darkstripe was either. I knew we couldn’t trust Scourge.

Darkstripe didn’t remember BloodClan leaving, or the other clans. He sat there, frozen in shock, his yellow eyes locked firmly on Tigerstar’s corpse. He made his way over to the tabby’s body and kneeled beside it. No one else was there to mourn him. Darkstripe bit back a sob.

He stuck his muzzle into Tigerstar’s fur, flinching at the cold, wet feeling of his blood and closed his eyes. “Goodbye my friend. I hope you find peace whenever you are. Know that you have not died in vain, I will make sure of that,” Darkstripe whispered.

Darkstripe took it upon himself to groom Tigerstar’s body clean. While he could do nothing about the horrific evisceration wound, he could at least try to give the former leader a proper burial. As Darkstripe groomed him, he was brought back to his earlier warrior days, of sharing a nest with Tigerstar and the two of them grooming each other. Of Tigerstar talking about his plans for the future, of sharing prey and teaching their apprentices together. All of it ruined thanks to Firestar.

Fireheart stood up as Tigerstar sat. Darkstripe could see the familiar burn of hatred flash in Tigerstar’s amber eyes for just a moment before his gaze became calm and orderly once more. Fireheart spoke about the fire and Darkstripe was surprised when he saw Tigerstar flinch at the mention of Yellowfang’s death. Although, Darkstripe himself had acknowledged Yellowfang as a part of ThunderClan, not that he would ever say that outloud.

“ThunderClan accepts that StarClan has approved your leadership,” Fireheart meowed. “As rogues, your followers stole from all four Clans while they roamed the forest, so it is good that they have their own Clan again. We trust that they will be bound by the warrior code and will keep to their own territory. But we will not tolerate any invasions into ThunderClan territory. In spite of the fire, we are strong enough to drive out any cat who sets a paw over our borders. We have no fear of ShadowClan.”

Darkstripe saw Tigerstar lift his head higher, saying that ThunderClan had no reason to fear ShadowClan. And just like that, the gathering was over. Darkstripe glanced over as Fireheart meowed something quietly to Whitestorm and Sandstorm. What’s he up to? 

The black tabby looked around, trying to see if he could spot Tigerstar anywhere. The new leader was meowing hastily with Crookedstar, who seemed less than impressed with whatever Tigerstar was saying. The RiverClan leader flicked his tail to dismiss himself from Tigerstar and leaped down to join his own clanmates.

Fireheart called for ThunderClan to leave and Darkstripe felt a pang of longing, wanting to say something to his former friend before they left. When Darkstripe couldn’t find his familiar tabby pelt he thumped his tail to the ground and turned to follow after his clan.

“Darkstripe!”

The warrior perked his ears and looked around. He saw a pair of amber eyes looking at him from behind an oak tree. Darkstripe padded over, trying to contain his excitement. He dipped his head respectfully to the new leader.

Tigerstar’s gaze was guarded, as though he was weighing his options. “You should’ve come with me.”

Darkstripe twitched his tail, “Maybe.”

“But now I can see how much use you will be since you are still in ThunderClan,” his words had an edge to them and his long claws extended into the soil. “I saw the fire. I saw Fireheart save Bramblekit.”

Darkstripe nodded, “It was, um, brave of him.”

“I want to see my kits!” Tigerstar demanded. “How are they getting on?”

The ThunderClan warrior tilted his head and answered cautiously, “Getting bigger and stronger everyday, Bramblekit especially.”

“Bring them to the border at the half-moon, I wish to speak to them without prying ears.”

“How am I supposed to sneak two kits out of the camp?” Darkstripe asked, bewildered.

“Figure it out. Then I will have something else for you to do,” Tigerstar snarled, turning and walking away into the woods, back towards his own, new territory.

Darkstripe flicked his ear. Leave it to Tigerstar to always want something. He sighed and ran back to camp, not wanting to cause more suspicion from Fireheart.

--

Darkstripe left the warriors’ den early, trying to at least make himself look useful as he helped the clan as much as he could. He glanced over at Ashpaw and Fernpaw, the two youngest apprentices and...his kits. He saw the same sleek fur on Ashpaw that he had on his own and Fernpaw had faded stripes all along her pelt, same as him.

Darkstripe also wasn’t blind to the fact that Dustpelt had his eyes all over Fernpaw whenever she wasn’t out training. Fernpaw was Darkstripe’s own apprentice, a shock to the whole clan that Fireheart would even consider giving him an apprentice. Darkstripe tried not to let it show, but being a mentor was one of his most favorite parts of being a warrior.

It was then that Bramblekit came walking back into camp, a mouse dangling from his jaws. Darkstripe saw the small tabby kit bring the mouse right up to Fireheart, who had a pained look in his eye. Fireheart glanced down at the small kit and forced a smile, praising him. Goldenflower, Bramblekit’s mother, had her gaze locked on the two toms, ears perked and tail twitching.

Tonight I must bring Bramblekit and Tawnykit to the border. Darkstripe reminded himself, sighing,looking up at the half-moon, nearly four days after Bramblekit had caught that mouse. Part of him felt as though this counted as betraying his clan, but on the other paw Tigerstar had a right to see his kits.

Darkstripe looked around the camp, it was eerily quiet. The death of Snowkit, the poor blind tom, had shocked the clan. Speckletail, Snowkit’s mother, rarely ever left the nursery now and pieces of prey never seemed to leave the entrance, where apprentices often left them for her to eat.

Darkstripe fluffed up his coat and walked carefully over to the nursery, where, thankfully, Bramblekit and Tawnykit were playing just outside. “Bramblekit, Tawnykit, come here.” He beckoned them with his tail.

Their ball of moss forgotten, the two kits ran over to the warrior and looked up at him, their eyes gleaming, “I want to take you somewhere tonight.”

“Where?” Tawnykit asked, her tail fluffing up with excitement.

“I’m going to take you to see your father,” He whispered low, looking around to see if anyone was watching him. “Near the ShadowClan border.”

“That’s so far!” Bramblekit meowed, impressed.

Darkstripe nodded, “But we must keep this quiet, no need to get the whole clan riled up over nothing, right?”

Both kits nodded quickly and whispered to themselves. 

“I’ll come get you once the moon has risen.”

The moon rose far too soon for Darkstripe’s liking. Swallowing the ball of anxiety that swelled up in his throat, he stalked his way to the nursery and poked his head inside. He reached in with a paw and gently nudged Bramblekit and Tawnykit awake, “It’s time.”

The trek, he soon realized, was far too long for a kit to make, but he knew that Tigerstar would claw his ears off if he disobeyed. “Follow me. Try to keep up, can’t you?”

“I’m tired. My paws ache,” the little tortoiseshell she-kit complained.

“What, a strong kit like you?” Darkstripe meowed. “Don’t be silly. It’s not far now.” He told himself, although he could see the tiredness in Tawnykit’s eyes. Bramblekit, however, was ripe with energy, bounding over his sister and trying his best to keep up with Darkstripe.

The strong reek of ShadowClan reached Darkstripe and he felt a blast of...something, grip his pelt. He wasn’t sure if he was nervous or excited to see Tigerstar again.

“Yuck, what’s that?” Tawnykit squealed.

“Is it a fox?” asked Bramblekit.

“No, it’s ShadowClan scent,” Darkstripe replied. “Come on, we’re nearly there.” He led the kits across the border, Tawnykit complaining that she was getting the horrid scent all over her paws. “You’ll get to see your father here in just a few moments.” The mention of Tigerstar seemed to lend some energy to the kits.

Just as he spoke, Tigerstar emerged from the ferns, his broad shoulders rippling with power. His amber eyes held a cool, steady gaze as he eyed Darkstripe and then looked down at his kits. Darkstripe noticed Tawnykit hold her head higher and Bramblekit didn’t show an ounce of fear, even despite the fact that Tigerstar’s paw was bigger than their heads.

“Do you know who I am?” meowed Tigerstar.

“Darkstripe said he would take us to meet our father,” replied Bramblekit.

“Are you our father?” Tawnykit added. “You smell a bit like us.”

Tigerstar nodded. “I am.”

The kits exchanged a wondering glance as Darkstripe mewed, “This is Tigerstar, the leader of ShadowClan.”

“You’re a clan leader?” Bramblekit asked, bewildered, his pelt now standing on end.

Tigerstar purred with amusement, the sound sent shockwaves through Darkstripe’s pelt. The black tabby looked over his shoulder, making sure that they were alone. He sniffed, but the overwhelming scent of ShadowClan blocked out all others.

“When will they be apprenticed?” Tigerstar looked up to face Darkstripe.

“In a moon or so. If I didn’t have Fernpaw, I’m sure I would mentor one of them,” Darkstripe meowed quickly, puffing up his chest.

“Somehow, I doubt Fireheart or Bluestar would be on board with that,” Tigerstar hissed, he then bent down to talk to his kits again, “Can you hunt?” he asked them. “Can you fight? Do you want to be good warriors?”

Darkstripe twitched his whiskers with amusement as the two kits tried to boast to their father. 

“Why are you the leader of ShadowClan, but we live in ThunderClan?” Tawnykit asked. Darkstripe felt a chill creep down his spine. No one in the clan had revealed the truth to the young kits. How would Tigerstar talk his way out of this one?

“Good day, Tigerstar,” a voice meowed from behind the group. “You’re a long way from your camp. And so are you, Darkstripe.” His tone sharpened. “What are you doing here with these kits?”

Darkstripe turned around, dumbfounded. Fireheart had a blaze in his eyes that Darkstripe had never seen before on the kittypet. He fought to keep his claws sheathed.

“Fireheart.” Tigerstar dipped his head, the courteous greeting of a leader to the deputy of another Clan. There was no hostility in his tone, but Darkstripe knew better. “Blame me, not Darkstripe. I wanted to see my kits. You wouldn’t deny me that, surely?”

Darkstripe gulped. Fireheart and Tigerstar had more than just a history. Darkstripe found himself wanting to side with Tigerstar versus his own clan deputy.

“What if a hawk attacked? There’s still little cover in some parts of the forest. Have you forgotten Snowkit?” One of the kits let out a whimper and Fireheart stopped; he didn’t want to frighten them. “Take them back to camp, Darkstripe. Now.”

Darkstripe exchanged a glance with Tigerstar and shrugged. To the kits, he meowed, “Come on. Fireheart has spoken, and we must obey.”

Tigerstar shot Darkstripe a glance. Darkstripe knew that he would come back tonight, alone, just as Tigerstar had always planned. But, for now, he took the kits back to camp. They rambled on question after question, most of which Darkstripe dodged. He didn’t know what lies Tigerstar was planning on telling them before Fireheart had interrupted and he didn’t dare want to ruin that part of the plan.

As soon as the moon was high above the clearing the following night, Darkstripe crept his way out of camp and made his way back to the ShadowClan border. ThunderClan was tense now, on high alert as their once noble leader, Bluestar, slowly descended into madness.

Just like the previous night, Tigerstar sat at the border, his coat looking shiny and freshly groomed. Darkstripe stumbled in his steps.

“I feared you weren’t coming,” Tigerstar meowed, his voice rumbling low in his chest.

“The camp is tense, things aren’t going so well.”

“It would appear so. Things are also about to get a lot worse for ThunderClan,” Tigerstar smirked, a fire returning to his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Darkstripe stammered out, watching Tigerstar wrap his long tail around his paws.

“You have a pack of dogs living on your territory,” Tigerstar pointed out. Darkstripe nodded, but said nothing, “I intend to use them, to use them to destroy your clan.”

“How?”

“I’ve been catching prey for them, leaving it all over your territory. It’s only a matter of time before they catch and kill a warrior. Once that happens, ThunderClan will fall!” Tigerstar held his head high. “But I need your help.”

“Anything Tigerstar,” Darkstripe meowed all too quickly. He found himself regretting the words.

“I need you to make sure that Fireheart dies at the paws of these dogs. Do whatever you have to do to make it happen. If ThunderClan casts you out, you will have a place in ShadowClan,” Tigerstar’s deep amber gaze locked onto Darkstripe. The ThunderClan warrior felt his pelt prick at the thought. “That kittypet deserves to rot!” Tigerstar added, noticing Darkstripe’s hesitation.

“I will try my best,” Darkstripe vowed, unable to make eye contact.

The plan with the dogs...didn’t go as planned. At least, not from Tigerstar’s point of view. Darkstripe was shocked when Brindleface was found dead, her throat slashed open. He had been the one to find her, and Tigerstar’s unmistakable scent was covering her entire body. He rolled her around in some nearby dog dung and dragged her body back to camp.

Darkstripe felt an odd sense of dread and despair fill his body from the tip of his tail all the way to his muzzle. He never really cared for Brindleface, they weren’t exactly mates, but she had still mothered his kits and the two of them had a few good memories here and there. If any cat other than Tigerstar had been responsible for her death, then he would’ve ripped them to shreds.

Tigerstar has killed again. Darkstripe thought with a shudder upon looking at her body. He thought back to his times learning under Tigerstar, under his careful gaze and sharp claws. How Tigerstar had molded him from a pathetic kit into a powerful warrior. He had Tigerstar to thank for all of his skills in fighting and hunting. Not to mention that Tigerstar held something more powerful than all of StarClan in his paws: Darkstripe’s heart.

Darkstripe knew that he could not betray the ShadowClan leader, his former friend and former partner. He loved Tigerstar, not deeply or too intimately, but enough for it to matter. The two of them had grown close to one another, even if Tigerstar seemingly neglected him time and time again. Darkstripe found himself unable to disobey those amber eyes, no matter how much trouble they got him in.

And then Fireheart’s plan to get rid of the dogs happened. Still struck by grief, Darkstripe found himself unable to push Fireheart over the cliff just as Tigerstar had instructed him to do. He found himself frozen in place as his two kits outran the pack of blood-thirsty dogs. The memory of Swiftpaw and Brightpaw, now called Lostface, struck him. Swiftpaw had been brutally murdered by the dogs when he and Lostface tried to go drive them out on their own. And Lostface...well she was mangled, mauled and now half of her face was missing. She was a sickly sight to behold and Darkstripe couldn’t help but feel partially responsible.

Bluestar saved Fireheart. She knocked the dogs into the river below and ended up losing her life as well. Darkstripe was currently held underneath Tigerstar’s powerful paws while the dark tabby spat in his face about how much of a failure he was. He’s right. Fireheart should’ve died. Darkstripe felt sharp claws slash across his ears and a warm trickle of blood let him know that Tigerstar had inflicted damage.

“I’m sorry Tigerstar,” Darkstripe whimpered out pathetically.

“Ravenpaw told me that Oakheart died when rocks fell on him. Redtail fled from the rockfall, and ran straight into Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw pounced on him and killed him. And I’ve spoken to cats from RiverClan,” Fireheart added. “They tell the same story, that Oakheart died in a rockfall.”

Darkstripe looked down at his paws. He had idolized Tigerclaw, had wanted to follow in his paw prints as best as he could. But now he knew for a fact that his mentor, his friend, his...That he was a murderer. But how could someone so traitorous father kits? Darkstripe glanced at the nursery, where Goldenflower would be protecting Bramblekit and Tawnykit. A flash of envy moved across his mind, but he shoved it away quickly.

“Tigerclaw expected to be made deputy then,” Fireheart went on. “But Bluestar chose Lionheart instead. Then Lionheart died fighting ShadowClan, and at last Tigerclaw achieved his ambition. But being deputy wasn’t enough for him. I . . . I think that he even laid a trap for Bluestar beside the Thunderpath, but Cinderpaw was caught in it instead.” He glanced at Cinderpaw as he spoke, to see her eyes widen and her jaws open in a gasp of surprise.

Darkstripe felt like he was going to throw up at that point. Cinderpaw had been shaping up to be a wonderful warrior, and now she had to be a medicine cat. Not that there was anything wrong with that life, but Darkstripe knew, deep down, that Cinderpaw would make a much better warrior. And now she’ll never get that chance thanks to Tigerclaw.

“What will happen to him now?” Darkstripe found himself asking, his eyes pleading with Fireheart and Bluestar.

“Kill him!”

“Blind him!”

“Drive him out of the forest!”

Darkstripe looked around. His clanmates wanted to hurt him, wanted to kill him and make him suffer. And, part of him wanted that too. Tigerclaw had plotted with that disgusting excuse for a warrior, Brokenstar, and betrayed his trust. So why do I still want to defend him? Oh Tigerclaw what have you done?

“Do you have anything to say in your defense?” Bluestar asked the tabby warrior.

“Defend myself to you, you gutless excuse for a warrior? What sort of a leader are you? Keeping the peace with other Clans. Helping them! You barely punished Fireheart and Graystripe for feeding RiverClan, and you sent them to fetch WindClan home! I would have never shown such kittypet softness. I would have brought back the days of TigerClan. I would have made ThunderClan great!” Tigerclaw roared. Darkstripe saw the same fire in his eyes that he saw in Thistleclaw’s the day Thistleclaw died.

Darkstripe swung his head around, seeing Cloudpaw looking dejected. Kittypet, serves you right for this. Darkstripe knew that this wasn’t entirely Fireheart and Cloudpaw’s fault, but they were kittypets, they didn’t belong in ThunderClan. If it wasn’t for Fireheart, none of this would be happening. When Ashkit and Fernkit, both almost ready to be apprentices, poked their heads out of the nursery, Darkstripe felt a familiar pang hit his heart. Those are my kits, raised next to a kittypet. They will train next to him and fight beside him. Traitors!

“I sentence you to exile,” Bluestar’s voice sounded faint. “You will leave ThunderClan territory now, and if any cat sees you here after sunrise tomorrow, they have my permission to kill you.”

“I’d like to see them try,” Tigerclaw taunted.

“Fireheart beat you!” Graystripe called out.

Darkstripe folded his ears back in anger, so this really was all Fireheart’s fault. Or was it? Darkstripe felt his heart being torn in two ways.

“Don’t think I’m finished,” Tigerclaw hissed. “I’ll be a leader yet. And any cat who comes with me will be well looked after. Darkstripe?”

Darkstripe looked up, gazing into Tigerclaw’s amber eyes. Memories of late night hunts and running through the woods filled his mind. His promise that he had made to stick by Tigerclaw’s side struck him like a badger’s paw, just as he was sure it was in Tigerclaw’s mind as well. But...Tigerclaw had betrayed his clan. If he had just waited he would’ve been leader. There was no point in plotting with Brokenstar, no use in using his rogues. You were beat by a kittypet, tried to kill our leader, killed Redtail, and crippled Cinderpaw. If I didn’t care for you so much this would be an easy answer. Darkstripe was painfully aware of everyone looking at him, and Fireheart’s green gaze locked firmly on his pelt.

Darkstripe got to his paws, “I trusted you, Tigerclaw,” he protested. “I thought you were the finest warrior in the forest. But you plotted with that . . . that tyrant, and you said nothing to me. And now you expect me to come with you?” He looked away deliberately. “I cannot follow you.”

“I needed his Brokenstar’s help with the rogues, if you take that personally then that’s your problem,” Tigerclaw spat, looking around to find Longtail.

Darkstripe blocked out the rest of Tigerclaw’s speech, not even bothering to turn around as he heard the gorse tunnel shift the moment the tabby finally left. The camp felt weird, stiff almost. Every cat was avoiding him and Longtail, only Dustpelt seemed to have some friends left over after Tigerclaw’s banishment. I need to be alone. Darkstripe thought, making his way into the warriors’ den and curling up to sleep off the weird feelings he still felt about Tigerclaw.

It was the following morning that Darkstripe realized that Bluestar had not announced a new deputy. He made his way out into the clearing just in time to see her slink out of her den. Her fur was matted and dusty, dried blood still clung to certain parts. It hurt Darkstripe to know that Bluestar looked like that due to Tigerclaw’s attack.

Bluestar was stumbling around the Highrock from her den. She looked old and weary as she sat down in front of the rock, making no attempt to climb it. “Cats of ThunderClan,” she rasped, barely loud enough to be heard over the anxious muttering. “Listen and I will appoint the new deputy.” 

Darkstripe looked around, no one seemed particularly fit to be deputy. Whitestorm maybe? 

“I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice.” Bluestar paused again, staring down at her paws. She didn’t speak for a long time. Darkstripe felt a chill crawl up his spine. One or two cats had begun to whisper uneasily, but as Bluestar raised her head again they stopped. “The new deputy will be Fireheart,” she announced clearly.

Darkstripe snarled loudly. Fireheart? That kittypet? He’s the only reason that Tigerclaw got exiled! Darkstripe knew that wasn’t true. Tigerclaw had been exiled for his betrayal, but it felt better to blame the former kittypet than to accept the truth. “Well I’m not taking orders from a kittypet!”

Cats began to swarm around the handsome ginger tom and Whitestorm even made a point to ask Fireheart what he wanted the clan to do. When Fireheart asked him to take out a hunting patrol Darkstripe made it a point to sit for a long time. Fine then. He got to his paws and called over to Longtail and Dustpelt, and the three toms exited the clan.

“This clan is becoming weaker by the day,” Darkstripe spat.

“What do you mean?” Dustpelt asked. The warrior was strong in battle and a fine hunter, but seemed not too keen when it came to clan politics.

“Have you not noticed?” Darkstripe spun his head around to face his two followers, “Fireheart, a kittypet, is our deputy. It’s only a matter of time before Sandstorm and him are mates and that means more kittypet blood, not to mention Cloudpaw! That arrogant little furball is lucky Bluestar ever accepted him into the clan. If it wasn’t for Bluestar taking in a kittypet all those seasons ago, none of this would be happening! Tigerclaw would still be in ThunderClan!”

“And he likely would’ve gotten away with killing Bluestar,” Longtail pointed out, narrowing his eyes at Darkstripe, “Or are you saying that Tigerclaw was just in that action?”

Was Longtail really siding with Fireheart? Darkstripe stepped forward, claws unsheathed. Blood roared in his ears and he felt his legs begin to shake, “I..I don’t know.”

“Tigerclaw is a traitor to ThunderClan. I hope he lives out the rest of his days in peace if his wound does not take him first, but I will never forgive him for what he did and what he tried to do,” Dustpelt meowed, his voice distant. Darkstripe was reminded of the fact that Redtail had been Dustpelt’s mentor first.

--

“Hey Darkstripe, do you have a moment?”

Darkstripe looked over at the source of the voice and saw Brindleface looking at him, an unreadable expression on her face. “Of course Brindleface.”

Brindleface led him out into the forest, a little ways away from camp. “Everything okay?” he asked, a little bored. He wanted to get back to Tigerclaw. He needed to get back to Tigerclaw.

“I’m expecting kits.”

Darkstripe froze in his tracks, looking at her, “Mine?”

Brindleface nodded, “They are yours.”

Darkstripe sucked in a breath. He didn’t want kits. He never wanted kits. Anger swelled inside of him, but he kept it on lock, “I’m sorry Brindleface, but I will not father those kits.”

“I figured you would say that, but I felt that I should tell you. I will not speak of who their father is as long as I live,” Brindleface swore.

“Thank you Brindleface. I will never mention that they are mine,” he turned away from her, ready to head back towards camp, but he paused to look over at her, “And congratulations. You’ll be a great mother. I just have no interest in kits.”

“You never have and I don’t think you ever will. You only have an interest in Tigerclaw, even a blind kit could see that,” Brindleface flicked her tail, looking away from his gaze.

Darkstripe flinched away from the truth in her words. He looked at her once more and opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

--

Darkstripe was gnawly weakly on a mouse, barely noticing the flavor. The camp was alive, but Darkstripe didn’t much care for anyone in the camp. The only cat worth listening to was Tigerclaw, everyone else had been weakened by Bluestar, who had grown frail in the past few seasons. Having lost the last battle at Sunningrocks, Darkstripe had lost some respect for his aging leader.

It was then that Whitestorm and Lionheart entered the camp, with an unknown cat behind them. Darkstripe sat up, trying to identify the newcomer. “How did he handle himself?” Bluestar asked, meeting the two senior warriors halfway.

“He kept up well and showed no fear as he trekked through our territory,” Whitestorm reported.

The new cat was small, probably around six or seven moons old. He smelled of a tom, but another scent was added along to his. Not a clan cat, who is this?

Bluestar called for a clan meeting, climbing onto her highrock, “ThunderClan needs more warriors,” she began. “Never before have we had so few apprentices in training. It has been decided that ThunderClan will take in an outsider to train as a warrior. . . . ” Darkstripe heard indignant mutterings erupt among his clanmates, but Bluestar silenced them with a firm yowl. “I have found a cat who is willing to become an apprentice of ThunderClan.”

It was then that Longtail, his own former apprentice, spoke up, “Lucky to become an apprentice!” His pale tabby pelt bristling.

Darkstripe moved over to sit near Longtail, and to get a better look at the newcomer. “He’s wearing a collar!” He whispered to Longtail, shocked. “He’s a kittypet.”

“Lionheart and Whitestorm have met this young cat, and they agree with me that we should train him with the other apprentices,” Bluestar continued, ignoring the onslaught of questions about the cat’s origin.

“Look at his collar! He’s a kittypet!” Longtail yowled. “Once a kittypet, always a kittypet. This Clan needs wildborn warriors to defend it, not another soft mouth to feed.”

“Well said,” Darkstripe muttered darkly to the tabby.

Darkstripe narrowed his eyes at the ginger tom, who was looking for the source of the taunts. Darkstripe saw Lionheart whisper something into the young cat’s ear and in the next moment, the kittypet launched himself at Longtail, taking the young warrior by surprise.

Darkstripe jumped out of the way, letting them fight. No subtle rituals of swiping and boxing preceded this fight. The two cats were locked in a screaming, writhing tussle that flipped and somersaulted around the clearing at the heart of the camp. The other cats had to spring out of the way to avoid the screeching whirlwind of fur. For a moment, Darkstripe was afraid that Lontail was going to lose, until the pale tabby secured the tom’s collar in his mouth and began pulling and pulling hard. Darkstripe could see the thin blue material tighten around the ginger tom’s neck and watched as the kittypet flailed beneath Longtail.

Just as Darkstripe was sure that Longtail was now going to kill this kittypet, the collar snapped, sending Longtail back a few fox-lengths and the kittypet stood to his shaky paws, claws still unsheathed. Darkstripe noticed the thick v-shape in Longtail’s ear, blood dripping from the wound. Bluestar jumped between the two toms to prevent them from attacking again, “The newcomer has lost his Twoleg collar in a battle for his honor. StarClan has spoken its approval—this cat has been released from the hold of his Twoleg owners, and is free to join ThunderClan as an apprentice.”

Darkstripe felt a wave of disgust flood over him, A kittypet? Seriously? He glared at his former apprentice, disappointed in him. 

Bluestar continued with the ceremony, “From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice will be called Firepaw, in honor of his flame-colored coat.”

Darkstripe watched as Graypaw, a young apprentice, keen, but a little too fish-brained, walked over to the kittypet. Firepaw huh. We’ll see how long it takes you to leave this clan. 

Firepaw and Graypaw were talking as if they had been friends since kithood and Darkstripe couldn’t bother to swallow his disgust, “Lucky your collar snapped when it did. Longtail is a young warrior, but I can’t imagine him being beaten by a kittypet!” He spat the word kittypet scornfully, then turned and stalked off.

Darkstripe wanted to go sleep the rest of the day away, but Smallear called for a warning yowl and in an instant Darkstripe had his claws unsheathed, ready for trouble. But it was only Ravenpaw, the skittish little apprentice. Darkstripe could see the blood pulsing from his shoulder and the way his sides heaved with effort. Where is Tigerclaw? 

“Redtail’s dead!” Ravenpaw meowed loudly before he collasped onto his side, muttering something about Oakheart and Sunningrocks. Darkstripe blinked in surprise. Redtail was dead? Darkstripe was too far away to hear the rest of the story as Spottedleaf ran out and began to treat his wound.

Longtail came out of her den after her, his eyes full of rage and his ear still red with blood, “You lost to a kittypet,” Darkstripe snapped, “I trained you better than that.”

Longtail hung his head, he had no defense for his loss. Just as Darkstripe was about to speak again, Tigerclaw came into the clearing, Redtail’s body hanging limply from his jaws. Darkstripe breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw that Tigerclaw seemed unharmed.

“How did this happen, Tigerclaw?” demanded Bluestar from her position on the Highrock. 

Tigerclaw let the scruff of Redtail’s neck fall from his mouth. He looked steadily back at Bluestar. “He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn’t save him, but I managed to take Oakheart’s life while he was still gloating over his victory.” Tigerclaw’s voice was strong and deep. “Redtail’s death was not in vain, for I doubt we’ll see RiverClan hunters in our territory again.”

Bluestar rushed forward to meet Redtail’s body, as did many other cats. Darkstripe saw Dustpaw, Redtail’s apprentice, among them. The brown tabby looked more broken than Darkstripe had felt when Dawnpaw died. The dark warrior flinched, it had been moons since he thought about his late sister.

Darkstripe walked over to Tigerclaw, eyeing him over, “I’m fine Darkstripe, just another day, another successful battle.”

Darkstripe nodded, “Bluestar will have to pick a new deputy,” he reminded Tigerclaw, although he was sure that the dark tabby hadn’t forgotten, “I’m sure she’ll pick you.”

Tigerclaw did not comment, he just made his way to the medicine cat den. Darkstripe was sure he wanted to make sure that Ravenpaw was okay. When Darkstripe saw a flash of orange, he turned his head and glared at the new apprentice. Firepaw was walking with Graypaw over to the elders’ den, the two of them engaged in some idle conversation.

“Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment, for it bore witness to the needs of the Clan, and was never swayed by self interest or pride. He would have made a fine leader,” Bluestar said as she laid down next to the former deputy. Darkstripe himself felt sad, he and Redtail had never been close, but he had been a loyal warrior and for the most part, considerate about staying out of Darkstripe’s way.

Darkstripe saw Tigerclaw emerge from the medicine cat den, his broad shoulders pushing aside the bramble that blocked it, “Bluestar really let a kittypet join our clan?” Tigerclaw asked, sitting down next to the dark warrior.

He nodded, “I suppose so. Bluestar lost her mind a long time ago, this just seals the fact that she is unfit to lead,” Darkstripe muttered.

Tigerclaw’s eyes were locked on Firepaw, who was now eating a mouse while talking with the elders. “I am curious to see how he fares.”

“Poorly is my guess.”

“But he beat Longtail,” Tigerclaw pointed out, his voice deep and steady.

Darkstripe twitched his whiskers, not much to say about that. “I guess.”

Bluestar’s voice called from the Highrock, preventing Darkstripe from continuing. “It’s time.” Tigerclaw meowed, standing up and heading towards the clearing where Redtail’s body still lay pale gray in the fading light. 

“A new deputy must be appointed,” she meowed. “But first, let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Redtail. Tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars.” Silence fell as all the cats looked up into the sky, which was beginning to darken as evening crept over the forest. “And now I shall name ThunderClan’s new deputy,” Bluestar continued. “I say these words before the body of Redtail, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice.” 

Darkstripe sat next to Tigerclaw, the large tabby was stiff as he awaited the announcement. She has to pick Tigerclaw....Right? He’s the best fit for the job. He’s the best cat to lead when she dies!

“Lionheart,” meowed Bluestar, “will be the new deputy of ThunderClan.”

Darkstripe felt Tigerclaw stiffen and heard his claws dig into the dirt, but his face revealed nothing. In fact, the dark tabby moved over to the large golden warrior and shoved him with a shoulder in congratulations. But, Darkstripe knew that Tigerclaw had to be upset. I’ll talk to him later. 

Bluestar spoke again. “Redtail was also a mentor to young Dustpaw. Since there must be no delay in the training of our apprentices, I shall appoint Dustpaw’s new mentor immediately. Darkstripe, you are ready for your next apprentice, so you will continue Dustpaw’s training. You had a fine mentor in Tigerclaw, and I expect you to pass on some of the excellent skills you were taught.”

Darkstripe blinked in surprise. Me? He made his way over to Dustpaw and touched noses with him. He could see the grief in the young cat’s eyes and made a mental note to let the cat have the following day off. Dustpaw flicked his tail respectfully, but remained silent. 

Once Bluestar came back down to mourn her deputy Darkstripe bent down to be level with Dustpaw, “Take tomorrow off, grieve for your mentor. He was a wise and brave cat and ThunderClan will miss him. We will continue your training after tomorrow.”

“Thank you Darkstripe,” Dustpaw murmured, moving to sit next to Redtail’s body.

Darkstripe looked around, trying to find Tigerclaw. The large tabby was picking through the fresh-kill pile and Darkstripe quickly made his way over to him, “I’m sorry she didn’t pick you.”

“Lionheart is a brave and confident warrior, I’m sure he’ll make a wonderful deputy,” Tigerclaw meowed, although Darkstripe could hear the strain in his voice. 

Tigerclaw sat down, biting into the vole he had picked, his eyes locked on the fiery pelt of the kittypet. “What makes him so special?” 

Darkstripe shrugged, sitting next to Tigerclaw, “I don’t think he’ll last a moon here.”

“I’m going to try to participate in his training. There has to be a reason Bluestar wanted him to join ThunderClan,” Tigerclaw half-growled around his mouthful of vole.

“You won’t catch me dead next to that kittypet!” Darkstripe spat. “Even Sandpaw wants to stay away from him.” He watched as the light ginger she-cat sneered at Firepaw, making the newcomer flinch back. Only when Whitestorm came over did she stop her teasing.

Tigerclaw grunted and headed into the warriors’ den. Darkstripe waited a moment or two before following after him, giving one last good look at Firepaw. Kittypets, he’ll never be a real warrior. 

“Tigerclaw would you like to come with me as I show Longpaw our borders?” Darkstripe asked, hoping that his hopefulness wasn’t seeping into his tone.

“I’d love to,” Tigerclaw stood to his paws, following after Darkstripe, who let Longpaw take the lead.

“Slow down Longpaw!” Darkstripe snapped. Longpaw was hyper and easily excitable and Darkstripe didn’t know if he would have the patience for him. Hopefully he calms down. 

“We were like that at one point,” Tigerclaw reminded him, flicking his tail along Darkstripe’s ears.

“But now we aren’t.”

“Maybe not in the same way, but one day I’ll be leader,” Tigerclaw said nonchalantly, lifting his head higher.

“I think Redtail might beat you to that,” Darkstripe meowed, “Although, between you and me, I think you’d be a better leader than him.” The dark tom kept one eye locked on his apprentice, watching as he raced through the snow-filled forest.

“Really?” Tigerclaw looked at him, surprise and something else in his gaze. Something that Darkstripe couldn’t make out.

“Redtail cares too much for friendship, but you and I both know that we can’t be friends with our enemies. He’s a wise deputy, no one can deny that, but you would make our clan stronger,” Darkstripe explained. “Besides, I haven’t forgotten how you saved me from Stonefur when Redtail was nowhere to be seen. You risked your pelt to save mine, and I’ll never forget that.”

“I’m glad you and I are on the same page,” Tigerclaw’s eyes turned a few shades darker, almost entrancing Darkstripe. 

“Darkstripe!” Longpaw called from a few fox-lengths ahead of the pair, “When can we hunt?”

Darkstripe shook his head, “When you stop yelling and scaring away all the prey.”

“Oh,” Longpaw looked down at his paws, “Sorry.”

Darkstripe rolled his eyes, “There won’t be much prey out in this weather anyway, but we can work on your hunter’s crouch.”

Longpaw nodded, “This is how you do it, right?” He crouched down, his technique nearly flawless.

“Wow, that’s a lot better than you did on your first try,” Tigerclaw joked. 

Darkstripe shot him a look, flicking his tail in annoyance, “Keep your tail off the ground though and make sure you keep it still. If it drags it’ll stir up leaves and sticks, which will alert prey that you’re there.”

Tigerclaw sat back, licking his paw and grooming his face as Darkstripe instructed his apprentice. I wish he would pay attention. He was such a great mentor to me, I want to make sure I’m doing this right. 

“Try a few pounces and I’ll advise you from there,” Darkstripe commanded, stepping back to let his apprentice work. Longpaw nodded and crouched low, his ears perked and tail still as stone. He crept forward, his paws barely making a sound.

“His frame is lithe, he’ll make a great leaf-bare and leaf-fall hunter,” Tigerclaw commented, giving Longpaw a few glances in between his grooming.

Darkstripe flicked his ear in agreement, watching Longpaw stalk nearly-perfectly on his first try. A wave of shame washed over him. It took me so many tries to get that right. 

Then, Longpaw froze, his eyes locked on something that Darkstripe couldn’t see. Longpaw readjusted his crouch and crawled forward, smooth as a snake. His paws barely made a sound as he stalked towards something. Darkstripe squinted, unable to see through the newly falling snow. Then, Longpaw pounced! He landed on top of something and killed it with a swift bite. He lifted his head high and walked over to Darkstripe, dropping a vole at his paws, “Like that?”

Darkstripe blinked in surprise and nodded, “Um, yeah. Just like that.”

“Excellent catch,” Tigerclaw meowed, eyeing the apprentice up and down. Darkstripe felt a flame of jealousy grow in his chest.

“Why don’t you take that back to the elders and then later I’ll show you the best places to collect moss,” Darkstripe sent his apprentice away.

“He learned the hunters crouch and then caught a piece of prey just like that,” Tigerclaw noted, watching Longpaw walk back towards camp.

“Yeah,” Darkstripe sighed, a little sad.

“Don’t feel too bad, now you’re one of the better hunters in the clan.”

Darkstripe twitched his whiskers and looked back into the woods.

“Wanna come hunting with me tonight? I find that the prey runs better at night during leaf-bare,” Tigerclaw asked, looking at Darkstripe with a dark intensity.

“It’s almost new-leaf though,” Darkstripe reminded the older warrior, “But sure, I’d love to go hunting tonight.”

Darkstripe dropped his wad of moss outside the elders’ den, instructing Longpaw to change the bedding using the technique he had shown him early. Longpaw nodded happily and leapt into the elders’ den, happiness sparking off of his pelt.

Darkstripe sighed softly and turned around, watching the moon rise slowly above the ThunderClan camp. He decided that he would sleep for a little bit before his outing with Tigerclaw.

When he awoke, the entire warriors’ den was silent, only the soft snores of various cats filled the den. Darkstripe stood up in his nest and walked out, seeing Tigerclaw sitting near the camp entrance. He thought that everyone was mourning the deaths of Poppydawn and Windflight, both of whom had died from greencough just hours earlier. The entire camp seemed bleak and down, the two dead warriors now in StarClan watching over them.

“You came,” Tigerclaw purred, meeting Darkstripe halfway across the camp.

“Of course,” Darkstripe meowed, curling his tail over his back, 

“Let’s head down to Sunningrocks.”

Darkstripe followed after Tigerclaw, his dark pelt blending in with the shadows easily. He noticed some leaves beginning to grow on the plants surrounding them. “I can’t wait for new-leaf.”

“Me neither, I love it when the prey is running,” Tigerclaw meowed, keeping his head forward as they trekked towards Sunningrocks.

Darkstripe perked his ears, something was rustling underneath the root of an oak tree. He froze, dropping into a crouch and tasting the air. Squirrel. He crept forward, narrowing his eyes to find the rodent in the lowlight. Once he was close enough he pounced on top of the squirrel and killed it with ease.

“Nice squirrel,” Tigerclaw commented, his eyes bright.

Darkstripe blushed and dropped his squirrel, “It was begging to be caught.”

“You still caught it though,” Tigerclaw shrugged. Darkstripe kicked some snow and dirt over his kill and followed after the dark tabby.

Once at Sunningrocks, the moon was shining brightly above the pair, illuminating the rocks that overlooked the river. Tigerclaw hopped up onto the rocks, beckoning Darkstripe with his tail. Darkstripe tilted his head but leaped up next to him. Tigerclaw sat down and looked down at the river.

Darkstripe blinked slowly, sitting down next to Tigerclaw, their pelts brushing up against one another. “I can’t wait to be the leader of ThunderClan.”

Darkstripe looked up at the tabby, who’s eyes were locked on something he couldn’t see. Darkstripe looked at the flowing river, “You’ll be the best leader ThunderClan has ever seen.”

“Better than Bluestar?” Tigerclaw asked, inching his tail closer to Darkstripe’s.

Darkstripe froze. He liked Bluestar, she was a fierce fighter and a noble warrior. She had her flaws of course, but it wasn’t Darkstripe’s place to comment on that. Tigerclaw noticed his hesitation, “No, of course not.”

“S-sorry. I mean maybe. No leader is without flaws,” Darkstripe quickly recovered.

“Perhaps. But I have great plans for ThunderClan. When I’m leader, Sunningrocks will always belong to ThunderClan, ShadowClan will not ever threaten our borders and WindClan will stay on their side of the moor,” Tigerclaw’s voice became thoughtful. “ThunderClan will become the most powerful clan in the whole forest!” Darkstripe shivered, the determination in Tigerclaw’s voice rocked him. He’s really serious about this. But Redtail is the deputy right now and by the time Redtail lost all nine of his lives Tigerclaw would be too old to be the leader. 

“Can I rely on you Darkstripe?” Tigerclaw looked down at his companion, his amber eyes blazing.

“For what?” Darkstripe tilted his head.

“To fight by my side, through everything. You know me the best out of everyone. I was your mentor, I made you into the warrior you are today. You know how wise and noble I am, you must be able to see that I am the best option for ThunderClan’s future.” Tigerclaw went on, puffing up his chest, “So I’m asking you Darkstrikpe, if you will support me through thick and thin, with words and with claws.”

Darkstripe blinked and pressed closer to Tigerclaw, hesitant to his response. The tabby placed his tail over Darkstripe’s, patientally awaiting Darkstripe’s answer.

Darkstripe walked over, blinking from the stinging cold. “I want you to go on Thistleclaw’s patrol. They’re going to the RiverClan border.”

The young warrior nodded and looked around for the thick-furred tom. He saw him standing near the entrance, Dappletail and Poppydawn standing next to him. Darkstripe bounded towards them and gave the three warriors a brief exchange before they set out.

Darkstripe brought up the rear of the patrol, his paws trudging through the snow that was quickly layering itself on the forest floor. Above him, pale tree branches shook in the wind, sending more snow crashing down onto the four freezing cats. Darkstripe grumbled under his breath some curses that most should never hear. I hate leaf-bare. 

The patrol spread out as they came to the RiverClan border, each of them sniffing around for any sign of them on ThunderClan territory. Darkstripe growled, “It’s too cold to smell anything.”

Poppydawn lifted her head to look over at the dark tom and grunted her agreement, “Everyone knows that RiverClan doesn’t do anything during leaf-bare anyway.”

It was then that Darkstripe noticed the gray specks flooding Poppydawn’s muzzle and the streaks of gray in her normally bright tail. She’ll be moving into the elders’ den soon. “Why did Redtail want us to come here?”

Thistleclaw sighed, his breath visible in the cold temperatures. “If I had a mouse for every time I didn’t know why Redtail asked to do something, I’d have enough prey to feed the entire clan all leaf-bare.”

Dappletail sat down on the edge of the river, taking a few sips from the freezing water and looked across the border. She flicked her ear and fluffed out her pelt, “We’re no longer alone.”

Darkstripe squinted, barely able to make out the shapes of a RiverClan patrol coming to the border. Thistleclaw came down to the river bank and flicked his tail to let his patrol to know to fan out behind him. From the snowy shadows came four RiverClan warriors. Darkstripe recognized Softwing and Beetlenose at the head of the patrol, with Sunfish and Whiteclaw behind them.

“Beetlenose,” Thistleclaw greeted the black warrior.

Beetlenose flicked his tail, narrowing his eyes, “What brings you to our border?”

“Just a routine patrol,” Thistleclaw’s voice sharpened. “Always so hostile, you RiverClan fishpelts.”

Beetlenose dug his claws into the snow and Darkstripe felt a shiver of fear crawl down his spine. “I’m just making you sure you aren’t straying onto our territory.”

“We don’t want any of your territory,” Thistleclaw growled. Darkstripe noticed Dappletail unsheath her claws and Poppydawn’s fur lifted along her spine. Darkstripe looked over at the RiverClan patrol, not blind to the hatred in Whiteclaw’s eyes.

“And yet you fight for Sunningrocks, and shed unnecessarily blood.”

“Sunningrocks is ThunderClan territory and we both know it,” Thistleclaw spat.

“You wish!” Softwing growled, coming close to the border.

“Tensions are high right now, you sure you want to do this?” Poppydawn whispered to Thistleclaw, glancing uneasily at the RiverClan patrol.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” Thistleclaw lashed his tail. Darkstripe dug his claws into the snow and bunched the muscles in his legs, ready to pounce at Thistleclaw’s command.

Sunfish bared her teeth and Whiteclaw locked eyes with Darkstripe. The dark ThunderClan warrior was brought back to the RiverClan ambush. Whiteclaw wants a rematch. I’ll be sure to give it to him. 

With a single tail flick, the two patrols crashed into one another. Darkstripe and Whiteclaw went rolling, claws latched into each others’ shoulders. Darkstripe kicked the RiverClan warrior away and stood to his paws, slipping slightly on the snow as it melted beneath their body heat. Whiteclaw rammed his head into Darkstripe’s chest, knocking the dark warrior away. Darkstripe felt his claws slash into his pelt and the snow turned red under his paws. Darkstripe spat angrily and raked his claws along Whiteclaw’s ears.

To his side Darkstripe saw Poppydawn flailing underneath Sunfish, who had her fangs dug into the older warrior’s neck. Darkstripe dodged Whiteclaw’s next attack and dug his claws into Sunfish’s pelt, flinging her to the side. Poppydawn flashed him a look of gratefulness and got to her paws, spinning around and pouncing on Sunfish.

Darkstripe yowled when teeth dug into his tail and pulled him across the snow. Darkstripe battered his paws into Whiteclaw’s throat, causing the RiverClan warrior to gasp for air and release his tail.

“Thistleclaw, no!” 

Darkstripe paused in his attack and looked over his shoulder, where Beetlenose had his teeth dug deep into Thistleclaw’s chest. Beetlenose released the warrior and staggered backward, “I...I didn't mean to, I didn’t think that he would,” the black warrior tripped over his own tail, shaking his head, “It was an accident!”

Darkstripe ran over to the bleeding, gray ThunderClan warrior and stood over him. Thistleclaw’s amber eyes were full of hatred and blood pooled around his lips, “Get...him.” he whispered, falling limp in the snow.

“Get off our territory,” Poppydawn spat, sending the RiverClan warriors back to their own territory.

“Darkstripe, we have to take him back to camp,” Dappletail meowed, pressing against the dark tom.

Darkstripe nodded and bent down, picking Thistleclaw up from his scruff and began to drag him home, with Dappletail going underneath him to support his lower half. Poppydawn went ahead of the patrol to give the clan some sense of forewarning.

I can’t believe he’s dead. If I wasn’t so caught up with Whiteclaw I probably could’ve saved him. I saved Poppydawn...Why couldn’t I save him? Halfway through their trip back home Darkstripe began to slip on the snow and trip over his own paws, his mind becoming a fogbank.

“It’s not your fault,” Poppydawn reassured him, noticing the pained look in Darkstripe’s eyes.

The gorse tunnel tugged at Darkstripe’s pelt as they brought Thistleclaw’s body into camp. The clan had already begun to gather, ready to mourn for Thistleclaw. Bluestar sat on top of her highrock, Redtail sitting next to her. Darkstripe knew that Bluestar and Thistleclaw never really got along, so he was surprised to see a look of loss spread across her face.

“What happened?” Bluestar demanded.

“RiverClan patrol, they were taunting and urging us on. They wanted a fight,” Darkstripe’s own voice sounded distant.

“Beetlenose took his life,” Dappletail added.

“He was a brave and loyal warrior. ThunderClan will miss his battle skills,” Bluestar sighed, leaping down to share tongues with her former clanmate.

Darkstripe left the clan to mourn, walking over to the warriors’ den and laying down just outside of it. His paws felt numb from the cold, but the rest of his body felt numb from shock. It’s all my fault. A dark shadow fell across him and the dark tom looked up. Tigerclaw looked down at his former apprentice.

“Why didn’t you save him?” Tigerclaw asked, a growl underlying his voice.

Darkstripe wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole, “I couldn’t.”

“Couldn’t? Or wouldn’t?” Tigerclaw snarled.

“I couldn’t!” Darkstripe stood to his paws, pushing his muzzle into Tigerclaw’s face. Grief fueled his actions, Thistleclaw had been his mentor as much as Tigerclaw had been, “If I could’ve, I would’ve. He was my friend and I’ll miss him dearly!” Darkstripe’s eyes felt wet. Leave me alone Tigerclaw.

Tigerclaw took a step back from the angered warrior and dipped his head, “I know. I’m sorry. He was my friend too and my mentor. He taught me everything I know.”

“It’s my fault Tigerclaw, I already know that. Just leave me alone,” Darkstripe meowed bitterly, facing away from the tabby and laying back down with a huff.

Tigerclaw ran his tail along Darkstripe’s spine, “As you wish.”

Darkstripe heard the crunching of snow as Tigerclaw left and the dark warrior let out a sob. Beetlenose won’t get away with this...Or maybe he already did. Darkstripe sighed and curled his tail around his muzzle.

“You should mourn in your nest.”

Why can’t everyone just leave me alone. Darkstripe opened one eye and looked at Brindleface, who’s green eyes were full of sorrow. He said nothing and wrapped his tail tighter around himself, ignoring her presence.

The ThunderClan apprentice felt claws dig into his haunches and send him across the clearing. He shook his head and looked up into the snarling teeth of Stonefur. Darkpaw rolled out of the way as Stonefur pounced and clawed at the warrior’s shoulder. Stonefur twisted in an instant and clawed Darkpaw across the muzzle and then slammed his paw across the apprentice’s face. Darkpaw landed on his side, the wind knocked out of him, and Stonefur pinned the apprentice to the ground, raking his claws across Darkpaw’s spine. Darkpaw struggled underneath Stonefur’s larger weight. He’s going to kill me!

The weight was lifted in a second and Darkpaw looked over his shoulder to where Tigerclaw now had the RiverClan warrior facedown in the dirt, his teeth digging into Stonefur’s shoulder. A pool of blood had begun to form underneath Stonefur and once Crookedstar called for a retreat, Tigerclaw flung the warrior to the side, yowling curses at him.

Bluestar was limping heavily, blood weeping from a bite on her flank, but she kept her head held high and leapt up onto the highrock, “ThunderClan! RiverClan has attacked us over Sunningrocks. Today we have proved that Sunningrocks belongs to us and we will continue to fight for that hunting land!”

Yowls of agreement came from the winded and wounded clan. Darkpaw watched Spottedleaf as she went from cat to cat, checking everyone’s injuries. His own mentor barely seemed fazed by his wounds, of which there were few. Darkpaw could see a claw mark across his chest and chunks of fur were missing from his tail, but other than that Tigerclaw seemed to be unharmed. He can go into battle and come out basically unharmed! 

Spottedleaf ran over to the nursery, where Fuzzypelt was licking a small wound on Robinwing’s muzzle. Lionheart had a torn ear and was sitting next to Goldenflower, who was bleeding from her hind-leg. Brindleface and Frostfur, ThunderClan’s two newest warriors, although still older than Darkpaw by nearly five moons, seemed unharmed.

“Are you okay?” Tigerclaw’s deep voice broke Darkpaw out of his observations.

Darkpaw was reminded of the deep claw wounds in his flanks but he shook his head, “It’s nothing I won’t heal from.” “Good, I spent too much time training you for you to be taken out in your first real battle,” Tigerclaw grumbled.

“You trained me really well, I defeated Whitepaw with ease,” Darkpaw boasted, flicking his ear.

“Stonefur still got the best of you,” Tigerclaw chastised. “Lucky I was there to save you.”

Darkpaw blushed. If Tigerclaw hadn’t saved me, who knows that Stonefur would’ve done to me. “Thank you Tigerclaw.”

His mentor snorted and walked off towards Bluestar, who was talking to her own apprentice, Runningpaw. Mousepaw was licking her wounds, her mentor, Speckletail nearby and watching closely. Bluestar had sent Whitestorm, Frostfur, Goldenflower, and Halftail out to make sure that RiverClan had left their territory.

“Are you okay?” Spottedleaf asked, looking him over.

Darkpaw nodded, trying to be brave.

“Don’t lie to me Darkpaw, I’m your medicine cat. I can’t waste my time checking over every inch of you,” Spottedleaf meowed, an edge to her voice.

“Stonefur clawed my flanks pretty hard,” the apprentice admitted.

Spottedleaf rounded him and looked at his wounds, “They’re big, but not deep.” She told him, placing some cobwebs over the wounds, “Don’t stress them too much or they'll never heal properly.”

Darkpaw flicked his tail in acknowledgement, but his eyes were focused on Tigerclaw. The massive warrior flexed his claws into the dirt, a burning fire in his eyes. I wonder what he’s so upset about. Tigerclaw lashed his tail as Redtail spoke, the deputy was calm and relaxed under Tigerclaw’s piercing glare.

Darkpaw’s eyes rolled over Tigerclaw’s frame, the rippling muscles and sleek fur. He’s amazing. The dark tom blushed again at his own thoughts and turned around, slowly walking over to the apprentices’ den, flashing one last look at his savior before entering.

Runningpaw and Mousepaw came into the den shortly after, their own paws dragging as they slumped into their nests, “Does it ever get easier?” Mousepaw asked.

Darkpaw felt his paws root to the ground and he dropped his tail. He tried as hard as he could, but it had taken him nearly three days longer than Dawnpaw to learn the hunter’s crouch and now he felt more inferior than the smallest kit. “But, he shows great potential. His front paw blow is surprisingly powerful and he shows better balance than most when he is on his hind-legs. Not to mention that he has become quite the hunter.”

Darkpaw brightened slightly at the praise, but still felt crestfallen. He blocked out what Thistleclaw and Tigerclaw were talking about as they made their way to the training hollow. The training hollow was a small dip in the ground, filled in by soft sand and dirt and protected by brambles and large trees.

“Watch us closely Darkpaw,” Thistleclaw snapped Darkpaw out of his trance. The apprentice looked up, noticing two pairs of eyes locked on him. He nodded and sat down, trying his best to keep his focus locked on the two warriors.

Tigerclaw made the first move, leaping towards his former mentor. Thistleclaw whipped to one side, kicking out with a hind-leg and knocking out Tigerclaw’s front legs the moment he landed. Tigerclaw rolled over as he landed in the dirt, slamming his paws into Thistleclaw’s flank. The gray tom backed away and then reared up, slashing forward to drive Tigerclaw back. Tigerclaw ducked inbetween Thistleclaw’s legs and hit the back of his leg, sending the older warrior to the ground.

From the ground Thistleclaw kicked out, landing a solid blow to Tigerclaw’s jaw. Tigerclaw twisted his neck around and bit down on Thistleclaw’s paw, dragging him across the dirt. Thistleclaw hissed and once he was within reach of Tigerclaw he curled upwards, using a tremendous amount of strength and slamming his paws down on Tigerclaw’s head.

I’ve never seen anyone who could match Tigerclaw’s battle strategy. Darkpaw thought to himself, trying to absorb the perfect coordination of muscle and skill. Thistleclaw is a lot faster than Tigerclaw. He noticed as Thistleclaw perfectly dodged two moves back-to-back. But Tigerclaw has a lot more power. Tigerclaw swiped his paw backwards across Thistleclaw’s face, sending him across the clearing.

Thistleclaw landed gracefully on all four paws, shaking the dust from his pelt. “I think Darkpaw has seen enough.”

Tigerclaw nodded and rolled his shoulders back, “I agree. Darkpaw, you will face me. Don’t try to be as experienced as the two of us, but try your best.”

Darkpaw moved his way into the clearing, suddenly very aware of how much larger Tigerclaw was than him. I’m going to have to be faster. 

Tigerclaw bent down into a crouch and waited, he wanted Darkpaw to make the first move. Darkpaw sucked in a breath and ran forward, aiming for Tigerclaw’s front legs. Tigerclaw leaped into the air, landing behind his apprentice and hitting him in the flank. Darkpaw growled in frustration and turned around, facing Tigerclaw directly, and lashing out with a paw, striking Tigerclaw across the muzzle.

The dark tabby pulled back and aimed for Darkpaw’s cheek. Darkpaw ducked, rolled underneath Tigerclaw, and jabbed his hind-paws into Tigerclaw’s stomach. Tigerclaw hissed and dropped his weight, crushing Darkpaw beneath him. Darkpaw struggled underneath Tigerclaw as the warrior locked his paws onto the apprentice’s shoulders. 

Darkpaw looked up in shock, making eye contact with his mentor. Tigerclaw’s deep amber eyes bore into Darkpaw’s own yellow ones. Darkpaw felt his heart leap into his throat and his muscles tensed beneath him. He was suddenly very aware of Tigerclaw’s intense weight on top of him and the strong muscles rippling beneath his dark pelt.

“Pay attention!” Tigerclaw hissed, raking his claws along Darkpaw’s ears. The pain was sharp and sent Darkpaw flinching back from his mentor. The apprentice felt a warm liquid drip down onto his neck. 

Tigerclaw made me bleed. Darkpaw licked his paw and dragged it across his ears, trying to ignore the stinging sensation piercing his ears. “With the exception of your lack of focus, you have improved greatly. Had your claws been unsheathed, I’m sure that you would’ve gotten a few good scratches in.”

Darkpaw felt a warm glow in his chest at the praise and suddenly the pain faded. “We’re finished here today, head back to camp and I’ll take you out hunting later.”

Darkpaw nodded and shook the sand from his pelt, leaving the two warriors alone. I think I disappointed him. Darkpaw thought grimly, dragging his paws the entire way back to camp. The camp was nearly empty. Everyone must be out hunting before leaf-bare comes and destroys us all. 

The black apprentice looked around, but couldn’t see anyone he recognized. He decided to pay his sister a visit and went over to Spottedleaf’s blocked off den entrance. “Is Dawnpaw accepting visitors?”

Spottedleaf looked over at her guest, her eyes warm and friendly, “Of course she is,” her voice sounded strained.

She must be busy. Darkpaw walked over to Dawnpaw’s nest. His sister looked up at him, her green eyes bleak and murky. “How are you feeling?”

Dawnpaw coughed a few times and groaned, curling in on herself, “Like I want to be healed already.”

Darkpaw flinched, a wave of realization crashing over him. He turned around to look at Spottedleaf, her tortoiseshell pelt faced away from him as she organized her herbs. The tom moved a few inches over to be closer to the medicine cat and whispered sadly, “She isn’t going to live, is she?”

Spottedleaf’s eyes were now brimmed with tears and she shook her head, “I don’t even know what’s making her sick. I’m so sorry Darkpaw.”

Darkpaw looked down at his paws and sighed, nodding and laying down next to his sister. 

“What happened to your ears?” Dawnpaw croaked.

“Tigerclaw, battle training,” Darkpaw meowed, pressing his pelt close to her own smoky gray one.

“He trains you too hard.”

“He’s a great mentor,” Darkpaw responded, laying his head on his paws, “He just wants me to be the best warrior I can be.”

“You’re obsessed with him,” Dawnpaw whispered, her head resting weakly on his shoulder. Her body became wrecked with another coughing fit.

“He’s one of the best warriors in the camp! I’m honored to be his apprentice.”

“Patchpelt could outwit that mouse-brain in a heartbeat,” Dawnpaw joked, her tail thumping against the ground. Out of the corner of his eye Darkpaw saw Spottedleaf leave the den.

Darkpaw gave his sister a weak smile, “Maybe so, but it’s hard to ignore his battle and hunting skills.”

“There’s more to a warrior than tooth and claw,” Dawnpaw retorted, resting her head on the ground.

“I’m going to miss you Dawnpaw,” Darkpaw breathed out, his eyes suddenly wet.

Dawnpaw coughed, her entire body twitching with the force of them. She nodded, blinking slowly, “Be a warrior ThunderClan can be proud of Darkpaw.”

“I promise,” he whispered, licking her between her ears. Dawnpaw’s breathing became shallow and Darkpaw watched as she closed her green eyes and released her last breath. Her body became still and limp against his. Darkpaw lapped at her pelt, trying to ignore the pain in his chest.

Spottedleaf came back into her den, Bluestar following suit. “She’s gone, isn’t she?” the medicine cat asked gently.

Darkpaw blinked the wetness from his eyes and nodded, pressing his muzzle into her fur.

“StarClan will honor her and we will mourn her tonight,” Bluestar meowed softly, coming closer to the apprentice and resting her tail gently on his shoulders.

Darkpaw stood to his paws and watched Spottedleaf drag his sister out into the clearing. The apprentice was aware of everyone looking at him and waves of sympathy flooding the camp. Darkpaw looked up and saw Whitestorm dip his head towards him. 

Bluestar leaped up onto the highrock and called a clan meeting. Through the gorse tunnel came Thistleclaw and Tigerclaw, the latter making his way towards his apprentice, “What’s going on?”

Darkpaw shook his head, his throat too tight to form words. “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of Dawnpaw. She could not fight off her illness, even with the help of Spottedleaf.”

Murmurs of grief broke through the clan. Patchpelt looked down at his paws, his ears folded back in sadness. Even Tigerclaw bowed his head and whispered, “StarClan will welcome her.”

“I hope you’re ready to train hard,” Tigerclaw’s deep voice rumbled, finally looking down at his apprentice.

Darkpaw nodded and leapt to his paws, “I’m ready for anything!”

“Excellent. I’ll start by showing you our borders.”

Darkpaw padded after him, his tail curled high over his back. The forest was dim, the trees providing shade from the harsh new-leaf sun that was currently warming Darkpaw’s dark pelt. Thick green leaves decorated the world above him and the scents of the forest overwhelmed the young apprentice.

“Enjoying the forest?” Tigerclaw asked, looking over his shoulder.

“It looks so much smaller in the camp,” Darkpaw breathed out.

Tigerclaw chuckled and fell back to walk beside Darkpaw. “My first trip out, Thistleclaw kept making jokes about how small I looked compared to the oak trees that surround us.”

Darkpaw didn’t know how Tigerclaw could look small to anyone. He was the largest cat in the whole clan, the only one who came close to his size was Lionheart. “We patrol this whole forest everyday?”

“We must!” Tigerclaw barked, “If we don’t then our enemies will see us as weak and they will strike and take everything from us. ShadowClan will not hesitate to kill our kits if they felt we could not protect them.”

Darkpaw folded his ears back, “Is ShadowClan really that bad?”

“Take a sniff and you tell me what you think.”

The dark tom obeyed and a fierce scent flooded every sense he had. It was tart and rank, like a decaying mouse. He shrank back, he much preferred the comforting scents of ThunderClan.

“That is what ShadowClan smells like,” Tigerclaw spat.

Darkpaw nodded and glared across the border. “We are lucky to have the thunderpath to keep their foxhearted paws off of our territory. Do not stray onto the thunderpath without a warrior’s guidance.”

The young apprentice flinched as a monster roared past the pair. He could feel his fur and whiskers being pulled by the force of its momentum. Tigerclaw pushed him back a few fox-lengths with his massive paw, “Stay away from there.”

Darkpaw took one last glance at the border before following after Tigerclaw. He stayed behind his large mentor, admiring the strength that swelled underneath his sleek tabby pelt. His long tail flicked back and forth as he gave a running commentary for Darkpaw about the best places to hunt or where to stay away from.

“When I was an apprentice, I fought my first battle alongside Thistleclaw, the two of us fighting a fox that was threatening the camp. The thrill of battle fueled my body and it only took the two of us to drive it away,” Tigerclaw boasted. Darkpaw blinked, he had never heard that story before. I have such an amazing mentor. When I become a warrior, I’ll be one that’ll make ThunderClan proud.

“There was another time that I was out hunting by myself and was stalking up on this juicy looking rabbit. I was one pawstep away from pouncing when a WindClan patrol jumped out and scarred it away. I was willing to let it go, saying that the apprentice must’ve done it by accident, but they kept teasing and taunting me. They said that ThunderClan warriors didn’t know how to hunt and weren’t deserving of ‘WindClan’ prey. I told them to come over to our side of the border and say that to my face,” the dark tabby flexed his long claws into the dirt, “Long story short, I gave Mudclaw more than a few scars to remember me by.”

“Did you have to fight?” Darkpaw asked.

“Of course I had to fight!” Tigerclaw swung his massive head around, glaring at Darkpaw, “All of our enemies deserve to face our claws if they mock our clan. That day their arrogance cost us a piece of prey that could’ve fed all the elders. I should’ve taken more from them.”

The apprentice nodded, fearful. Being a warrior was all about protecting your clan, so technically Tigerclaw did nothing wrong. So why does that story sit so poorly in my mind? 

“Speaking of hunting,” Tigerclaw meowed, stopping and looking at Darkpaw, “Let’s start with a few hunting lessons.” 

Darkpaw watched closely as Tigerclaw showed him a basic hunter’s crouch, thankful for something to take his mind off of the previous tale. Tigerclaw smoothly bent into place, his tail still as a stone and paws tucked under him to maximize pouncing strength. He crawled forward, not even shifting a single leaf as he stalked.

Darkpaw was suddenly very aware of the noise in the forest. The birds chirping above them and the wind whisking through the undergrowth. “Now you try. The one I just showed is good for mice, who will hear you before they smell you.”

The black tabby suddenly felt a pang of fear strike him, as though he might disappoint his mentor if he didn’t get it right. Swallowing his embarrassment, he crouched down, trying to keep his limbs tight. “You look more lopsided than a one-legged hare,” Tigerclaw commented.

Darkpaw sat up, feeling the tips of his ears burn. “When you crouch you want to make sure that you can still move all four legs with precision and skill. You were favoring your left side.” The apprentice took in his mentor’s notes and bent forward, giving it another attempt. 

That time though, his tail was too low. The next his paws were sliding across the forest floor, shifting leaves and rocks and then his chest was bent awkwardly so when he pounced he would’ve ended up muzzle-first in the dirt. “I’ll never get it right,” Darkpaw meowed sadly, sitting down and looking at his paws.

“Hey, don’t think like that,” Tigerclaw sat down next to his apprentice, shoving him gently with a shoulder. “Everyone learns how to hunt, it’s part of being a warrior. That’s why you have a mentor. I’m here to teach you.” His voice was gently as he reassured his apprentice. “You might suck right now, but when I’m done teaching you, you’ll be the best hunter in the clan! After me of course.”

Darkpaw brightened slightly, looking up at Tigerclaw, “You really think so?”