EOTW: The Broken Shadow: Chapter Four

Warriors Series 5.5: Echoes of the War
Book 2: The Broken Shadow
Chapter Four

     The gathered Clans instantly broke into shocked murmurs. Every cat knew Tigerheart was a different cat from the dark warrior who shared his name. He had spied on the Dark Forest just as Ivypool had, and he was highly respected for it. But for all that they knew that, no cat could help but feel a shudder of unease to know that a Tigerstar was once again leading ShadowClan.

     Tigerheart stood before the Clans, his broad head held high. “I am Tigerstar,” he announced to the cats below. “Rowanstar fell ill a few moons ago. He suffered from great pain in his head, some illness that no herb seemed to heal. Even after he lost a life, the illness would seem to return. Before his death, he named me the deputy of ShadowClan. I will follow my father's legacy. Though his time as ShadowClan's leader was short, he will always be remembered as a strong leader, always putting the needs of his Clan first, as will my mother, also lost to the flood.” Blazepaw flinched, remembering Tawnypelt's horrible death.

     The newly named Tigerstar's head and tail were held high with confidence. Blazepaw had never met the old Tigerstar, but looking upon this new leader, and the identical Bramblestar beside him, he couldn't shake the thought of the bloodthirsty leader. Many cats seemed to feel the same ,judging by their murmuring. Every cat had heard the stories about the dark leader, and all of the leaders were old enough to have known the old Tigerstar in life. Bramblestar was staring at the new Tigerstar uncertainly, as if unsure how to react for the leader was so identical in name and appearance to his murderous father.

     If the leaders felt any apprehension about the new leader, none of them said anything. “Welcome, Tigerstar,” Mistystar mewed clearly. “StarClan will receive Rowanstar and Tawnypelt with honor. May you serve ShadowClan with the same strength and wisdom that he did.” Bramblestar and Ashstar murmured similar sentiments, dipping their heads to the new leader.

     Tigerstar dipped his head to them as well, then allowed Bramblestar to step forward. “Cats of all Clans, after two moons, we have once again gathered under Silverpelt. The tree-bridge was washed away in the flood, but Mistystar and her warriors have worked hard for over a moon to provide us with our new bridge of pebbles. We thank them now for this new path to the island.”

     “RiverClan! RiverClan!” Blazepaw craned his head, trying to see his sister through the crowd. His stomach clenched as he saw her with her muzzle raised to the sky, joyfully calling out RiverClan's name along with the crowd.

     When the cheers died down, Bramblestar continued, “StarClan will be pleased that we can once again gather, as the warrior code commands us to. The success of the new bridge is a sign that the flood is over, and we have have weathered it, just as we weather all things. Let the Gathering begin once again.” He stepped back, allowing Tigerstar to speak first.

     The dark tabby lifted his head, voice ringing out clearly. “I stand before you now as the new leader of ShadowClan. The new deputy is Olivenose.”

     That got an even bigger reaction. A WindClan warrior near Blazepaw mewed in surprise, “Tigerstar made his own mate the deputy?” Blazepaw blinked. He could see the tortoiseshell warrior sitting by the base of the Great Tree, staring evenly at all the cats muttering about her. Olivenose had been one of the cats to accompany Rowanstar to ThunderClan to pick up Dewfrost. He didn't know much else about her, other than that she was Tigerstar's mate and one of ShadowClan's senior warriors. Her green gaze held a steely look as she met the murmured challenges of the watching cats.

     He mewed back, “She looks tough. I wouldn't want to mess with her in battle.” The warrior grunted in agreement. A long scar stretched along the new deputy's cheek, giving her a dangerous appearance.

     Tigerstar continued, “We have one new warrior this moon. Stoneclaw earned his name after completing his final assessment. We also have new apprentices. Smokepaw, Stripedpaw, Minkpaw, and Adderpaw have all left the nursery and begun their training.”

     Cheers rose from the crowd for the new warrior and apprentices. Blazepaw recognized two of the cats as the kits of Dawnpelt, Tigerstar's sister. Smokepaw was a darker shade of her mother's cream pelt, with the same soft fur. Stripedpaw, however, was a dark tabby like Tigerstar. The old Tigerstar continued to ripple through the Clans, leaving shadows of himself behind. Blazepaw suddenly found himself very glad that Firestar had destroyed Tigerstar's spirit before his death. The last thing the Clans needed right now was the old Tigerstar stalking the dreams of his new kin.

     Tigerstar stepped down, allowing Bramblestar to make his announcements. The ThunderClan leader called out, “ThunderClan brings two new warriors tonight. Dewpaw died in the flood, as did Petalkit, but Snowfall and Ambertalon have earned their full names. We also have new apprentices. Lightpaw and Sparkpaw will be mentored by Birchfall and Cinderheart.”

     “Snowfall! Ambertalon! Sparkpaw! Lightpaw!” Blazepaw could see the two warriors standing proudly in the crowd, heads held high as their names were called. Sparkpaw was standing nearby too, his chest puffed out proudly, but Lightpaw looked petrified at the sheer number of cats now looking at him. Blazepaw's whiskers twitched in amusement.

     “StarClan has blessed us with many new kits,” Bramblestar continued. “Dovewing and Squirrelflight both brought healthy litters to the Clan during the flood.” He hesitated, then continued carefully, “Tawnypelt and Rowanstar's kits are being raised as warriors of ThunderClan. We thank ShadowClan for allowing Squirrelflight to raise them. Now that both of their parents are gone, they will have a true family in ThunderClan.” It was clear he didn't want to reveal Rowanstar's strange gift, but he felt he had little choice. The truth would get out eventually, better to get it out there and face the challenges and questions now.

     Yowls of shock rang out from the crowd. Cats were crying out questions and yowling in outrage.

     “Rowanstar's kits!”
     “Why aren't ShadowClan raising them?!”
     “Did ThunderClan steal them?!”
     “How could Rowanstar abandon them?!”

     Blazepaw listened in silence. It had just occurred to him now that with Tigerstar's announcement, he was able to understand Rowanstar's choice more. Rowanstar had known he was dying. He had known that if he'd taken his kits back to ShadowClan, in a few moons they wouldn't have had a father. Perhaps he'd thought Shadowkit and Sunnykit would be better off being raised by experienced parents who already had a kit of their own than by their own brother and sister.

     Tigerstar raised his tail, signaling for silence. “You are welcome, Bramblestar,” he mewed clearly. “We are grateful to ThunderClan for nursing these kits.”

     Uneasy murmurs rippled among the ThunderClan warriors. Nearby, Seedlight muttered, “He sounds like we're only caring for the kits temporarily.” Blazepaw's tail flicked, consumed by the same worry. Would Tigerstar try to take the kits?

     But he said nothing more, merely stepping back so another leader could speak. Ashstar stepped forward next. She announced a new queen in the nursery and some rogue scents, but Blazepaw tuned her out. He could still hear cats grumbling about Rowanstar's kits being raised in ThunderClan. Everyone still had questions, and neither Tigerstar or Bramblestar had given many answers. The WindClan warrior who had questioned Olivenose as deputy was staring between Bramblestar and Tigerstar, as if not sure which one to be more shocked by, and he saw some nearby RiverClan warriors speaking in low whispers, shooting glances up at Tigerstar.

     Finally, it was Mistystar's turn. She raised her head, her cool, ice-blue eyes clear with pride. “We have three new warriors tonight!” she called out to the Clans. “Yarrowleaf, Eeltooth, and Finstrike are all here as full warriors. We also have a new apprentice. Lakepaw will be mentored by myself.”

     Cats began cheering again, with more warmth than for ShadowClan's new warriors. “Eeltooth! Yarrowleaf! Finstrike! Lakepaw!” Blazepaw could see Eeltooth, still standing by Silentpaw. He held his head up proudly as his name was called. Silentpaw mewed something eagerly to him, touching her nose to his cheek. Blazepaw was surprised by the affectionate gesture.

     Mistystar's voice turned hard as she continued, “Tigerstar, we welcome you as a new leader. We hope now that the flood is over and things are settled again, that your cats will remember how to keep to their own territory.” It was a warning, saying what she meant without really saying it. Blazepaw's ears perked with interest. ShadowClan had been stealing prey before the last Gathering, they must still be up to it if Mistystar was bringing it up again. Hopefully, Tigerstar would take the warning. There didn't need to be any more fighting between the Clans at the moment. Everyone was still recovering from the flood and preparing for a hard leafbare.

     However, Tigerstar apparently wasn't in the mood to be subtle. The fur on his back bristled, and he turned a sharp, amber glare on RiverClan's leader. “How dare you?” he hissed. “ShadowClan hasn't stolen so much as a mouse!”

     Mistystar seemed surprised by Tigerstar's sudden burst of anger, but she recovered quickly. “My warriors have been finding ShadowClan scents over our border for moons now,” she mewed tersely. “We have not taken action so far. But now the flood is over, and ShadowClan is under new leadership. You should be able to feed yourself on your own territory. I am giving you this chance to end this with some grace. Stop hunting over our borders, and we will not have any reason to attack.”

     Tigerstar lashed his tail. “Is that a threat?”

     “It's a generous offer,” Mistystar hissed. “You would be wise to take it. If you do not, the next ShadowClan patrol that sets paw on RiverClan territory will be met with claws and fangs. We will not allow our prey to be taken.”

     The dark tabby lifted his chin sharply. “Maybe you're the ones stealing prey,” he hissed. “Your threats will be met, Mistystar. If you're determined for there to be battle, you'll have it.”

     “How dare you?!” The blue-gray leader had always seemed so calm when Blazepaw had seen her before. But now her ice-blue eyes blazed with all the fury of TigerClan. Blazepaw suddenly had a very good idea of why she had been made leader. “RiverClan has stolen nothing! If your response to a simple warning is to accuse us instead, then you will make a poor leader indeed!” The last words were spat with a pure, hateful venom. Mistystar was the oldest leader in the forest, but right now, bristling with indignant fury, she looked like a warrior of LionClan. He didn't understand how Tigerstar could continue to stare her down in the face of that.

     Blazepaw's pelt was bristling. He muttered to the nearby WindClan warrior, “What's Tigerstar being so aggressive for? Will he really start a fight at a gathering?”

     “I hope not,” the warrior, a gray she-cat named Larksong, mewed. “Surely no leader would be that mouse-brained?”

     He hoped she was right. Normally, at a Gathering, leaders would pass subtle jabs back and forth, only rising to real argument if the situation was dire. A few ShadowClan cats stealing prey was more cause for Mistystar to get riled up, not Tigerstar. If he'd just made some sort of subtle reply to get the last word in, that would have been the end of it.

     Up on the Great Tree, Bramblestar growled, “That's enough.” Both leaders had dropped into a crouch, pelts bristling and tails lashing. “The Gathering is a time for peace. Even a new leader should know that, Tigerstar.” The ShadowClan leader looked outraged, but Bramblestar silenced him with a quick snarl. “There will be no fighting here tonight.”

     Mistystar and Tigerstar began to lower their hackles. They clearly weren't happy with each other, but it seemed they weren't going to tear each others fur off at the moment. Blazepaw hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until he released it, his tensed posture loosening. The threat of battle had passed. But many cats clearly weren't happy. He saw RiverClan cats and ShadowClan cats who had previously been sharing tongues now bristling at each other. Wetwhisker and Specklefoot were spitting at Heronstrike, and Lakepaw was quaking under the glare of Smokefoot. Blazepaw's attention was caught by a particular ShadowClan warrior. A gray she-cat she didn't know was glaring up at the Great Tree with narrowed eyes. Blazepaw followed her gaze, surprised to see her glare was directed at her own leader.

     He nudged Larksong, asking, “Who's that gray warrior?”

     Larksong followed his gaze. “Her? Oh, that's Shrewfoot. She's Blackstar's daughter. She's pretty young, but she's well respected. I've heard she's one to keep your eye on in battle.

     Blackstar's daughter. Blazepaw's interest was sharpened. He could see now that the she-cat had striking black paws, probably inherited from her father. Blackstar had died before Blazepaw and Silentpaw had been born, but he'd heard how powerful and unyielding a leader he could be. He could see that strength and pride in Shrewfoot's stance now. The way she so openly glared at her own leader sent shivers down Blazepaw's spine.

     His attention on her was distracted as Bramblestar spoke again. “This Gathering has ended.” He leaped down from his branch on the Great Tree. Tigerstar and Mistystar shared one last glare, then hopped down as well, followed by Ashstar. The crowd began to break up.

     “Blazepaw!” The apprentice looked up to see Bumblestripe padding towards him. “Did you have a good time?”

     Blazepaw shrugged. “As well as I could,” he answered honestly. “Mostly just glad that cats didn't start fighting.”

     “I know what you mean. It takes a lot for Mistystar to get that angry,” Bumblestripe agreed.

     The apprentice glanced back anxiously at Tigerstar. The dark tabby was conversing with his deputy. Tigerstar still seemed agitated, but Olivenose's expression was as stony as ever. “What was Tigerstar thinking?” he wondered aloud. “There was no reason to pick a fight like that.”

     Bumblestripe shrugged, flicking his tail. “He is a new leader,” he pointed out. “ShadowClan must have suffered as much from the flood as we did, and the last thing Rowanstar did was give ShadowClan kits to another Clan. He's probably desperate to prove that he can be as strong a leader as ShadowClan needs.”

     “I guess. But he's going about it completely the wrong way.” Blazepaw felt a cold shiver run down all the way to his tail. “If he doesn't stop antagonizing leaders, he's going to find a battle patrol on his territory before you can say 'mouse.'”

     “There might be battle regardless,” Bumblestripe pointed out grimly. “If ShadowClan cats truly are stealing as much prey as Mistystar says, she's not going to let them get away with it for long. Your sister's help has made them stronger. Now that the flood's over, they'll be strong enough to defend their territory.”

     The apprentice bristled uncomfortably at the mention of his sister's visit to RiverClan. For once, however, that wasn't the biggest worry on his mind. Bumblestripe was right. If Tigerstar continued to be as aggressive as he was, and if ShadowClan warriors continued to take prey from RiverClan's territory, then there would be no way to avoid battle.

     A sudden fear gripped his heart. “Do you think he'd try to take our prey too?” ThunderClan was the only other Clan to share a border with ShadowClan. If Tigerstar decided that RiverClan's borders were too well defended, would he try hunting in ThunderClan's forests instead?

     Bumblestripe paused, looking thoughtful. “It's certainly possible,” he mewed. “But let's worry about that when we come to it. And don't worry. I'll teach you how to defend yourself in battle, so that if ShadowClan does become greedy, you'll know what to do.”

     Blazepaw nodded, but in his heart he still felt uneasy. The peace that had reigned between the four Clans in the season since the Dark Battle suddenly seemed as frail as a cobweb. If one cat made the wrong move, the peace would shatter, and the Clans would be thrown into battle.