Chapter 9
A breeze blew through the empty clearing, ruffling gray-white fur. Moonlight illuminated the ground, turning the shadowy green grass silver. Clouds overhung the sky like a white bat, who spread it's wings so wide, it covered the moon.
"Frosttiger." A russet tom looked at the warrior, making him turn. "Where is he? Didn't you say he'd be here by moonhigh, do you think he lied?"
"Calm down, Eagletalon. I made sure he swore to show up. It's late and he's a leader, I'm sure he fell asleep or something." Frosttiger tried to reassure the deputy, thick tail swishing across the grass.
"Or he lied." A shadow moved, making Frosttiger look up. A black tom limped forward, his left hind leg moving stiffly and awkwardly. His intense blue eyes glowed in the silver light, "I told you, the day MarshClan helps StormClan will be the day hedgehogs-"
"Eagletalon." The three toms jumped and looked up.
Across the flat land, other than the slope that led to the mud drop, figures stepped out the cattail that littered the marshy territory. Frosttiger recognized Foxstar leading the bunch, shaking his fur. His gaze swept the cats, Thornpath, Snakeheart, Waspclaw, Shadowpelt, Frogfoot, and... Leopardclaw.
He stared at the golden she-cat, a flurry of emotions rushing through him like a storm. He knew that Foxstar probably did this on purpose so he forced himself to not react and look at the russet tom. "Thank you for helping us." He mewed.
"The Warrior Code says that each Clan must help the others so that no Clan will fall. If Lionclaw is as dangerous as you say he is then he is a threat to all." Foxstar replied, looking at the tom. "Is this enough warriors?"
Frosttiger nodded, "Yes, it is. StormClan will also be sending our apprentices here. They will fight along side you if Lionclaws cronies get here."
Eagletalon nodded, "Protect them with you're life."
"Wouldn't do it any different." Foxstar replied simply before leading his cats off to assess them.
Frosttiger watched them, his eyes locking with Leopardclaw momentarily but it passed as Eagletalon led the tom away towards the slight slope leading up to Snakerocks. Frosttiger stopped and glanced back, eyeing the group of elders only to receive a nod from Crookedheart.
Reassured, Frosttiger turned back and followed Eagletalon back to camp to compose a battle plan.
---
"We must attack them!" Adderstrike called. Thistlestrike nodded in agreement.
"No we must wait for them to come to us." Frosttiger protested, looking at his Clanmates.
"Oh, so we're just going to let them kill us?" Aldertuft scoffed, sparking roars from the cats around the gray tom.
"We need to attack them!"
"Let's go!"
"For StormClan!"
Frosttiger recoiled slightly, eyes sweeping his Clanmates, panicked. He glanced around his rioting comrades.
"Featherfur! You make a patrol."
That snapped Frosttiger out of his panic, "No!" He snarled, making eyes turn towards him, wide. Frosttiger glared down at them, "We are not going to rush into this! Are all of you daft! That's what he wants!" He slammed his paw on a twig, causing a loud 'snap' to resonate through the silent clearing.
Panting, Frosttiger looked up, seeing Eagletalon nodding. Graystar only gazed back at him intently, as though challenging him.
How are you going to recover from this? Graystar seemed to ask, making Frosttiger gulp slightly.
Letting out a slow breath he looked around his Clanmates, "We can't rush into this. I refuse to watch you all get slaughtered." He looked down, "But by all means go, prove your worth. For those who want to stay alive, we will survey near the kittypet border tomorrow for any of the stone cats. We attack any cat there. This meeting is over." He jumped off of Highledge and slipped out of the back entrance silently.
He let out a sigh as he neared Snakerocks, catching a scent of MarshClan warriors. He looked up and saw Leopardclaw coming up the slope, slowing as she saw him but he only flicked a ear and leaned down, lapping up the water.
She did the same, eyeing him the entire time. She lifted her head and flicked her tongue to gathering the drops around her muzzle. "You look grizzled."
"I'm a gray cat."
"That's not what I meant and you know it. You.. look older then you are."
"When you make battle plans you realize things that.. that no cat should think about normally."
Leopardclaw eyed her former mate as he looked away, gazing at the bushes. "Doesn't Eagletalon and Graystar worry about that?"
"They've decided that it would benefit the entire Clan if I made up the plans because I know how Lionclaw is and therefore can oppose him easier." Frosttiger muttered, not looking at her.
"So they've dropped control?"
"No. They're still the leaders. Every plan I make have to meet their standards."
"You're to young for this."
Caught off guard by her soft voice, he looked at her. "What?"
"You're too young to be worrying about your whole Clan dying!" Leopardclaw cried, staring at him with intense green eyes. "You're too young to have the weight of your life and you're Clanmates lives on your shoulders! You're too young to have to plan to inevitably kill your own brother! You're too young!"
Frosttiger flinched and stared at the trembling she-cat who was only a kittenstep away. She stared to the side, tears running down her face. "I don't want you to die."
Frosttiger chuckled halfheartedly, knowing the full consequence of one wrong move. "I don't want to die either, but I made a pledge, and you did to. If I die protecting my Clan and the cats I love, then I will."
The golden she-cat let out a strangled sound, "Okay, but promise me one thing Frosttiger."
"Okay."
She looked into his eyes and Frosttiger suddenly remembered why he was drawn to this she-cat in his apprenticeship. "Promise me you won't die. Promise you won't leave our kits parentless."
Frosttiger's mouth felt suddenly dry as his mind played over the possible outcomes before he gave in.
"I promise."
Leopardclaw opened her mouth to say something but a loud yowl cut her off.
"Frosttiger! Attack! Not far, maybe.. three tree-lengths from the Sandy Hallow!" Chesnutflight cried before he skidded to a halt and stared at the two cats. "Leopardclaw." He mewed evenly, amber eyes hardening.
Frosttiger suddenly became aware of how close the MarshClan warrior was and backed up before turning to his friend. Chesnutflight beckoned him and ran off, making the gray warrior follow.
"Frost-"
"Not a word."
Silence enveloped the two as yowls and screeches filled Frosttigers ears.
His heartbeat increased, his pulse quickened, blood pumped through his ears as he leaped, claws outstretched as he landed on the back of a familiar black tom he's heard a couple of cats call 'Jet'.
"Get out of here!" He snarled in Jets ear before biting it and using his hindlegs to kick his out from under. With a groan, the black tom landed with a thud, in a last ditch effort he turned on his side slightly, lashing out a claw to hit the gray toms shoulder; making him hiss in pain and batter the tom, knocking the air out of him. Frosttiger looked around before he caught sight of Stormysky underneath a she-cat that looked fun to crush.
"Up top Stormysky!" He called before grabbing the toms scruff, battering him with blows as he did to tire him before flinging him like a moss ball into the she-cat, making them both bowl over.
Stormysky jumped up and stood next to him, fur fluffed out and back arched. "Nice to see you joined the party." She commented, whiskers twitching as two more cats rounded on them.
"Like I'd miss this." Frosttiger ducked and twisted onto his back before kicking under the white one of the pair that rounded, and lashed out a claw to his soft belly, making him yowl in pain. Frosttiger turned onto his belly and surged up, making him stumble and land hard on his back. The gray and white she-cat who had joined the white tom nosed him to his paws before following their companions into a retreat.
"Blueheart! Icefall! After them!" He called, noticing the two she-cats weren't terribly wounded. They nodded and followed the cats, Adderstrike, Aldertuft, Iceheart, and Silverwind following them.
Frosttiger watched before turning to assess his cats. Chestnutflight had a nasty wound on his cheek, Tangledbranch had a torn ear, Stormysky had many nicks, and Featherfur had a wound on her belly that was dripping blood on the ground.
Panicked, Frosttiger nudged her, "On the ground, Tangledbranch, go find some cobwebs." He ordered, looking at his former apprentice, who nodded and shot off.
A heartbeat later he returned with the sticky strings. Frosttiger took them carefully and then turned to the she-cat and pressed them down, adding pressure upon remembering the countless times Rainpebble did this to him.
Soon the bleeding stopped and Frosttiger breathed out a sigh of relief, he heard six sets of pawsteps approaching, making him look up as Icefall rushed forward, "Their gone!" She announced. A spark of excitement and triumph ran through the entire group. Frosttiger looked around, "Chestnutflight and Featherfur, go home and get dressed. Icefall, Blueheart, go with them. The rest of you hunt, no morsel is wasted!" He nodded before following Featherfurs scent trail.
---
"Eat up." Frosttiger looked up, seeing the blue eyes of Stormysky burning into his own. He looked down between his paws and saw a plump vole there. His mouth watered but he shoved the selfishness away and shook his head.
"Give it to the elders." He ordered, turning only for Stormysky to prod him. "The elders have already been fed. Flamepaw and the other apprentices with her hunted for them."
Frosttiger sighed, "Are you sure they got enough?"
"Frosttiger." Stormysky eyed him, "Eat, or I will tear you're ears off."
Inclined to believe that, Frosttiger wolfed the rodent down, licking the blood off from around his mouth and sighed. "Thank you."
The gray she-cat purred before looking at the dimming sky. "The Gathering is in a quarter-moon. Do you think that this will all be over before that?"
Frosttiger let out a sigh, "It'd be kittish for be to hope that. Lionclaw is going to fight for his life if he shows his face again, these cats, they pull nasty tricks.. they don't fight like warriors. They don't live by a code, they live in a kill or be killed world. I feel bad for fighting them because it's only intensifying that belief but.."
"What other choice do we have?"
The tom nodded before looking at the she-cat. "I'm tired. Let's go to bed."
Stormysky nodded and followed him inside the den, Frosttiger moved into the corner of the den and curled up, moving his tail over his face to block out any light.
The gray tom felt pain in his heart once again, thinking of Heathersky. They could be curled up together now had she..
A warm feeling made Frosttiger look up. Stormysky was now curled next to him, slipping her head under his. He tensed slightly before he relaxed and succumbed to the fact that this felt right. He closed his eyes, purring slightly as he fell asleep.
---
Frosttiger looked around, the overwhelming scent of hostile cats filling his nose. Hawkthorns muscles rippled underneath his sleek, medium pelt, his amber eyes shifting from bush to bush as he pressed against Frosttiger, taking up a standard defense position. Chesnutflight did the same,Tangledbranch too, amber and green eyes narrow as they took up another position. Of all the cats in the Clan, Frosttiger was glad to have these three toms with him at this moment.
He frowned slightly, they shouldn't have to be like this when all they were doing is hunting. He let out a frustrated hiss when a new scent drifted in and the ferns two fox-lengths away shook.
"Look out!" He managed to yowl before cats surged at him, claws unsheathed and mercilessly tearing his pelt. He let out a keening sound of pain and blinded lash out, scratching the attackers face. She let out a painful hiss and doubled back, allowing the tom to move to a save distance. He looked around, seeing a flash of patched fur. He looked back at the battle group and saw that they were greatly outnumbered.
"Go back."
Tangledbranch looked at him incredulously, "What?"
"Go back!" He turned tail and led his patrol away.
"Frosttiger," Hawkthorn huffed, "Tell us what to do, tell us what to do!"
"After them!" He heard a roar snarl.
Head whirling, Frosttiger looked around the forest in a battle crazed daze before he breathed out a slow breath, making everything focus again. "In the ferns. Lightning Strike." He called, dipping into the pungent smelling under growth, knowing that this was where some garlic grew Frosttiger crouched, hearing pawsteps rapidly approaching.
Three fox-lengths..two ...one.. a rabbit hop.. one tail length.. paw step..
He tensed and flicked his tail sharply. Chesnutflight and him leaped out, aiming blows at the cats ears then disappeared in the undergrowth. Hawkthorn and Tangledbranch leaped out the opposite way, taking the cats by surprised.They did this over and over, too fast for the uncultured and ill-prepared rogues for them to retaliate.
"Fox-dung! They've led us into an ambush! Run! Retreat!" The leader of the group, a white tom, turned and ran off, his group following.
Chesnutflight rushed out, "And stay out!" He snarled, glaring at the retreating figures. Frosttiger smiled slightly and moved out of the ferns.
He stared down the trail where the cats disappeared, frowning in a thought.
"Frosttiger?" The brown tom looked at him, earning the attention of Hawkthorn and Tangledbranch who were licking their wounds.
Silence from the aforementioned made his friends concerned as they stared at him in desperate need.
Finally, Frosttiger looked at his two friends, his next words mirroring a certain golden tabby far away.
"This cannot continue. We must release an onslaught."
---
Frosttiger looked at Eagletalon and Graystar. His wound on his shoulder was dressed but that was the least of his problems. He had asked for Eagletalon and Graystar to meet him in the leaders den so that he may get his plan across.
"We can't go on like this. Hunting patrols are attacked, fighting patrols are wounded always. Wounds are getting infected and soon they will take the fighting closer and closer to us until they attack our camp. I'm sure that's Lionclaw's plan for a last ditch effort to undo us. I don't know when he will, but I'm sure it.. it's coming. Maybe not in the next battle, or this one, but it will." He let out gasp, breathing in much needed air before he continued. "We need to attack and harm them terribly, kill if we need to, something to slow them down!"
Graystar watched him silently before chuckling, "Are you done now?"
Frosttiger blushed a bit and his ear twitching, staying silent. Graystar hummed in satisfaction before looking at Eagletalon, "I agree, we need to launch an full on attack." She stood, "But first, I need to talk to all the leaders of each Clan. I don't want them to risk getting attacked while going to the Gathering."
Frosttiger felt a flash of panic, "Graystar what are you saying?"
"I'm saying," The leader said without a skip of a beat, "that the Gathering is temporarily canceled."
------
Lionclaw gazed around his cats, he frowned as he saw torn flesh and ears but quickly subsided the unease. He looked up, seeing Jigsaw approaching him.
"You said this would be easy." The leader snarled, glaring at him. Lionclaw wasn't fazed however, "I never said that, I said it would be tedious and elongated."
Jigsaws eyes narrowed, "How long will it take until I get my pay, Lion?"
Lionclaw blinked, staring at the white, russet, and brown cat in front of him before looking up at the sky. "I don't know. My brother seems to be able to thwart my plans, he's causing... complications." He glanced meaningfully at Jigsaw, "I'm sure you know that already, however." The brute only nodded, waiting for the golden cat to get to the point. "He's inhibiting us, we will launch a full-scale attack tonight. It won't last long but I hope to gain something out of it. Will you join the fight?"
Jigsaw only shook his head, "I'll stay here. Go over battle plans. How many more full-scale attacks must we do until the leader is dead?"
"After this one?" Lionclaw asked, looking at the tom, who nodded.
He looked at the sheer amount of well-muscled and disciplined cats under him, counting maybe sixty, definitely enough to cause serious damage.
He grinned slightly, "Not many. Not many at all." He cackled slightly before letting out a roar, making the cats look up.
"Move out the ones I called." He growled, jumping off the dumpster on which he stood, "Let's get this over with."
--
"Each time I've seen them they bring new cats. I've counted at least forty, there's more at their base I'm sure." Frosttiger mewed, looking at his patrol which consisted of every cat in the Clan, "Everyone hide except me and Eagletalon, when I pass that marked tree," He pointed to the clawed tree that he marked, "Leap out and attack without mercy."
Nodding, the cats dispersed, he saw Mousedusk touch noses with Dawnlight, Dogclaw licked Bluehearts ear, Adderstrike licked Foxfurs cheek. He let out a shaky breath and eyed Graystar who leaned into Iceheart who whispered reassurances before they split, hiding.
He felt a tail run along his spine, making him look at Eagletalon. His amber eyes were hard but slowly softened.
"I'm glad to have met you Frosttiger." Eagletalon mewed, "If this is the end for either of us, I'm glad to have fought along your side."
Frosttiger nodded, "If it takes fighting this to have been honored with you're presence, it was worth it."
The two toms touched muzzles before they set off, stopping at the kittypet border. He tensed when he saw Lionclaw leap onto the fence, staring at them in silence as cats emerged around him.
"Lionclaw!" He roared, "Enough of this! Call you're rogues off!"
The tom grinned before cackling maniacally, "And why would I do that? I outmatch you brother." He chuckled even louder, "Where's you're precious StarClan now Frosttiger? Tell me, when have they ever helped you. You walked the same path as me and yet.." He look pained, cringing before he snarled, "Enough of this. Are you planning on talking me to death?
Frosttiger gazed around his enemies, they're were about twenty more than his twenty cats and that was his entire Clan. He growled slightly, scaring away his fear.
"Lionclaw, I grew up with you, I fought beside you, I hunted beside you, I slept beside you, what happened? What did I do wrong?" He stared at his brother, fighting back tears. Lionclaw recoiled, eyes wide, and for the first time in many moons, Frosttiger recognized him as his brother. But the moment passed as Lionclaw let out a snarl. "Kill them! Kill all of them!"
The cats surged forward, Eagletalon turned and followed as Frosttiger bolted. They just had to get to where Tallpines once was, they just had to get two tree-lengths away.
He pushed his paws harder, making his legs ache with effort, he glanced to the side and saw Eagletalon was slowing.
"Come on Eagletalon! For StormClan!" He panted, making the tom nod and push forward.
He saw the clawed tree rapidly approaching and let the force of how fast he was running skid him in a circle as he rounded on his opponents.
"Attack!" He yowled and two late the rogues realized they had been led into an ambush. Fur flew and cats soon became a mess of claws and snarls.
Everything slowed down, he saw Eagletalon nod to him and leap into the fray, he saw Chesnutflight fighting to cats, he saw Tangledbranch leap on to a cat that was on top of Foxfur, he saw Graystar fighting along side Blueheart. Silverwind leaped onto a cat, yowling.
Frosttiger stared, paws frozen, finally he looked at the sky.
StarClan, help us. Please.
He prayed before looked forward with closed eyes and he opened them, yowling with all the fierceness of TigerClan and rushed forward. He lash out a heavy paw at the head of a large tom, before he leaped and latched into his throat, shaking him like a dog.
He threw him, knocking him into a battered and bloody ally only to get battered by a waiting Featherfur.
He glanced around, seeing two, three cats on one of his own, making him let out a choked sob.
Great Storm, we're losing!
"Attack!"
His eyes widened and he looked up, seeing Reggy and Foxstar standing there. Cats that he didn't recognize and cats that he did from MarshClan, Leopardclaw included, surged forward as did the russet warrior and elder.
"Who are they?" He yowled to the elder, making him smirk. "Oh you know, a couple of friends." He laughed before leaping on a cat.
Frosttiger looked around, silently thankful that they showed up when they did and leaped forward, wailing.
Claws met faces, shoulders, underbellies, ears, anything. He looked up and saw Flamepaw with Tangledbranch, saw Brokenpaw, Sparkpaw, and Mudpaw fighting along side their mother, and laughed. He bit the opponent in the back of his neck, making him collapse limp. He looked around before noticing a cat sneaking up on Foxstar. With a yowl he rushed forward, tackling the cat. Foxstar turned, eyes wide before he turned back and engaged in a battle between two.
"Retreat!"
He looked up, seeing a large tabby, "Retreat! Lion says retreat! We've been here too long!"
"But Bengal!" A she-cat protested, making him look at her.
"We only came here to wound them and look, we did. The mission was a success. Retreat."
The cats fell back when the tabby looked up, "I have a message for Frost..tiger." He said the name awkward, making the tom look up.
He pushed forward, staring at the warrior. "What is it?"
The tom looked at the warrior, blue eyes narrowed, "Lion says to watch your back, because he will slaughter all of you if it's the last thing he does."
Ripples of shock and anger rose from behind him.
Frosttigers eyes narrowed, "Bengal was it?"
The tabby nodded.
"Tell my brother I said I'm waiting."
Bengals eyes widened in shock and admiration.
"Also, tell him I said that if any of his warriors wishes to join the winning side, their welcomed." Frosttiger looked at the rogue, "Now leave."
Bengal gazed at him, "You.. are a brave cat Frosttiger." With that he turned, his light brown, long-fur disappearing with the rest of his group.
Frosttiger watched, before slumping, exhausted.
"Thank you Reggy, Foxstar."
The russet leader nodded, "I heard yowling and I acted."
Reggy nodded before he gazed at the few cat he brought. "These are my friends."
Graystar beckoned the cats forward, "Thank you for aiding us.." she gazed at them questionably.
One was a jet black, "My name is Midnight." She said, "The white and orange tabby is Renegade, the silver tabby is Stream, the gray one with white is Chimney.." She went on, naming Ash, Falcon, and Stone.
Ash was a gray tabby she-cat, Falcon was a large brown tom, and Stone was a gray tom with dark gray paws.
Graystar nodded, "I.. if you wish to join us.. I will change you're name. I know right now it doesn't-"
"I wish to join, if Reggy trusts you then I do as well, besides, life in the Twolegplace is boring." Midnight interrupted.
Graystar nodded, "Then, I name you Nightstep." She touched the top of the she-cats head, "You," she turned to the white and orange tabby, "Flarewish." the she-cat smiled, "You, Ripplefur, Whitethroat, Ashspeck, Falconclaw, Stonefoot. StarClan welcomes you as StormClan warriors." She dipped her head and shouts cried out the cats new names.
Graystar looked around, "Eagletalon?" She looked around before a loud wail rang through Frosttigers ears.
He turned and saw Hawkthorn holding his fathers body, "He chased the rogues! I followed and Lionclaw.. he.." He trembled ducked own, a look of horror and sorrow plastered across his features.
Frosttiger stared at the body, tears running down his face before be let out a snarl to the sky.
"LIONCLAW!!!!!!!"
His vision turned red and he tore at the ground, shoulders trembling in anger and sadness. Stormysky rushed forward and touched her nose to his cheek. "Frosttiger, Frosttiger listen.." He looked up, so the she-cat continued, "It's how he would want to go."
"By getting murdered by my brother?"
"By protecting his Clan."
"Sounds familiar." Leopardclaws voice murmured, looking at her former mate. Frosttiger looked at the golden she-cat, then the gray tabby, then the deputies.
Graystar padded forward and gazed at his body before looking away.
Foxstar watched silently, "He was a good cat. Always did the right thing." With that he turned, "Cats of MarshClan, we are returning home! The elders are back at camp with my cats protecting them."
Nodding, Graystar followed, tail dragging on the ground. Frosttiger turned and followed, Hawkthorn following with his fathers limp and bloody body in his mouth. The trees grew less and less before they were pushing through the bramble entrance.
Longclaw walked out, as did the rest of the elders, and let out a yowl of grief as Hawkthorn laid the fallen deputy's body down. Frosttiger looked around and noticed that the MarshClan cats were looking at Graystar, waiting.
Foxstar looked up as well, eyes narrowed.
Graystar heaved a shaky breath, "I knew Eagletalon well, I trained beside him, I hunted beside him, and I have fought beside him. There was nothing that he wouldn't do for the best of the Clan, there was nothing he would of done for the best of his kits, or mate." Sandycloud and Hawkthorn let out sobs. "I know that I cannot allow my own sadness get in the way of code, so I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirit of Eagletalon and our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of StormClan is.." She gazed around, silent for a few slow and agonizing heartbeats. Stormysky, who was next to Frosttiger looked at him, "I love you.." She whispered. Frosttiger froze and looked at her, "I.. I love you too." He murmured, touching his nose to her ear. "And I'll protect you."
They stayed like that before Graystar spoke, "Frosttiger."
The whole camp went said silent before cheers broke out, calling his name and congratulating him.
To say that Frosttiger was stunned would be an understatement, he felt as though he had been struck by lightning paralyzed where he was before he slowly stood up and looked at his former mentor.
"Are you sure Graystar?"
Graystar smiled, "I don't think I've ever been more sure in my life."
Frosttiger blinked before gazing around his Clanmates before he smiled.
"I have great pawsteps to fulfill, but I will do my best. For Eagletalon. For Sunfur. For Heathersky." His voice faltered as he choked back a sob, "For Tigerfang. For Nettletail. For every unjust thing that Lionclaw has done, to right those wrongs. Thank you Graystar.. thank you for this chance, but.. how do I become such a great cat?" How do I be Eagletalon?
Graystar stared at him before smiling softly and jumping down, pressing her muzzle against his, "Oh Frosttiger.. all you have to be.. is yourself."
Frosttiger felt tears fall down his face and he nodded.
"I accept this role."
More yowls from his Clan arose. Foxstar walked forward, "Can't say I'm surprised. It just made the most sense." He dipped his head, "I look forward to leading beside you." With that he led his cats off.
Frosttiger looked around, smiling faces of his Clanmates made power and joy surge through him. He gazed up at the sky, seeing a single star shining.
Is that you Riverice? Are you proud of me?
"I've always been proud of you Frosttiger.." The wind breathed in Frosttigers ears, making him smile.
He turned his head towards the kittypet border.
Watch out Lionclaw. You will pay for this. You will pay dearly.
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