Tigerclaw’s Fury

Chapter 7

Gray, damp ferns brushed against Tigerclaw’s pelt as he walked through the forest. Above him, the sky was pitch-black, without the faintest glimmer of moon or stars. Yet somehow there was just enough light for him to make out the trunks of trees looming toward him and the trace of a path over the slimy ground. The air smelled rotten, like fungus or forgotten fresh-kill. The leaves above Tigerclaw whispered even though there was no wind, and a greasy mist seemed to ooze up from the soil and cling to the fur on his belly. Where am I? Tigerclaw wondered. Is this StarClan?

“No, this is the Dark Forest,” came a meow from behind him.

Tigerclaw froze. He knew that voice! It was the one that talked to him inside his head. Pelt standing on end, he slowly turned around.

A broad-faced she-cat stood among the ferns, her tortoiseshell-and-white fur patched and scarred from long-past battles. Her amber eyes gleamed like tiny gold moons; they seemed much brighter than the rest of the she-cat, and Tigerclaw was uncomfortably aware that he could see the leaves and ground on the other side of her.

“Welcome to the Place of No Stars, Tigerclaw,” the she-cat meowed.

“This isn’t StarClan, then?”

“Tchah!” The old cat spat. “Why would you want to go to StarClan? That place is full of weak-willed cowards who clung to the warrior code like ants to a leaf in a puddle. You will find much better company in the cats here, Tigerclaw.”

Tigerclaw shifted his paws. “Who are you? How do you know my name?”

The she-cat purred; it sounded like two dead branches sliding together. “I have been watching you for a long time.” She padded forward and stretched out her head to sniff his flank. Tigerclaw tried not to flinch at the stench that came from her breath. “ShadowClan needs a fearless and powerful leader,” the old cat murmured. “You know you can give them everything they want, Tigerclaw. And after that… we will be waiting.”

She turned and started to walk away. “Stop!” cried Tigerclaw. “What do you mean, you’ll be waiting? I don’t even know who you are!”

The she-cat paused and looked back at him. “My name is Mapleshade,” she meowed. “I have walked beside you from the day you were born, guiding your paw steps, laying out your destiny before you. For now, you don’t need to know anything else. Much, much more lies ahead of us, Tigerclaw. Be patient, and you will find out everything.”

“Wait!” Tigerclaw tried to run after her, but the ferns tangled around his legs, and Mapleshade vanished into the undergrowth. With a start, he woke up, his fur still damp and carrying the scent of fungus and dying things.

“Ewww!” coughed Stumpytail, scrambling to the other side of the nest. “Did you roll in something bad yesterday?”

Tigerclaw stalked out of the den, ducking under the fallen trunk. “Don’t be ridiculous!” he hissed. “Come on, we need to get to the camp.”

Blackfoot bounded up beside him. “Has something happened? Did you have a dream from StarClan?”

Tigerclaw shook his head impatiently. “We just need to be there.”

He raced through the trees with Mapleshade’s words echoing in his ears: ShadowClan needs a fearless and powerful leader. You can give them everything they want. He heard the other cats panting and stumbling behind him, but he didn’t slow down until he reached the entrance to the camp. At once he heard a low, keening sound, many voices sharing one terrible note of grief.

Runningnose was standing in the middle of the clearing surrounded by cats huddled in misery. His tail dragged in the dirt, and he looked even older than he had the day before. He came to meet Tigerclaw and ushered him to the edge of the camp. “Nightstar died last night,” he murmured.

Tigerclaw lowered his head. “I am so sorry for your loss,” he mewed. “I hope he walks with StarClan now.”

Runningnose’s tail twitched. “Wherever Nightstar is, I hope he is at peace. The most important thing to do now is to keep the rest of my Clan safe.” He stared at Tigerclaw, his eyes huge and haunted. “My Clanmates are terrified of being leaderless. There is no deputy to take over from Nightstar, and StarClan has sent us no sign of what should happen next. How can I blame these cats if they feel that their ancestors have abandoned them?” His voice rose in a wail of horror. “What if we never recover from what Brokenstar did to us? The wounds run so deep, and nothing I can do will heal them.”

Tigerclaw let his tail rest on the old cat’s shoulder. “You must be strong,” he urged. “Without a leader, your Clanmates will look to you. StarClan hasn’t given up on ShadowClan; you mustn’t let yourself think that.” He hoped Runningnose took his quivering muscles as a sign of grief rather than of the excitement that was building inside him. This is your moment! Mapleshade hissed. Tread carefully. You are stepping onto the thinnest ice, and you must not fall through.

Tigerclaw squared his shoulders, as if he had reached a decision. “Runningnose, you must lead your Clan until StarClan makes its wishes known. And until that time, my cats and I will do everything we can to help you. I know your Clanmates have been doubly wounded, by Brokenstar and by the sickness from the rats. If you let me, I will help you heal them.”

Runningnose sniffed. “Thank you, Tigerclaw,” he mewed. “I knew I could rely on you.” He limped across the clearing to the lichen-covered rock and hauled himself onto it. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the rock!”

The earthen space began to fill with somber-eyed cats, swirling together like leaves in a stream. Tigerclaw saw Stumpytail go to sit beside Dawncloud, while Clawface laid the tip of his tail on Rowanberry’s back to guide her to an empty place.

“What did you say to Runningnose?” whispered Snag in Tigerclaw’s ear.

“That he and his Clanmates will have our utmost support until StarClan reveals their new leader.”

There was a flicker of surprise in Snag’s eyes. “That old cat, and this weak Clan, could need a great deal of support,” he commented.

Tigerclaw nodded. “Indeed. And we will be repaid for it, don’t worry.”

“Good,” mewed Snag.

“Clanmates!” Runningnose began from on top of the rock. “Shortly the elders will bring Nightstar’s body out from his den and we can begin our vigil. As we have no deputy to take his place, I will lead you until StarClan makes its wishes known. Even as we mourn Nightstar, life must continue. The worst of the sickness has passed, and we must make ourselves strong once more. Hunting and border patrols will be sent out as normal, and battle training will begin again.”

He was interrupted by a tumult of voices.

“We have only just gotten over the sickness! We need more time to recover!”

“How can we hunt, patrol the borders, and train our apprentices?”

“We want to serve our Clan, Runningnose, but you’re asking too much!”

Runningnose’s eyes clouded with confusion, and he took a pace back from the edge of the rock.

Tigerclaw raised his head. “With your permission, cats of ShadowClan, I can help you. My cats and I have kept your fresh-kill pile well stocked for the past moon. Now you are strong enough to hunt for yourselves, so why not let us help with your border patrols, and take over your battle training?” He lowered his eyes and scraped at the ground with one forepaw. “If you wish, that is.” Don’t overdo the humility, Tigerclaw, warned Mapleshade. It’s not terribly convincing.

Runningnose stepped forward again, blinking in gratitude. “Tigerclaw, we will take all the help we can get,” he meowed.

“Wait,” called Deerfoot. “ShadowClan has always survived on its own. Why should we let outsiders do everything for us now?”

Tigerclaw met Deerfoot’s gaze. “That is not what I am proposing,” he mewed. “We merely want to work alongside you, give you time to recover your full strength now that the danger of the sickness has gone.” He looked around. “Cats of ShadowClan, never forget that you are surrounded by enemies who will attack the moment they think you have any trace of weakness. You were lucky to be left alone while the sickness was here. Can you keep it a secret forever? It only takes one sharp-eyed cat at a Gathering, one rumor across the border, for other Clans to put your strength to the test. ShadowClan has always been the most feared Clan in the forest. I promise I will not let that change!”

The pine trees shivered as the clearing erupted in yowls of triumph.

“He’s right! We can’t show weakness to the other Clans!”

“I’ll train with you, Tigerclaw! Teach me everything you know!”

“ShadowClan will be feared once more!”

Tigerclaw closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of the cheers. Remember this moment, Mapleshade urged. This is what power feels like.