Path Of A Warrior

Tigerclaw’s voice was admiring, but Redtail just felt sick. There was a time when Tigerclaw’s praise would have meant everything to me.

Now, though, Oakheart was dead, and for what? It wouldn’t settle the conflict over Sunningrocks.

Fury burned inside him as he looked into Tigerclaw’s eyes. He is to blame for all this. It hadn’t had to come to a fight, not today. If Tigerclaw hadn’t attacked the RiverClan cat, Oakheart would still be alive. Young Ravenpaw wouldn’t be injured.

Redtail wouldn’t be a killer.

He had never killed another cat. Not until today.

“Tigerclaw?” Ravenpaw’s mew was tentative. The skinny apprentice inched closer, looking back and forth between them. Blood still dripped from his shoulder, running down his side. There were still two RiverClan warriors left—the small black-and-gray she-cat Tigerclaw had first attacked, and the larger gray tom Redtail had flung away from Tigerclaw. They were pressed low to the ground, their ears back, snarling as they eyed the ThunderClan cats.

“Ravenpaw, go!” Redtail growled. If nothing else, at least maybe he could save the apprentice from any more of this.

Tigerclaw looked at Redtail thoughtfully, and then, perhaps seeing the fury and desperation in his eyes, yowled, “Go back to camp, Ravenpaw! Redtail and I can finish this!”

“But the fight’s not done,” Ravenpaw meowed. “And I owe Redtail … he saved me … Oakheart said …”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Redtail snapped.

“Go while you still can,” Tigerclaw agreed. “Run back to camp now!”

Finally! Thank StarClan, Redtail thought.

Ravenpaw backed away a few paces, then turned and ran.

As he disappeared down the path, there was a blur of motion in the corner of Redtail’s eye. He turned to see the black-and-gray she-cat spring at Tigerclaw’s throat. The tussle was brief, before Tigerclaw flung her to the ground. He snarled, swiping a paw at her as she lay winded on the ground, but Redtail snapped. “Tigerclaw, stop!” To his surprise, the big tom listened, pulling up short, his claws near her throat.

“No more blood,” Redtail said quietly. “Not now.”

The two remaining RiverClan cats exchanged a short glance, then yowled a retreat. Redtail watched as they disappeared past Sunningrocks, and he heard the smallest splash as they slid into the water.

A tightness inside him relaxed. It was over, for now. He couldn’t bear to think about Oakheart’s death, not yet. The sun was high in the sky, its reflection off the river almost blinding.

A heavy blow landed hard on his back, driving Redtail into a crouch. Sharp pain ripped at his throat, and he felt something hot and wet run across his throat, streaming down his chest. Blood. He tried to rise again, but he couldn’t move. Had the RiverClan cats come back?

His vision blurred, but as the weight moved from his back, he peered up to see Tigerclaw staring down at him, his face expressionless.

Tigerclaw … Had Tigerclaw attacked him? Redtail’s mind felt fuzzy; he couldn’t think properly. He tried to speak, but his mouth felt cracked and dry. “Why?” he whispered, almost soundlessly.

Tigerclaw’s tail curled high above his back, and his eyes gleamed triumphantly. “You were in my way, Redtail. It’s nothing personal, but ThunderClan needs a real deputy. I’m just doing what I should have let that hawk do back when you were a ’paw.”

Redtail could feel warmth all around him—was it his blood, soaking into the earth?—but he was still cold. “But … you saved my life,” he meowed slowly.

“And you should have been loyal from then on,” Tigerclaw murmured, his amber gaze fixed on Redtail’s face. “But you weren’t. So, better for me, better for the Clan, if you’re not here.”

Despite the brightness of the sun, everything was going dark. Standing above Redtail, Tigerclaw was just a shadow against the graying of the sky. Redtail couldn’t see his face anymore, but he remembered his satisfied expression. The big tom shifted, and Redtail thought he must be licking blood from his paw.

He’s going to kill every cat who gets in his way, Redtail thought. Despair filled him, as even the sky went black.

At the last, he thought suddenly of Dustpaw. His apprentice would be back at camp, waiting for Redtail to take him hunting. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise… .

Redtail opened his eyes. The pain was gone. As he blinked, the blurry ginger shape above him sharpened into a broad, friendly face with one torn ear.

“Sunstar?” he said weakly, recognizing the ThunderClan leader. “But …” Sunstar had been dead for a long time. Redtail swallowed. “Am I … dead?”

“I’m afraid so,” Sunstar said sympathetically. “You were very brave, if that’s any comfort. I’ve come to take you to StarClan.”