Tigerclaw’s Fury

Tigerclaw jumped down from the rock. “And now, Clanmates, we will honor our fallen leader Nightstar with the vigil that he deserves. Come, join me as we pay tribute to him.” He padded across to the small black shape that had tried so hard to give strength and leadership to ShadowClan after the defeat of Brokenstar. How did you ever think you would succeed in following him? Tigerclaw thought scornfully as he crouched by Nightstar’s head. He closed his eyes, listening as the rest of ShadowClan settled around him, pressing their muzzles against the cold, dusk-damp fur.

This Clan belongs to me now, Nightstar. Watch how I make it strong again, feared and respected throughout all the forest.

Chapter 9

“Tigerclaw, wake up!”

Tigerclaw stretched and opened his eyes, briefly confused by the tangle of brambles overhead instead of a smooth gray trunk. Then he remembered: He was in the ShadowClan camp now, not hiding in the wild woods like some kind of rogue. He rolled over, feeling the familiar glow of satisfaction. He and his companions had been in the camp for a quarter moon, leading their Clanmates in battle training, joining hunting and border patrols, constantly reassuring Runningnose that StarClan would choose a new leader soon…

“Tigerclaw, you have to come see this!”

Tigerclaw sat up and looked at Clawface. “What is it?” he grumbled. “I’m not on the dawn patrol today.”

“I know, I’ve just returned with it. But something is happening on the other side of the Thunderpath. The forest is on fire!”

Tigerclaw leaped out of his nest and thrust past Clawface. Behind him, the scrawny brown warrior called, “It looked like the flames were right above the ThunderClan camp!”

Tigerclaw pounded through the thorns and raced through the pine trees, ignoring the brambles that snagged at his pelt. Nightwhisper was standing beside the Thunderpath, straining to see through the trees on the other side. A terrible roaring, crackling sound echoed from ThunderClan territory, and the air was acrid with pale gray smoke. Glimpses of bright orange flames flickered among the trunks, and every so often the distant rumble was splintered by the sound of a tree crashing to the ground. Tigerclaw crouched at the edge of the Thunderpath and scanned for monsters.

“Are you going over there?” Nightwhisper yowled over the noise of the burning trees. “Do you want me to come with you? There might be cats who need our help.”

Tigerclaw shook his head. “I’m not going on a rescue mission,” he growled. “I just need to see what’s going on. Stay here; I want to do this alone.”

Nightwhisper shifted his weight onto his front paws as Tigerclaw began to cross, as if he was about to follow. Tigerclaw glared over his shoulder at him. “I said, stay here!” He bounded across the rest of the hard black stone and plunged into the long, cool grass.

At once the scents of ThunderClan bathed his nose, cutting through the smell of cinders. Tigerclaw breathed in deeply, then burst out coughing as sharp smoke pricked the back of his throat. He ducked his head and pushed through the grass into the trees. The leaf-mulch beneath his paws was instantly familiar, and he quickly found his way to an almost invisible trail that led deeper into the woods, toward the ravine. The crackling of the flames grew louder, and Tigerclaw felt his fur grow hot as he neared the camp. As far as he could tell, the trees between the ravine and Twolegplace were burning, and the deafening roar suggested that the fire was heading straight toward the ThunderClan camp. No!

This is the Clan that drove you out! Forced you to live as a rogue, turned you away in favor of a kittypet! Mapleshade’s voice snarled in his ear.

Tigerclaw curled his lip. Don’t mistake this for caring about my former Clanmates. I want the satisfaction of destroying them myself, not watching them burn like trapped rabbits, that’s all. He wondered if Mapleshade could sense the horror that squirmed in his belly. No cat deserved to die in flames, surely?