WARRIORS AU: Swiftpaw lived

Chapter 7

Swiftclaw poked at a thin mouse and sniffed it.  Poor catch again, He thought 

"Swiftclaw," A worried voice mewed. 

"Firestar?" Swiftclaw flicked his torn ear and looked up. 

"I'm having a meeting with my senior warriors. You may be young, but you are one of my most trusted warriors. Can you come?"  Firestar asked. 

"Of course," Swiftclaw nodded. He followed Firestar into the leader's den. 

Uneasy whispering filled the air. 

"Silence!" Firestar hissed. 

The den dropped dead silent. 

"Why have you brought us here?" Goldenflower asked. 

"To discuse a major issue," Firestar lifted his head high. "Prey has been running extremly low in recent times. Not to mention Twolegs getting closer and closer to the heart of our territroy." 

"That's mouse-brained!" Mousefur scoffed. "StarClan would  never allow it!" 

"Firestar is right, Mousefur." Graystripe said coolly. "Ask any recent patrols." 

"He's right." Dustpelt added. "It fears me to say this, but the twolegs are ripping down more and more trees." 

"They've done that before!" Mousefur protested. "What exactly do you expect us to do? Kiss their furless paws and hope for them to stop?" 

Swiftclaw tried not to purr in ammusement. Her comment clearly made most of the warriors giggle. 

"It's a serious matter! My daughter and a valued clanmate are missing!" Firestar roared. 

"What does it have to do with the twolegs and prey?" Mousefur challenged once more. 

"It-" 

"Firestar? Is everything okay?" A gentle voice asked. 

"Frostfur," Firestar dipped his head in respect for the old she-cat. "We were just discussing the recent issues with twolegs and prey." 

"He's a mouse-brain. It's just a hard leaf-bare," Mousefur growled. 

Frostfur rested her tail on Mousefur's shoulder. "I've lived in this forest much longer than you have, and even I agree with Firestar. This is a serious matter." 

"Fair enough," Mousefur grunted. 

Firestar looked down hopelessly. "ThunderClan is stronger than this, I know it! But... I don't know what to do." 

                                                            ***

The call of a clan meeting was what awoke Swiftclaw. He groaned and rolled out of his nest. 

"Cats of ThunderClan!" Firestar yowled. "A monster has reered off the Thunderpath... It took down several trees and-" 

"Enough mouse-dung!" Speckletail snarled. "It's fake. Monsters never leave the thunderpath." 

"It's true!" Cloudtail growled. "I was there!" 

"Defending your kin, I see." Dustpelt mocked. 

"Silence!" Firestar hissed from high rock. "This isn't an excuse to fight. This is a serious matter." 

Swiftclaw had to admitt it did sound a bit crazy, but Firestar did have a point. This very well could be the downfall of ThunderClan...