SCAPEGOATS - a warrior cat fanfiction

four

    Dewhowl was the center of attention, dozens of multi-colored eyes staring at him — some in shock, some in disgust, some in emotions he wasn't sure was just one. He felt his pelt crawl as a dark-cream tabby crawled from a lichen-covered entrance of a hollow cedar, her muscles rippling underneath her short fur and her large paws flexing their claws. Her pale copper eyes swept over Dewhowl, inspecting him with an unknown expression. Redstar. He instinctively took a step back as she approached, piecing together the minimal descriptions he's gathered from gossip in ShadowClan.

Redstar was not the kindest, however, she wasn't cruel. She was exceptional at keeping her clan steady and operating unlike any cat he's ever seen, but it came at a cost of being uptight and a few paw steps away from being invasive.

    Sharply, her head snapped towards Midgecry. "Why have you brought him here?" She demanded, holding herself high as her sharp and calculating eyes flicked towards the she-cat a fox length away from her. The brown-and-white molly flinched as if claws were just swung near her face, gulping as the opposing muscled tabby awaited a reply. Dewhowl felts a sting of pity, he would surely never want to be on Redstar's bad side, especially not when she was already so spine-chilling.

"He passed through the border," Midgecry meowed, the molly's chest inflating as she gathered herself. "He's ShadowClan, and you know that they've been in isolation for a while." She trailed off as if trying to get the leader to understand why the medicine cat was brought into the heart of SkyClan.

Redstar remained silent, studying the feline. Her whiskers twitched, and Dewhowl swore he could see a spark of understanding in her pale copper eyes. "Go on." She prompted.

     "Er..." Midgecry paused. "Well you see, I thought that if we bargain ShadowClan for their medicine cat, we could bring them out of isolation..?" She continued, though her statement sounded like a question.

    "And why we want them back?" Redstar tilted her chin up. "Those thistle-fluff-for-brains can continue to stay isolated for as long as they want. It feels nice not having ShadowClan around." The molly, eyeing the forest beyond.

    Dewhowl felt a jolt of mild panic at the mention of leaving ShadowClan to trap themselves in their pine forest, was SkyClan willing to give up on them? What would that mean for them; If SkyClan no longer cared, did anyone else?

    No! There's meant to be five clans! He wanted to yowl, however the overwhelming feeling of being in the presence of a leader — especially this one — made it hard for those words to make it out. The vision of a destroyed forest flashed in his head and made him shiver, yet it went unnoticed by the SkyClan warriors.

    "I wonder what they're up to." A cat meowed, taking the spotlight as they stepped up. All eyes latched onto them, curiosity sparking even within Redstar's. Their black fur shined in the dawn's sun, his teeth bared. "They have a lot of time on their paws now, it's probably no doubt that they're planning something in there."

    "I surely wouldn't be surprised if ShadowClan was thinking up something sinister. Maybe that isolation is a cover for something more...evil?" A white molly with olive eyes blinked, her tail curling.

    "ShadowClan does have a reputation of evil." Another cat added, causing an uprise of murmurs of agreement.

    Dewhowl felt his pelt burn at the mention of something troublesome bubbling within the pine forest. Did all of SkyClan's cats think ShadowClan was some sort of menace to the lake clans? He bit his tongue to avoid lashing out, however, he felt a trace of bitterness toward the black feline that spoke out. "ShadowClan isn't planning anything." He spoke calmly, his tail twitching with the effort of staying calm underneath the felines' suspicious eyes.

    "Why should we believe you?" The black tom narrowed his eyes. "You crossed the borders, after all."

    Dewhowl opened his mouth to protest, a flicker of anger growing. Yet he was interrupted before he could speak his mind.

    "I believe him." A dark russet molly made her way through the crowd, cats making a path for her. "Why don't we ask where he went, surely there better than throwing blame?" She looked around.

    It went silent except for a few mutters, but Dewhowl was ultimately handed the floor with a flick of Redstar's tail. "I went to the Moonpool, I had to cross your borders; I had to cross ThunderClan's and WindClan's too." He explained.

    "See?" The russet she-cat eyed her clan.

    "I don't believe it," The black tomcat shook his head. "Asphodelstar wouldn't allow him to travel so far, would he?"

    "Maybe ShadowClan's in danger?" The feline suggested, her whiskers twitching. "Are you?" She turned her eyes to Dewhowl.

    The medicine cat shuffled on his paws, his gaze sweeping the crowd. Would saying anything make a difference? These cats seemed set on villainizing and leaving ShadowClan on their own. This could be my only chance to persuade them. He thought as he let out a exhale, collecting his thought.

    "ShadowClan needs help." He began slowly, gulping down his growing anxiousness. "If we don't get out of isolation, we'll crumble; StarClan showed me a vision." He looked around, yet the SkyClan cat didn't seem any different, maybe even some of them looked more suspicious.

    "There was always meant to be five clans," the she-cat stepped up and added when Dewhowl was unable to shed light on the situation. He was grateful for the russet molly's help, hopeful that if SkyClan wouldn't listen to a ShadowClan cat, they'd listen to one of their own.

    "Remember how difficult it was for the clans right you before SkyClan returned? And remember how SkyClan nearly drowned in a flood when they tried to leave the lake territories so long ago? If we let—"

    "Silence, Tawnybringer." Redstar raised her tail, her level yet authoritative tone sending a shiver down the medicine cat's spine. "Where does your loyalty lie; with SkyClan, or with ShadowClan?" She questioned, a few cats nodding.

    "SkyClan, always." Tawnybringer meowed, sounding hurt at the accusation that she wasn't loyal to her clan, however, she was quick to continue defending Dewhowl, which now he wasn't sure was the right thing to do. "But you have to listen, StarClan wouldn't send a vision if it didn't mean anything! ShadowClan's in danger, don't you see? We have to help—"

    "I don't want to hear anything more about ShadowClan." Redstar hissed, reaching here limit. "You will keep your mouth shut about it, and you'll be taking care of him since you're so interested in the needs of ShadowClan; do I make myself clear?" She flicked her lashing tail toward the blue-gray tom, all focus on now on him.

    A silence fell over the clan, and Dewhowl wished he could burrow deep within the soil to hide from everyone's eyes. He glanced at Tawnybringer, wondering how she reacted to her assignment, however, she was standing firm, glaring directly at Redstar as if challenging her. What is she doing? She can't risk any more damage, can she?

    Almost no-cat say anything, the standoff lasting what felt like moons. Dewhowl barely noticed he was holding his breath until Redstar blinked.

    "Midgecry, Pikegoose, Finchleaf; go to ShadowClan and tell Asphodelstar that we have his medicine cat." Redstar tore her gaze away from Tawnybringer, pivoting on her paws to order her warriors to leave. "Clouddawn, Fuzzyrye, Bubblingecho; gather material to make a nest for Dewhowl in the foliage over there." She flicked her striped tail towards a small patch of empty land nestled between two towering pines with a few bushes to make a makeshift entrance.

    All six cats nodded before going their separate ways, Redstar's gaze sweeping over the remaining crowd. Immediately, it disbanded, leaving only Tawnybringer and Dewhowl as Redstar retreated to her den.

    "Good luck, Tawnybringer." The black tomcat from before sneered before bounding off to the prey-pile.

    Dewhowl swallowed. This was going to be a long visit, wasn't it?