Warriors: A Dangerous Path - Book Five (Completed)

Chapter Four

Waterlily scrambled to her paws and pricked her ears. She half expected Yellowfang to be a few tail-lengths beside her as always, but her nest was empty. It smelled of ash from the fire and there was no sign of Yellowfang's old scents. She tossed the moss behind the den to clean it up a bit then padded back inside with a small sigh of relief, yet also sadness.

"Waterlily." Mewed a voice from outside the den.

Waterlily poked her head out and saw a flame-colored tom standing just outside the entrance. His eyes were wide with concern. "What's up?" She replied, tilting her head to the side.

"I am worried about Bluestar. I know she won't take any herbs, but she has been up in her den for too long." His mew was hoarse, but he tried to stay calm. "She needs to be our leader again." He finished.

Waterlily dipped her head in respect. "You're right, she does need to lead us, though I have doubts she will listen to me."

Fireheart bristled his neck fur. "You must get her to understand!"

Waterlily widened her eyes. How would she get an old she-cat as stubborn as Bluestar to listen to her? She nodded reluctantly, but said nothing, knowing he may not know just how stubborn Bluestar really is.

Waterlily took a deep breath as she approached the leader's den, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that it wouldn't be an easy one.

"Come in," Bluestar's voice called out from inside the den.

Waterlily pushed aside the ivy curtain and stepped inside, her eyes meeting Bluestar's steady gaze.

"Waterlily, what can I do for you?" Bluestar asked.

Waterlily took a deep breath, then spoke the words that had been weighing heavily on her heart.

"Bluestar, I need to speak with you about your leadership."

Bluestar's expression remained neutral, but Waterlily could see the surprise in her eyes. "What about my leadership?"

Waterlily hesitated for a moment, then spoke honestly. "I know that Tigerstar has worried you as of late, but we need you to lead us."

Bluestar's eyes widened and her breath became heavy with concern. "Tigerstar?"

Waterlily widened her eyes, forgetting that Bluestar was not at the last Gathering and knew nothing of Tigerclaw becoming leader of ShadowClan. "Uh... yeah. He's now leader of ShadowClan."

Bluestar shook her head slowly in doubt. "No. This cannot be." She rose to her paws and began pacing the den. 

Waterlily watched her pace back and forth a few times before speaking. "I'm sorry, Bluestar." She hung her head down low. 

Bluestar then stopped and gazed up at Waterlily. "So he has all nine lives as a leader should?"

Waterlily narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. "I would expect so." She mewed softly. "Why wouldn't he?" Bluestar sighed and began pacing again as if she was trying to plan something. Waterlily watched her again in silence waiting for an answer. 

After a long moment Bluestar finally spoke, but she didn't stop herself from going back and forth from one end to the other of her den. "StarClan wouldn't just give a trader nine lives. He has to be lying. We could..." She quickly stopped herself from finishing, knowing it probably a bad idea. 

Waterlily knew very well what she was about to say. "We could just attack and kill him..." She finished for her.

Bluestar paced back and forth in her den, her mind consumed with thoughts of Tigerstar's ascent to leadership in ShadowClan. She knew that he was a cunning and dangerous cat, and she feared that he would use his newfound power to threaten ThunderClan.

As she paced, her thoughts turned to Waterlily. "What if we attack them before they attack us? We cannot afford to wait and see what Tigerstar does next."

Waterlily was taken aback by Bluestar's sudden change in attitude. "Bluestar, are you sure? Attacking ShadowClan would be a dangerous move. It could put ThunderClan in a vulnerable position."

"I am sure," Bluestar replied firmly. "I am tired of waiting for them to make the first move. We need to act before it's too late."

Waterlily looked at Bluestar with concern. "Bluestar, you are not acting like yourself. This is not a decision to be made lightly. It will affect the lives of all ThunderClan cats, and we could be facing a war."

Bluestar paused, but then narrowed her eyes. "This must happen. Tigerstar must be no more." 

Waterlily shook her head slowly and took a few paces backwards. "Bluestar, please, listen to me." She urged.

Bluestar narrowed her eyes to slits. "I am leader of ThunderClan, Waterlily. Now go back to your medicine cat duties."

Waterlily left Bluestar's den in frustration. She knew Bluestar was stubborn, but she had to listen to her. If they made a war with ShadowClan, ThunderClan would be no more. She trekked to her den deep in thought and almost ran into Fireheart. 

"So?" He asked, wide eyes and desperate. "Did you speak to her?"

Waterlily froze, not wanting to tell him the whole story. She looked down and shuffled her paws, then began to speak slow and steady. "I did speak to her, yes."

"And?" Fireheart pressed on.

Waterlily softly sighed. "And she's now planning an attack on ShadowClan to get rid of Tigerstar." She mewed rather quickly.

Fireheart widened his eyes in dismay. "Planning an attack?" He repeated. "Did you tell her she was mouse-brained?"

"Of course I did!" She hissed, glaring into his dark green eyes. " She's stubborn, remember?"

Fireheart narrowed his eyes in frustration. "She can't be this stubborn! She must listen to us. We will lose against Tigerstar."

"I tried to reason with her, Fireheart." She mewed more calmly. "But she has made her decision. We can't force her to choose differently."

"Well maybe you can't." Hissed Fireheart. He stomped towards Bluestar's den then stopped just before he got to the entrance. He looked back at Waterlily and softened his eyes. "Maybe I can reason with her." He meowed calmly. Then he padded inside her den with confidence.

Waterlily watched in silence. She sat down and wrapped her tail around her front paws and waited for Fireheart to come back out. She prayed to StarClan silently that Fireheart could make her understand, but she feared that StarClan might not be able to help their leader now.