He's Just a Murderer - Warrior Cats AU - Short Story

He's Just a Murderer

Since the birth of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw's kits, Ashfur had felt nothing but rage.

For so many moons, Ashfur stood at Squirrelflight's side, cherished her, while Brambleclaw frolicked through RiverClan territory with his half-brother. Ashfur certainly wasn't close to Hawkfrost, but the RiverClan tom did serve one purpose: keeping Brambleclaw away from Squirrelflight. After all, she deserved someone better. Someone like Ashfur, who had remained loyal to her and to the Clan all his life.

Anything he had done, every decision he made, was for Squirrelflight's sake.

And yet, after Hawkfrost's death and Brambleclaw's shallow apologies, Ashfur was cast aside in favor of the son of Tigerstar, a cat who could never be trusted. A cat who should never have become the deputy of ThunderClan. Why did Firestar, Squirrelflight's own father, feel that Brambleclaw was trustworthy enough to be his successor? Clearly former kittypets like Firestar didn't always have the clearest judgement.

But Firestar's judgement was of no importance to Ashfur now. Instead, as he rested in the abandoned quarry ThunderClan used in their camp, he discreetly glared at Squirrelflight. On the other side of the camp, she was sheltering in the warriors' den, staying hidden from the large droplets that rained down on the forest. Her kits, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf, were nowhere to be seen, likely elsewhere with Brambleclaw.

The dark clouds overhead rained down on Ashfur, but the gray tom didn't mind. His blue eyes were still locked onto the entrance to the warriors' den, where he could see Squirrelflight resting. The rain grew stronger, and few other members of the Clan remained out in the open. A flash of lightning accompanied by crackling thunder made Ashfur flinch.

"What's happening?" a cry from somewhere in the clearing cut into Ashfur's thoughts. He lifted his head, allowing his gaze to travel away from Squirrelflight for only a moment. Warriors dashed through the camp and poked their heads out of their dens. Even Firestar himself was observing the sky from the Highledge.

Then, another bolt of lightning shot across the sky, and thunder crashed directly overhead. Ashfur's ears flattened to his head, and he instinctively leaped to his paws as a tree above the quarry cracked and then toppled over, an orange blaze following it. Burning branches and leaves flew into the camp. The cries of Ashfur's fellow Clanmates rang in his ears.

Frantically, Ashfur turned to the camp's main exit, where other cats were already fleeing. "The forest is on fire!" someone screeched, and Ashfur's eyes widened in fear. His tail bristled. His heart pounded in his chest as he dashed past a fiery branch, racing for the exit.

"Get out! All of you get out!" Firestar yowled from somewhere behind Ashfur. He didn't even look over his shoulder as he stumbled for the exit. Ahead, cats assisted elders and kits out of the burning camp. But before Ashfur could join them, another cat cut in front of him. He fell back, and for a moment, he could only see a flood of wet pelts sprinting past him. Then, he stood to his paws, and another lightning bolt spread across the dark sky. Right in front of his eyes, flaming leaves and bushes flew down in front of the tunnel, blocking the path. I'm trapped! The thought sent him into a panic, and all he could think to do was scramble away from the fire and scan the nearly empty clearing.

The secret exit! he remembered in a single moment of clarity. Ashfur bolted toward a wall in the back of the camp, nearly tripping over piles of charred debris. He quickly circled around a clump of brambles and looked up at a long crack in the rock wall. It was steep, but if he could just keep his paws steady, he would be able to escape the burning camp.