Warriors: The Changed Clan #2: Danger Rising

Chapter Two

"Do you miss Darkstripe?" Longtail asked Tigerstar as he watched his leader sharpening his claws on scraps of bones. Tigerstar then looked at him.

"Are you kidding me? Darkstripe is utterly useless. The fool would follow me even after he died," Tigerstar answered. He then let out a laugh. "Darkstripe was more or less something to sharpen my claws on!"

"So you betrayed him?"

"More or less. He's a pathetic excuse for a warrior just like Fireheart," Tigerstar replied. "Is there any other reason than Darkstripe you're here about?" Longtail shook his head.

"I don't know why I even came here. . ."

"Go away then," Tigerstar meowed. "I don't need any assistance with sharpening my claws. Maybe I could hit them off of your head." Longtail stared at him for several heartbeats before walking away. Cats these days, always following you somewhere. They need to get a life or just die. He began trotting away from the bones and saw Hawkfrost entering the camp with Rainpaw, who had several wounds. Hawkfrost looked tired from himself so Rainpaw must have put up a fight.

"How is Rainpaw coming along?" Tigerstar asked his son. Rainpaw showed potential of making an excellent fighter more than his littermates. Sorrelpaw showed more signs of hunting being her better skill -- that's what her mentor had reported to him. Sootpaw wasn't good at the both of them but was starting to get the hang of them,

"Excellent," Hawkfrost replied. "He was determined to beat me and never gave up. He put up a better fight than I had expected."

"That's good," Tigerstar replied, pleased. Maybe he will be pleasing. I should watch his training more often, he thought as he watched Rainpaw limp into the medicine den. Ashfur walked up to the two cats, looking sad yet terrified at the same time. A warrior never shows his emotions, good or bad. "What's up with you?"

"Oakfur is dead," Ashfur replied. "He was in the forest -- he -- shredded like crow-food. D -- dead."

"And you're acting all scared of it? A warrior is never afraid to see blood, on his claws or not. I expect you killed him?" Tigerstar was starting to become annoyed at Ashfur's fear, yet he was happy to hear a death being announced to him. "If you did kill him. . ."

"I didn't," Ashfur admitted. "I was going to stuff deathberries into his prey but he's dead before I even got to." He looked around at the clearing, his eyes clouding with worry. "I think our Clanmates are turning on each other. You should --"

"I don't care if they shred each other or not," Tigerstar interrupted. "I care for nothing about this Clan. It's weak and you're all just my slaves who attack the innocent. Break the warrior code as much as you are expected to. StarClan will never accept you into their territory if you do. Ashfur, you could have been a cat of good use if it weren't that fear of yours. Scared of murder. Seriously?"

"You're trying to say you will enjoy seeing us all die? Even your own kits?" Ashfur questioned. He looked surprised to hear Tigerstar saying he had no care for TigerClan.

"Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw are the only worthy cats I can be proud of," Tigerstar answered. "Tawnypaw and Mothpaw are useless unlike their brothers. Longtail and Darkstripe are more fools than any other cat. Now get out of my sight. I'd rather not speak to a cat who is afraid of the sight of blood." Ashfur nodded and began walking away. Hawkfrost watched the grey warrior go away. I bet he’s just covering up for killing Oakfur.

As Hawkfrost walked away from Tigerstar, he saw Brambleclaw entering the camp. “Enjoy the border patrol?” he questioned.

“Yes!” Brambleclaw replied, his eyes shining. “I sent a warrior running. RiverClan were going to attack but they were no match for us at all. They’re so weak I bet they come from the Twolegplace.”