Warriors: The Changed Clan #2: Danger Rising

Chapter Five

Rain crashed onto the ground as Tigerstar stood overlooking his Clan. Dappletail trotted over to him, her eyes dark as she settled down next to him. "You're doing this the wrong way, Tigerstar," she rasped. "Leadership is about caring for the Clan, not driving them into battles."

"Warriors love battles," Tigerstar answered. "You're only an old cat. What would you know about being a warrior?"

"Old I may be," Dappletail croaked, "but I was still a warrior when I was younger. Perhaps you should treat TigerClan with more care."

Tigerstar's fur on his neck bristled. What made the right for an elder to suggest he changed his leading skills? Tigerstar never became leader to be soft on any cat! "You better shut up." His voice was lowered into a growl. "You may regret having a big mouth."

Dappletail let out a sigh. "I'm getting closer to StarClan each day, anyway," she answered, still as calm as waves lapping gently against the shore. "I would want to leave with my Clanmates being happy with their leader."

Tigerstar gave a roll of his eyes. He didn't care much about his Clanmates, anyway. All he wanted was to rule over all the Clans, like he always had when he was a young kit in the nursery, until now, when he had been TigerClan's leader.

Dappletail then got up and began to walk away, much to Tigerstar's liking. "Tigerstar!" His gaze looked down from the Highrock, seeing Brightheart looking up as she stood below it. He could sense fear coming from the ginger-patched white warrior.

"What is it, Brightheart? Spill it now."

"Whitestorm's patrol said that RiverClan was flooding with all the rain," Brightheart began to explain. "Water has already gotten into their camp and if it keeps up, the whole forest might just be flooded."

"And do you expect me to help RiverClan?" Tigerstar questioned. A warrior does not care for his enemies, he told himself. What a mouse-brain to think that TigerClan will race to RiverClan's aid! "For being mouse-brained to think such a thing, you won't be allowed to eat for two whole sunrises."

Brightheart frowned. "But I wasn't suggesting we'd help RiverClan," she told him. "I was thinking of us offering RiverClan shelter."

"Shelter?" Tigerstar echoed. "In TigerClan? A Clan does not help those who are in trouble! RiverClan can deal with their problems. It is none of TigerClan's concern to help a weak Clan, giving shelter or not."

"But I was thinking of getting them to join TigerClan if they wanted that shelter," Brightheart continued. "Then we'd only have to get WindClan to join us."

That's a good idea, Tigerstar admitted. Then all I have to do is drive my Clan into battle with WindClan, easily outnumbering them. Then Tallstar will see the right to surrender. "Okay then. The Clan will go to RiverClan. Of course, a large patrol."

"So I guess that's a good idea?"

"If praise is what you seek, you won't get it in return. Warriors do not fight for praise; they fight for their lives. Get used to the disappointment." Brightheart let out a sigh and Tigerstar yowled, "Let all cats gather beneath the Highrock!"

At once heads rose and cats began heading towards the Highrock. Ferncloud came out of the nursery with her kits while Willowpelt's three kits, Sorrelpaw, Rainpaw and Sootpaw, began racing each other to the rock.

Thornclaw began leaving a pile of scrap bones behind while Swiftshadow followed him. Darkflower and Nightwhisper had their tails twined as they settled down next to each other, and Runningnose the medicine cat looked older than he had before.

Lots of cats were already sitting down by the Highrock, looking up at Tigerstar as they were waiting for the rest of the Clan to gather so he could speak. Ratscar and Snowbird sat next to Hawkfrost and Brambleclaw, while Flintfang, his gaze clouded, settled with Tangleburr and Russetfur.