Warriors: The Rise Of FireClan

Chapter 5

  Drizzlestar paced the training hollow, obviously deep in thought.
  "I... I don't understand." Hazelpaw stammered. "What's so important about seeing me in a dream?"
  "It doesn't make sense." Drizzlestar said to herself, ignoring Hazelpaw. "Unless..."
  Tigerpaw watched as Drizzlestar turned to Hazelpaw, her eyes narrowed.
  "There's another thing. I saw myself on that tree." Drizzlestar's eyes lit up. "There can't be three leaders of FireClan. So what if StarClan wants you to be leader of a different clan?"
  "W-What?" Hazelpaw stuttered.
  "What other clan could it be?" Tigerpaw asked.
  Drizzlestar straightened. "Tigerpaw, you must become leader of ShadowClan. And Hazelpaw, you must become leader of ThunderClan."
  "But they already have leaders!" Hazelpaw protested. "We cannot become leaders of those clans!"
  "Maybe. But what if there was I way we could change that." Drizzlestar said, starting to smile.
  "How?" Tigerpaw demanded.
  "If all the clans were only ruled by the leaders of our choosing." Drizzlestar grinned. "Imagine how strong we would be."
  Tigerpaw suddenly remembered what Stonestar told him and shifted his paws. "I'm not sure that's a good idea-"
  "Of course it is!" Drizzlestar snapped. "No more fighting over prey and borders, we would finally be at peace."
  "I... I guess that's right." Hazelpaw whispered. "But the clans would never agree to it."
  Drizzlestar thought for a moment. "At the next gathering, Tigerpaw will participate in the Pin Battle. But I will change the rules just this once. I will allow their best warrior to play. You will be a warrior by then." Drizzlestar added, as if sensing Tigerpaw's worry. "For each warrior you pin, their clan will join ours."
  "But-" Hazelpaw started, but was silenced by Drizzlestar again.
  "I will tell the clan tonight." Drizzlestar said. "I'm sure they will be pleased that my plan will make FireClan stronger."

  Tigerpaw followed Drizzlestar back to camp, Hazelpaw at his side. They had been training all day, stopping only when Tigerpaw's muscles ached.
  As the three cats entered camp, Drizzlestar raced to the Hightree, jumping up onto the lowest branch.
  "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Hightree for a clan meeting!" Drizzlestar yowled.
  Drizzlestar continued talking after the clan sat down. "FireClan must become stronger if we are to survive, and I know exactly how. The other clans will join us, and it will be led by leaders of our choosing!"
  Murmurs rippled throughout the clan, until finally Scorchpelt stood up.
  "How will we get them to join our clan?" She questioned.
  Drizzlestar flicked her tail, then went on about her plan. Scorchpelt slowly nodded, almost smiling.
  "It's worth a shot. We just can't loose." Scorchpelt said.
  "And there would be no more battles, the clans would be safe." Flamepelt purred, standing close to Featherheart.
  "Who would the leaders be?" Onetail crowed from the back.
  "From what I have gotten from StarClan so far, Tigerpaw will lead ShadowClan and Hazelpaw will lead ThunderClan. I will still lead FireClan, of course." Drizzlestar answered.
  "Will StarClan send the rest of the vision in time?" Bateye questioned.
  "Hopefully they will." Drizzlestar mewed. "But for now I will not stop training Tigerpaw and Hazelpaw. They must be fully prepared to lead a clan."
  "Are you sure Tigerpaw is ready?" Blackstorm said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
  Tigerpaw's tail twitched as he looked at his mother.
  "Can't you just be proud of me? I'm going to become one of the greatest leaders known to the clans!" Tigerpaw growled.
  Blackstorm sighed, looking away. "I am proud of you, leader or no leader. Just don't get ahead of yourself."
  "Meeting dismissed." Drizzlestar suddenly yowled, jumping down from the Hightree.
  Tigerpaw watched as Blackstorm walked away to the warriors den.
  "Your mother's right, you know." Tigerpaw looked at Hazelpaw as she began talking. "I know we're 'destined' to become leaders and all, but you have to remember that you can also live a normal life too."
  Tigerpaw nodded. "I know Blackstorm just wants what's best for me. But believe me when I say that being leader is all I want."

  "No! Keep your tail tucked in!" Drizzlestar snapped, watching Hazelpaw and Tigerpaw train from a rock. "When your tail is tucked in, your enemy can't tug it! Try again!"
  Tigerpaw grumbled in protest, but didn't speak. He stood up on his hind legs, his tail tucked between his legs. He batted at thin air with his front paws before landing face first in the snow.
  Hazelpaw laughed as Tigerpaw got to his paws.
  "I hate leafbare." Tigerpaw growled.
  "That doesn't mean we will stop training. The time is close." Drizzlestar mewed. "The first gathering after leafbare is over, is when you will play the Pin Battle to get the clans."
  "I know, I know." Tigerpaw sighed. "Since I'm destined to be leader."
  Drizzlestar shook her head. "Fine. We'll return to camp and you can join a hunting patrol instead."
  Tigerpaw's eyes lit up. "Yes! A break, finally!"
  "I don't know if I would consider hunting a break, but okay." Hazelpaw purred.
  Tigerpaw smirked, slowly walking towards the camp. Finally, he raced away, calling over his shoulder to her. "I'll raced you back to camp!"

  Tigerpaw followed Blackstorm and Flamepelt into the forest, Hazelpaw beside him. He couldn't help but notice how tired Blackstorm looked.
  "We'll split up to cover more ground." Blackstorm said, yawning. "Meet here when you're done."
  Tigerpaw walked away from the patrol, sniffing the air. He smiled, scenting a mouse nearby. He dropped into a hunting crouch and stalked towards his prey, not making a sound on the snow. Suddenly, the mouse raced away as a cat came racing out of the undergrowth. His fur bristled but once he realized it was Hazelpaw, he calmed down.
  "Tigerpaw, it's your mother. She collapsed in the forest. Flamepelt brought her back to camp but I came here to tell you." Hazelpaw panted.
  Tigerpaw immediately bolted back toward home, almost slipping on some ice. He burst into camp and to the medicine cat's den, finally stopping to breath.
  Shadowpaw was at Blackstorm's side, looking at Tigerpaw as he entered the den.
  "Don't worry, she's alright." Shadowpaw said. "She just needs some rest. She's been working very hard to help the clan."
  Tigerpaw nodded and lyed down beside his mother. Resting his head on her shoulders.
  Tigerpaw closed his eyes. "I'm just glad that she's okay."