Rising Tides - 1#Broken code (Warriors Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

Tidepaw padded back and forth in front of the medicine den. It was two days after Berrywhisker was killed during his silent vigil after his ceremony. His own littermate, Sagewish, had found him when returning from the half-moon meeting. Since then, the she-cat was devastated. She had reported the disappearence of Scorchtail and Lionstar had sent a patrol to find him. The patrol has returned by dawn and every single cat who's returned was badly injured, and none of them was able to report yet.
Sagewish was going from medicine den to the medicine store and back, trying to treat every patrolling cat. At last, Petalspots and Flamepaw emerged from the den, the senior warrior limping on three legs. The muscular ginger tom bore some deep scratches, but compared to the others, he was barely hurt. Petalspots' patched fur was parted on his side by a large scratch, and his leg was so badly injured that Tidepaw was doubting that the warrior will ever be able to use it again. Still, he made his way to his leader's den to report. Once they vanished, Tidepaw realised for the very first time that there was an intruder in their camp. Needlewhisker, the pale Shadowclan warrior, was encircled by a few Riverclan warriors and apprentices, including Leafpaw.
Tidepaw padded toward his sister, who was listening closely to Needlewhisker.
'What's this all about?' Tidepaw asked her in a hushed voice. 'Why is she here?'
Leafpaw turned her head to him. 'She was brought back with the patrol. She insists to keep quiet until our warriors report.'
Tidepaw opened his jaws to reply, but before he could, Lionstar's yowl cut off all the cats' mews.
'Cats of Riverclan!' Lionstar shouldered his way into the very center of the crowd, next to Needlewhisker. 'Petalspots and Flamepaw have reported the patrol. Surprisingly, they were not attacked by Windclan, who now was threatening the most. They were attacked by Shadowclan, on the very border.'
At these words, warriors started yowling and growling at Needlewhisker, but Lionstar lashed his tail to stop them.
'Needlewhisker is not to blame! She fought on our side when the battle broke out. What surprises me, is the fact that Shadowclan said they scented Riverclan scent in one of the dens the other night. And that they have found a warrior either badly hurt or dead. They swore revenge, and so attacked our patrol. Needlewhisker was included, but for some reason she turned her back on Shadowclan to defend us.' Lionstar spoke calmly, and looked at Needlewhisker. 'Why did you do that?'
Needlewhisker's pale green eyes blinked slowly. 'I wanted to leave Shadowclan for good. Those cats have gone insane!' She hissed, shutting her eyes tight. With a long sigh, she opened them. 'Hollowstar is losing respect of some of the warriors, and Icestep is gaining. He is threatening to challenge Hollowstar for leadership. And if he refuses..'
Riverclan cats gasped with shock. 'But Icestep is your father!' A cat shouted from the crowd. 'He is a noble warrior!' Came from another one.
'I know he is, and that's what drives me further from him. He is acting weird, and so I fled as soon as possible. I saw the attack as a chance, because I wanted to join you. I want to stay with Silvertuft.' At her last words, she turned to the silver tabby tom sitting nearest. Her eyes shone with affection for him, and his reflected the same.
Lionstar dipped his head. 'Very well. You may stay with us, but if I see any kind of disloyalty, I will banish you without mercy.' 
Silvertuft's eyes opened widely and he rushed to his mate. Together, tails twinned, they made their way toward the lake.

Tidepaw shouldered his father as they neared the Thunderpath that separated Riverclan and Shadowclan's territory. The two toms were followed by Brambleheart and Whiskerfur brought up the rear. Tideclaw signalled to the white tom to renew the markers on one side, while he renewed the other. Tidepaw stayed where he was, with Brambleheart close by. Once the patrol was complete again, all of a sudden, they heart an agonizing wail. Whole patrol ran toward the small Thunderpath with Brambleheart far ahead of the others. After a while of silence, Tidepaw heard Brambleheart's shriek behind a bush. The patrol ran toward the sound and right in front of the Thunderpath, they froze with terror. On the black, acrid-scenting path, a gray heap of fur lay motionless. Brambleheart sat beside a bush, her bushy tail covering another gray creature.
'She's dead!' Brambleheart wailed, her amber eyes wide with dismay. Tidepaw walked toward the cream tabby she-cat and sat so near their pelts brushed. But when he looked at the gray creature, he gasped. Hidden behind her bushy tail was a dark tabby tom, about Tidepaw's age, wailing with green eyes wide and pleading.
'Freckle! Wake up! I need you!'  The gray tom was desperately crying for his mother.
Brambleheart bent and gave the small tom a few comforting licks. 'You are safe now.' She murmured softly.
Whiskerfur exchanged a doubtfull glance with Tideclaw, and at last, the deputy stepped forward. 'Who are you, kit?'
The gray tom let out another wail. 'I am Thistle.' He meowed. 'What are you going to do with me?'
Tideclaw looked at Brambleheart. 'We will take you with us. Our medicine cat will take care of you. Once you are fit again, our leader will decide.'
Brambleheart blinked gratefully at the deputy and bent to lift the tom to carry him with them.