Longstar AU — Chapter Eleven
It was one night from the battle with BloodClan, the kits had been trained to fight as much as possible, as well as Cinderpath. Their hope was that BloodClan wouldn’t breach their camp with kits and elders inside, but they had no reason to believe they wouldn’t.
He was terrified.
What if he died? What if kits and elders were hurt in this battle, Cinderpath, Swiftflame..
Could they really take that chance?
He was snapped out of his thoughts as Blizzardspots approached him, a soft expression across her face. She didn’t look happy, but she didn’t look upset, either.
“Hey,” She mewed gently. “Firestar asked me to do a little hunting for the elders and kits.. did you want to come with?” A glint of fear sparkled in her yellow eyes. She didn’t want to go out alone.
“Sure,” Longtail rose to his paws. He followed the white bouncy she-cat out of the camp, the sun bouncing off her white fur beautifully. Maybe.. this was his chance to tell her what exactly was on his mind. “Hey, uh.. Blizzardspots?”
The she-cat popped out of the tall grass, gazing at him with a puzzled expression, “What’s up?”
“I.. uh..” The words were on the tip of his tongue, but as his ears flattened, he recoiled. “Nevermind. It’s nothing.” He turned away with a flick of his tail, padding farther into the forest.
He approached a squirrel, digging around in the dirt. He dropped into a hunters crouch, slowly creeping toward the creature. He soon leapt at the squirrel, digging his sharp claws into its sides.
“Nice!” Blizzardspots smiled, holding a small gray mouse in her jaws, “Did you want to talk to me about something? Like, seriously, you can. Anything, Longtail, your my friend.”
“No, it’s okay,” He said through gritted teeth. “Let’s get a bit more prey and take this to the elders and queens.”
Longtail nestled into his mossy nest, his long tail curled over his muzzle. He closed his eyes in the dim light, though he felt a pelt brush against his.
It was already late into the night, though they were just getting to sleep, himself and Blizzardspots. They'd stayed out hunting most of the day, collecting what prey they could.
Blizzardspots slid into her nest, curling up into a tight ball. She looked to be shaking a little bit, and it wasn’t from the night cold.
“Blizzardspots?” Longtail said in a low voice, doing his best not to wake the other warriors around them. “Is everything okay?..”
“N-no,” The she-cat quivered. “I’m so, so scared. W-what if.. what if you die tomorrow? I don’t know what I’d do around here without you.. and, w-what if I die, Longtail? What happens to me? Would StarClan accept me?..”
He paused, “Of course they would,” He scooted a bit closer to the she-cat, resting his paw atop of hers. “You're a warrior of ThunderClan no matter where you came from. Look at Firestar, he was once a kittypet, now he’s been accepted as a leader by StarClan. And if I die.. I’d be waiting for you in StarClan.”
“Y-you would?” Blizzardspots sniffled, brushing her falling tears away with a paw.
“I would,” A soft smile crossed his face.
“Thank you, Longtail.” Blizzardspots gave a gentle smile, curling back up in her nest. He did the same, falling into a deep sleep.
“ThunderClan,” Firestar's voice echoed through the camp. “Today is the day we take on BloodClan. RiverClan and ShadowClan have agreed to fight alongside us, as well as WindClan. No matter what happens today, we will forever be cats protected by StarClan. We fight as one, and we fight with the power of StarClan beside us.” He gazed down at his clanmates with determination in his green eyes.
Longtail knew all that was true. And he would fight for his clan til the very end. A loyalty unwavering.
Firestar leapt down from the High Rock, padding out of the camp with his clan behind him. Darkears and Mousefur padded on his sides, as well as Blizzardspots and Runningwind. The group rushed after the rest of the clan.
Longtail narrowed his eyes as fourtrees came into view, the other clans, along with BloodClan settled inside. The clan cats and BloodClan cats alike bared their teeth and showed their claws, ready to fight for their home.
“Last chance to back out,” Scourge growled.
“Never,” Firestar growled back, launching himself at the small tom. The rest of LionClan followed after his lead, taking on one or two BloodClan cats at a time.
Longtail hurled himself at a brown tabby she-cat, her pelt already torn up with scars. He barreled her over, digging his claws into her sides. Though, she wasn’t helpless, kicking him off with her hind legs, dragging those claws down his stomach.
He slashed his claws at the she-cats muzzle, blood dripping down her muzzle. She flattened her ears, scampering out of the hollow. He turned his attention on a black and white tom, looking similar to that of the deputy, Bone. Longtail almost jumped at him, but saw that Bone had Firestar pinned to the ground. His eyes narrowed once more, leaping at the BloodClan deputy and knocking him off the ThunderClan leader.
“Thank you,” Firestar murmured, out of breath from fighting. All Longtail gave was a simple nod, engaging back in battle with another BloodClan tom.
“Firestar!” Graystripe yowled, rushing toward his mate. Soon enough Sandstorm joined him, her ears flattened tight to her skull.
Longtail rose to his paws, gazing at the ThunderClan leader. He’s a leader, Longtail thought, though his ears flattened. But.. last time Scourge killed someone.. He thought back to Tigerstar, who had lost all nine lives at once from the BloodClan leader.
But he was soon proven wrong, Firestar rising to his paws.
“What..? But, how—I-I killed you!” Scourge stumbled backwards, “You should be dead!”
“I am a leader blessed by StarClan,” Firestar hissed, eyes narrowed to slits. “And therefore I am given nine lives. That is where you are weak,” He growled. “But I understand where you're coming from, Scourge.”
“What?” Graystripe hissed, “He tried to take the forest, Firestar!”
“I understand that,” Firestar glanced around at the BloodClan cats in the hollow. “But they are cats, just like us. And Scourge is their leader. He was only looking out for their well-being, much like us with our cats,” He flicked his tail. “I'd like to offer you a place in ThunderClan, for your cats, if you'd take it.”
“.. I—“ Scourge stammered, staring at his paws, “That would nice, Firestar.” He whispered, looking back up at the ThunderClan leader.
“I’m not joining some mouse-hearted clan,” A black and white spotted tom growled, earning a nod from another tom that looked similar. “I'll take over BloodClan to replace our mouse-hearted leader.” He hissed, earning approval from plenty of other cats. The cats who wanted to leave followed these two cats, padding back to twoleg place.
“I'll come,” The black and white tom they'd come to know as Bone padded up behind Scourge, nuzzling the tom.
“Me as well,” A black tabby tom padded up behind them. “I’m Midnight, by the way.” He flicked his tail in greeting.
“Than come along,” Firestar dipped his head. “We have warrior ceremonies to conduct. And.. I must name a new deputy,” He took a deep breath. “Come.”
They all trotted back to camp, the three new cats settling beneath the High Rock.
“These cats are joining our clan not as outsiders, or enemies, but as new friends and clanmates.” He smiled down at the three tom's, “From now on, Scourge you will be known as Tinyfrost.” He mewed, “And Bone as Bonespot. Midnight will be known as Blacksight. We welcome them as warriors of ThunderClan.”
“Tinyfrost! Bonespot! Blacksight!”
“And one more thing,” Firestar continued, silencing the crowd. “Whitestorm has passed to StarClan.” He mewed solemnly, hanging his head. “So I must name a new deputy. And I could think of no better cat, one of my strongest and most trusted warriors.”
Graystripe, probably. They’ve been best friends since they were apprentices, Longtail thought with a flick of his tail.
“Longtail,” Firestar called his name, beckoning him forward. His green eyes stretched wide, padding forward into the clearing. “We have had our ups and downs. When I first joined the clan you had opposed so, though, you have learned to trust me as a warrior and a leader. And I have learned to trust you, as well.” He smiled, “Under the eyes of StarClan, do you accept this position as deputy, and protect and defend your clan with your life?”
“I would be honored to, Firestar.”
“Than under the watchful eyes of StarClan I name Longtail as the new deputy of ThunderClan.” Firestar meowed.
“Longtail! Longtail!” The clan cheered his name loud as can be. Finally, he felt he was a trusted and respected warrior, and like he was part of his clan once more.
