Erin Hunter - Tigerclaw’s Fury

THUNDERCLAN LEADER BLUESTARblue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around her muzzle DEPUTY FIREHEARThandsome ginger tom APPRENTICE, CLOUDPAW MEDICINE CAT YELLOWFANGold dark gray she-cat with a broad, flattened face, formerly of ShadowClan APPRENTICE, CINDERPELT WARRIORS (toms, and she-cats without kits) WHITESTORMbig white tom APPRENTICE, BRIGHTPAW DARKSTRIPEsleek black-and-gray tabby tom APPRENTICE, FERNPAW LONGTAILpale tabby tom with dark black stripes APPRENTICE, SWIFTPAW RUNNINGWINDswift tabby tom MOUSEFURsmall dusky-brown she-cat APPRENTICE, THORNPAW BRACKENFURgolden-brown tabby tom DUSTPELTdark brown tabby tom APPRENTICE, ASHPAW SANDSTORMpale ginger she-cat APPRENTICES (more than six moons old, in training to become warriors) SWIFTPAWblack-and-white tom CLOUDPAWlong-haired white tom BRIGHTPAWshe-cat, white with ginger splotches THORNPAWgolden-brown tabby tom FERNPAWpale gray with darker flecks, she-cat, pale green eyes ASHPAWpale gray with darker flecks, tom, dark blue eyes QUEENS (she-cats expecting or nursing kits) FROSTFURbeautiful white coat and blue eyes BRINDLEFACEpretty tabby GOLDENFLOWERpale ginger coat SPECKLETAILpale tabby, and the oldest nursery queen WILLOWPELTvery pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes ELDERS (former warriors and queens, now retired) HALFTAILbig dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing SMALLEARgray tom with very small ears; the oldest tom in ThunderClan PATCHPELTsmall black-and-white tom ONE-EYEpale gray she-cat, the oldest cat in ThunderClan; virtually blind and deaf DAPPLETAILonce-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a lovely dappled coat SHADOWCLAN LEADER NIGHTSTARold black tom DEPUTY CINDERFURthin gray tom MEDICINE CAT RUNNINGNOSEsmall gray-and-white tom WARRIORS APPLEFURmottled brown she-cat BOULDERsilver tabby tom FERNSHADEtortoiseshell she-cat FLINTFANGolder gray tom RATSCARscarred dark brown tom ROWANBERRYbrown-and-cream she-cat RUSSETFURdark ginger she-cat WETFOOTgray tabby tom APPRENTICE, OAKPAW LITTLECLOUDvery small tabby tom WHITETHROATblack tom with white chest and paws QUEENS DAWNCLOUDsmall tabby DARKFLOWERblack she-cat TALLPOPPYlong-legged light brown tabby she-cat WINDCLAN LEADER TALLSTARblack-and-white tom with a very long tail DEPUTY DEADFOOTblack tom with a twisted paw MEDICINE CAT BARKFACEshort-tailed brown tom WARRIORS MUDCLAWmottled dark brown tom APPRENTICE, WEBPAW TORNEARtabby tom APPRENTICE, TAWNYPAW ONEWHISKERbrown tabby tom APPRENTICE, WHITEPAW RUNNINGBROOKlight gray tabby she-cat QUEENS ASHFOOTgray queen MORNINGFLOWERtortoiseshell queen RIVERCLAN LEADER CROOKEDSTARhuge light-colored tabby with a twisted jaw DEPUTY LEOPARDFURunusually spotted golden tabby she-cat MEDICINE CAT MUDFURlong-haired light brown tom WARRIORS BLACKCLAWsmoky black tom APPRENTICE, HEAVYPAW STONEFURgray tom with battle-scarred ears APPRENTICE, SHADEPAWLOUDBELLYdark brown tom GRAYSTRIPElong-haired gray tom, formerly of ThunderClan QUEENS MISTYFOOTdark gray she-cat MOSSPELTtortoiseshell she-cat ELDERS GRAYPOOLthin gray she-cat with patchy fur and a scarred muzzle CATS OUTSIDE CLANSBARLEYblack-and-white tom who lives on a farm close to the forest BLACKFOOTlarge white tom with huge jet-black paws, formerly ShadowClan deputy CLAWFACEscrawny brown tom MOWGLIbrown tom with green eyes PRINCESSlight brown tabby with a distinctive white chest and paws; a kittypet RAVENPAWsleek black cat who lives on the farm with Barley SMUDGEplump, friendly black-and-white kitten who lives in a house at the edge of the forest; a kittypet SNAGhuge tabby tom STUMPYTAILbrown tabby tom TANGLEBURRgray-and-brown she-cat, formerly of ShadowClan TIGERCLAWbig dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws, formerly of ThunderClan

Kill him!

Blind him!

Drive him out of the forest!

The wound in Tigerclaws belly pulsed with agony, and he felt warm, sticky blood pooling beneath his paws. His Clanmates furious words seemed to be coming from a long way off, as if he were underwater, cocooned in peaceful cold. You lost! screeched a voice inside his head. Beaten by kittypets and fools! Tigerclaw felt his lip curl up in a snarl. I lost this battle, he conceded silently. But for as long as there is blood in my veins, I will not give up.

Tigerclaw, Bluestar meowed, have you anything to say in your defense? The ThunderClan leaders blue-gray fur was streaked with bloodTigerclaws as well as her ownand her eyes were dull and unfocused. Tigerclaw felt a thrill of satisfaction that his actions, his careful plans, had left her shattered and flailing inside. He knew a broken cat when he saw one; this was the end of Bluestars leadership, even if he hadnt managed to take her last lives. The thought numbed the pain in his belly and gave strength to his trembling legs.

Defend myself to you, you gutless excuse for a warrior? he hissed. What sort of a leader are you? Keeping the peace with other Clans. Helping them! You barely punished Fireheart and Graystripe for feeding RiverClan, and you sent them to fetch WindClan home! I would have never shown such kittypet softness. I would have brought back the days of TigerClan. I would have made ThunderClan great!

And how many cats would have died for it? Bluestar replied softly. She shook herself, then lifted her head. If you have nothing else to say, then I sentence you to exile, she declared. You will leave ThunderClan territory now, and if any cat sees you here after sunrise tomorrow, they have my permission to kill you.

Kill me? Tigerclaw echoed. Id like to see any of them try.

Fireheart beat you! Graystripe yowled.

Fireheart. Tigerclaw slowly turned his head to look at the ginger kittypet. A warrior name will never make you forestborn, no matter what your Clanmates tell you! Cross my path again, you stinking furball, and well see whos the stronger.

Fireheart sprang up, tail lashing, even though one of his eyes was swollen shut from a blow from Tigerclaws paw. Any time, Tigerclaw, he spat.