Chapter Text
Bluestar shifted in her nest, she couldn't sleep. So many worries flooded her, about Tigerclaw, about Brokentail. She wouldn't admit it, but she was a bit suspicious of Tigerclaw ever since Fireheart suggested that he killed Redtail and planned to kill Ravenpaw. And Brokentail? She knew that Yellowfang wouldn't let him out of her sight but he was definitely still dangerous. The blue she-cat got up from her nest and prodded over to the medicine den.
"Yellowfang?"
The fluffy, old, gray she-cat walked out of her nest and approached Bluestar. "What is it? You're up past moonhigh." She sat down and made sure to be quiet as Cinderpaw and Brokentail were still sleeping.
Bluestar sighed, "I just can't sleep. All these worries, y'know...?" She leaned against Yellowfang and wrapped her tail around the bigger she-cat. "I do have one question I've been wanting to ask though..."
Yellowfang cocked her head to the side, "Yes?"
"How come you spared Brokentail?" The ThunderClan leader saw that she took the medicine cat by surprise.
"O-oh, I just couldn't bring myself to kill him. He is my son, Bluestar..." She lowered her head and turned away from Bluestar.
*Her...son? I thought medicine cats couldn't have kits.* Bluestar then realized how hypocritical she was about Yellowfang's situation. She sighed, maybe she could tell Yellowfang about her forbidden kits as well. "I'm really sorry about how cruel he turned out to be."
The grumpy she-cat began to tear up slightly. "I just...wish he was a better cat. And the fact he killed his own father doesn't make it any better. I guess all of his cruelty was just StarClan's way of punishing me." She then leaned into Bluestar. "Enough about that...do you want to share anything? It's times like these we can get things off of our chests."
"Yes, actually. When I was still a warrior, I had kits with a tom from RiverClan. His name was Oakheart, a beautiful and strong cat he was. Two of my kits are...still alive in RiverClan, Mistyfoot and Stonefur. I deeply regret the night I went and gave them to Oakheart. And all for being leader..." *There was really no other choice unless I wanted to watch them die.* She thought painfully. Yellowfang looked at her thoughtfully.
"You must have made a hard decision." Yellowfang remarked, she yawned, visibly tired.
Bluestar nodded. "It...was, we should be resting now. I have duties in the morning." The two she-cats said their goodbyes as they went to sleep. *Yellowfang is so kind and wise, being around her alone is just comforting.* The leader thought, curling up in her nest.
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"Bluestar..." She heard a voice whisper from outside her den. It sounded like Fireheart. She must've slept too long, Firestar never came into her den in the morning.
"Mmf, I'm awake now." Bluestar responded drowsily. "Just still a bit tired." Fireheart nodded in understanding. She slowly got up and outside of her den and watched Tigerclaw form patrols.
"Ah, you're finally awake." He grunted, turning to face the leader. "We should prepare to be questioned at the gathering." Tigerclaw meowed, "The leaders will find out that we're sheltering Brokentail." He added, walking away from Bluestar to Longtail and Darkstripe. The ThunderClan leader sighed, she knew it was inevitable, being questioned and such.
"I hope there's not too much trouble tonight..."
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"What are you planning to do about Brokentail?" Whitestorm asked his leader nervously as the clan walked to the gathering.
"We won't say anything." She replied bluntly. "This issue is none of their concern." She climbed up to the high rock to start up the gathering. "ThunderClan has little news to share tonight. We have two new warriors, Sandstorm and Dustpelt, they shall serve their clan with integrity. Newleaf will come with good hunting." As soon as Bluestar had finished, Nightstar butted in.
"Isn't there something else ThunderClan would like to share?" He sneered.
"I don't know what you mean, Nightstar..."
"Don't lie to us now, I heard one of your apprentices gossiping!" Nightstar continued on with his accusation. "Cats of all clans, ThunderClan is sheltering Brokenstar!" Hisses of anger rose from the crowd of cats below. Tallstar spoke in response.
"Bluestar, i-is this true?! After everything he did to WindClan- to all the clans!" The WindClan leader was quite angry at what Nightstar had proposed.
"Yes, it's true." Bluestar remained calm, she couldn't lose her cool. Yowls of angry cats split the air. "Brokentail and his rogues attacked our camp, and we fought them off. He is an old, defeated cat who is no danger to anyone. Would you let him starve in this forest?"
"No death is too cruel for him!" Nightstar shouted.
"We can never forgive him, Bluestar!" Tallstar added.
Crookedstar calmly faced Bluestar, "Bluestar, why have you done this?"
The ThunderClan leader sighed angrily and responded. "The warrior code tells us to show compassion-"
"Compassion?!" Nightstar screeched, "Don't tell us tales for kits. What compassion did Brokenstar ever show? You must drive him out!"
"Don't tell me how to run my clan." Bluestar hissed.
"If you keep on with this, you can expect trouble from ShadowClan." Nightstar stated fiercely.
"And WindClan." Tallstar's tail swished frustratedly.
"Enough!" Bluestar's voice pierced the air. "ThunderClan does not take orders from other clans!"
Clouds covered the moon, signaling the anger of StarClan. The gathering ended on a terrible note. As the leaders went back to their clans, Nightstar spoke his final words, "Tonight's gathering is over. But we won't forget what you've done."
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"I cannot believe them. Yowling on about how a cat should suffer!" Yellowfang was letting Bluestar talk to her in the medicine den. It seemed she was very upset about last night.
"Bluestar," The medicine began, "You have to let it go. One thing I know for sure though, is they will be planning to attack." Her face turned into a serious expression.
"I know, I just-" Yellowfang had begged Bluestar to get some rest. Her mind was all over the place. Soon after she went back to her den, she heard pawsteps approaching. "Hello Fireheart. Are Mistyfoot's kits okay?" She watched as the orange tom nodded. "I owe you an...apology for the other day." Fireheart sat down beside her and listened to Bluestar as she told him her story about her kits.
"I'm so sorry you had to do that. I can promise you I won't tell any cat, Bluestar." She nodded gratefully as Fireheart exited her den.
As she was beginning to settle down, she couldn't seem to get her thoughts away from one cat. The one cat who had made sure she was alright and stable. Yellowfang. *What is this feeling?* She thought, realizing there was only one possible answer. Love.