Chapter 24

Fang watched as Thornshade limped across the barren forest landscape. The injuries Aspenpaw's father had given him were evidently quite sore. Brackenflight kept pace with them, staring distractedly into the mountains beyond.

"Why don't we stop here?" she asked, gesturing to a clearing just out of hearing range of Aspenpaw and Duskstar.

"Sure," Thornshade replied, sitting down, and beginning to wash his pelt.

Fang sat down as well. Brackenflight turned, and with a quick word of explanation, that she was going to scout a little ahead, set off in the direction of the mountains. Fang turned towards them as her brown tabby tail flicked out of view.

They had nearly reached the base of one of them, which formally marked the end of the sort of landscape he was used to. From his time in the Midnights, he had heard stories of what the mountain territory was like; all sorts of hostile animals, threats of avalanches and snowstorms, not to mention the cats up there.

Fang couldn't shake the premonition that they were walking into some sort of trap. He could feel a squirming sensation in his belly, perhaps Thistleheart growing excited, which grew stronger and stronger with each pawstep. He hadn't told any of the other cats; getting to the mountains was a necessary goal, and any of them would be willing to be captured. He also couldn't help but wonder whether he would see Claw, and the rest of the Midnights there.

Thornshade let out a hoarse cough, and Fang turned his head towards him. The mountain cat was bringing up a furball. As soon as it passed, he returned to his licking. As the silence drew on, Fang couldn't help but ask.

"Thornshade?"

"Hm?"

"You said you lived with Thistleheart, and I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about what to expect."

Thornshade tilted his head to one side, almost like the way an eagle did when it surveyed its prey. Then, he turned towards the mountains.

"I know of her, Fang, but I don't know that much about her."

This response surprised Fang, as he knew Thistleheart to be the leader of whatever twisted movement against non-clan cats was brewing from the peaks of the mountains. He waited patiently for Thornshade to continue.

"I was brought there before she was," he explained. "About a year ago now. Back then CoalClan, that's what we called ourselves, was quite small. Maybe a bit over a dozen members.

"Coalfang was our leader. He was quite young, but intelligent and knowledgeable in the skills of manipulation. For a long time it seemed as though each quarter moon he brought in a poor and unfortunate cat. 'Rescued' them, he claimed. Said in such a way that made it seem like a choice, that they really ought to owe him their lives and should help support him.

Fang thought this was quite interesting. If he had been saved by a cat as insistent as Coalfang, perhaps he too would have joined up with him. What remained of his anger and distrust towards Thornshade was slowly evaporating.

But the Dawn of the Claw, a small voice whispered in the back of Fang's thoughts. He delivered it, didn't he? Does that make him the reason Claw was taken?

It's Thistleheart's fault, Fang told himself. If I don't forgive him, then no cat will.

Thornshade went on. "Eventually, she arrived at the mountains. I came to learn that she had come to the mountains before. Her and Coalfang had made a deal, a plan, a scheme, that they were going to use the Dawn of the Claw, and let themselves rule everything."

"That seems really shallow," Fang commented. I thought my mother would at least have some... intelligent... reason for doing this. Something that would make her more of a cat, and less of a monster...

Thornshade watched him darkly for several moments. "Coalfang carries a lot of anger towards cats outside the clan. He was a former FalconClan cat, but they cast him out. But, if I'm being honest, I don't think even he could have expected the magnitude of Thistleheart's plans."

Thornshade seemed to be struggling to go on, as though he was reliving some sort of great horror. Gently, Fang padded over to him, and flicked his tail across Thornshade's back. The tom stiffened, but then dipped his head gratefully.

"Thistleheart started off alright. She genuinely seemed to be wanting to do some good, or what we in CoalClan thought of as good. But the more time she spent with that cursed flower, away from any other cat, the more enraptured with ambition and corruption she became."

A shudder passed across Thornshade's spine. "She lost connections with all cats, and all she came to love was this flower. She thought the world would be simpler without family, friends, and with her ruling it all. So she joined forces with CoalClan, and that's what they've been doing."

Fang nodded slowly. In a way, he had been fearful that he bore too many similarities to Thistleheart. They both looked almost identical, and he could feel a similar urge to stop the clans from hurting other cats. But the more he learned about her, the more he cringed at her cruel actions. He would do anything for his friends.

I'm glad that she passed me off to the Midnights and Robin, Fang thought. How would I have turned out if... He stared at Thornshade as the tom sat rigidly in the frost-tinged field. Fang realised that he had no words to express how he was feeling, no sort of comfort to offer besides her presence.

So he merely sat beside Thornshade. The two of them stared out at the mountains, and the impossible task that loomed before them. They listened to the quiet howl of wind, and watched as the sun set below the peaks, giving way to an dark auburn dusk. Eventually, Brackenflight returned, carrying a scrawny shrew.

"Not much out there," she commented. "I didn't stay for long, I had to get back before it got dark out."

Fang nodded. "See anything... different?"

Brackenflight shuddered, sliding over towards him and Thornshade. "Well, there was this weird white animal, with spikes jutting out of its head. It was jumping along the side of a cliff! I suppose that'll be one of the treats you mentioned."

Thornshade, who had previously been staring out blankly, shifted his gaze towards Brackenflight. He let out a bemused snort that seemed entirely genuine.

"A mountain goat? No, that's far from the most dangerous thing we'll meet up there!" He purred faintly. "Mountain goats are more mousebrained than mice themselves are! They literally spend time on cliff faces for no reason, for StarClan's sake."

Fang purred. "That Eagleswoop cat in DawnClan sounds a lot like a mountain goat."

Brackenflight snorted, but a closed off expression suddenly flitted across his face. For a cat who acted so closed off, Thornshade had a lot of sensitivity inside of him. Fang felt sympathy for the winged cat.

"Why don't we eat?" he offered, and Brackenflight neatly sliced the vole into three equal parts.

While the three of them ate in a quiet, worried sort of silence, Fang reflected on the journey ahead, and the cats he had left behind. A lot had changed since he had been a Midnight, some for the worse, but he had made many wonderful friends along the way, and finally felt like he belonged somewhere.

That's how we'll defeat you, Thistleheart, Fang thought. You only had blind followers. You can take away my home, and my freedom, but you can never truly take away my friends.

Eventually, Fang heard the sound of crunching pawsteps. Turning around, he saw Aspenpaw coming forward. Duskstar paced, a little ways behind him.

"Hi everyone," Aspenpaw said, in an uncharacteristically nervous tone. "Meet Duskwood."

Fang didn't really know what to say as he stared up at the clan leader. Duskstar-wood looked battle-worn and experienced in a way that only a clan leader could be. He carried himself with much more maturity and weariness than Blazestar did. Fang couldn't help but feel more drawn towards this cat, than the manic clan leader they had left behind.

I hope he's okay, though... Fang wished that he hadn't left DawnClan in shambles. He clung on to the desperate hope that Blazestar had managed to get away.

"Nice to meet you all," Duskwood meowed. "I suppose you probably know who I am. It's not everyday that a singular cat leads a clan to destruction." He eyed each of them in turn. "I've told Aspenpaw this, and I'll tell you all the same thing; you should really go back."

"We would," Brackenflight muttered defiantly. "If it wasn't for all you other cats bumbling everything up."

Fang didn't think that was entirely fair, but evidently Duskwood did. His eyes grew stormy, and bitter. Behind him, Thornshade was getting to his paws, shaking bits of dirt off of his pelt.

"Then let's get going," Duskwood growled, eyes narrowed to slits. "You kits won't be fighting Thistleheart and her army of warriors alone."

Duskwood began to pad forward, looking like a leader grimly prepared to lead his clan of cats into bloody warfare. Uncomfortably, Fang glanced at Thornshade. Brackenflight let out a derisive snort as Duskwood continued to pad forward. Aspenpaw hurried up to them.

"Why aren't you going?"

"Do we even know a single thing about him?" Thornshade pointed out.

Aspenpaw lifted her chin. "I hardly know a single thing about you besides the fact that you've worked with the enemy. This is not some stranger, it's my father. And my mum, Lightsong, has been captured by them! Now come on."

For a moment, she looked as defiant and confident as a true rebel leader. Then, her tail drooped, and she dipped her head.

"Sorry. But you'll have to trust him. He knows the way."

Fang couldn't help but exchange a worried glance with Thornshade. He had felt more comfortable when the winged cat was leading the charge up to the mountains. He couldn't help but feel a certain premonition, as they were going about fighting Thistleheart entirely wrong.

"I talked with him. He's been alone a long time, but he's been trying to find allies," Aspenpaw insisted. "And he's... well, he's the sort of cat that you'd wanted to have on your side in a life or death battle."

She turned, and raced to catch up with her father. Fang followed, somewhat reluctantly, the twinges in his belly increasing as they continued on. He heard the sound of crunching undergrowth, and saw Thornshade following in his pawsteps. Brackenflight hesitated, but ran to catch up a moment later.

"Aspenpaw has really instilled confidence in me," she said drily. "I would also want a big, tough cat on my side in the middle of a battle. But that's not what we're aiming for here..."

The sky had grown dark. Duskwood evidently planned for them to reach the base of the mountains before taking a rest. Fang continued on, keeping pace with Thornshade as they followed the other two cats along.

Brackenflight says there won't be a fight... But I think we all know otherwise. With a shudder, he wondered if he would have to fight his old allies from the Midnights. This feels so wrong, but I don't know what to do. Will I have it in me to fight when the time comes?