A dark storm raged overhead as angry whispers broke a peaceful silence. Pairs of eyes gleamed from the shadows and claws unsheathed. Remaining light of the moon gave the sharp tips a glint similar to that of a cat's eye. As sneaky shadows edged toward the thornbush, hisses of fury were silenced beyond the border. A young she-cat looked around hesitantly as she attempted to tug herself from a thornbush, knowing a battle was about to begin.
Glancing solemnly at a golden tabby tom, Dovewing flinched as his amber eyes grew cold. Lionblaze was clearly not enthusiastic about what was about to happen, nor did she blame him. She had been sneaking around ShadowClan territory again, in desperate hope of meeting with Tigerheart once more. He never showed up now, Dovewing recalled, and he always avoided her at Gatherings.
"So, have you come to rescue this invader?" A dark hiss startled Dovewing and her blue eyes widened with shock as Tigerheart slid from the bushes, facing the opposing ThunderClan cats. Behind him, Dawnpelt's orange eyes burned with hatred and many other ShadowClan cats swarmed behind the two.
Seeing no point in hiding once more, Lionblaze strode calmly out into the marshy clearing. He flicked his bushy tail as a signal and Cloudtail padded up to his side, followed by Thornclaw, Brackenfur and Cinderheart. Lionblaze evenly met Tigerheart's gaze.
"I wish to settle this without a battle." he admitted steadily. Dovewing flinched as Tigerheart lashed his tail in fury. There was no way that this would end without bloodshed. Her pelt burned with shame as Lionblaze glanced angrily at her. Brackenfur's gaze followed his, as well as Thornclaw's, but Cloudtail and Cinderheart kept their focus fixed on the ShadowClan cats.
Without warning, Tigerheart launched himself at Lionblaze. ShadowClan cats swarmed into the marsh, diving at the small ThunderClan patrol. Dovewing struggled in the thornbush, but the thorns had caught her. Lionblaze suddenly yowled in fury and Dovewing snapped her focus to the middle of the battle. What she was seeing shocked her.
Lionblaze was pinned down by the cat Dovewing had loved. Tigerheart's long, curved claws were sinking into the furious warrior's neck and his hind legs kicked viciously so that they tore out large clumps of golden tabby fur. Dawnpelt swerved, dodging an angry Cinderheart, and clawed Lionblaze's eyes.
Dovewing gasped in horror as she stared at the blood rapidly flowing from Lionblaze's neck. As moments dragged on, Tigerheart released his hold of the dying warrior and sat back calmly. He fixed his cold, ambitous gaze on Dovewing. She flinched as he flicked his tail to the dead warrior.
"Lionblaze is dead. You will follow shortly."
Glancing solemnly at a golden tabby tom, Dovewing flinched as his amber eyes grew cold. Lionblaze was clearly not enthusiastic about what was about to happen, nor did she blame him. She had been sneaking around ShadowClan territory again, in desperate hope of meeting with Tigerheart once more. He never showed up now, Dovewing recalled, and he always avoided her at Gatherings.
"So, have you come to rescue this invader?" A dark hiss startled Dovewing and her blue eyes widened with shock as Tigerheart slid from the bushes, facing the opposing ThunderClan cats. Behind him, Dawnpelt's orange eyes burned with hatred and many other ShadowClan cats swarmed behind the two.
Seeing no point in hiding once more, Lionblaze strode calmly out into the marshy clearing. He flicked his bushy tail as a signal and Cloudtail padded up to his side, followed by Thornclaw, Brackenfur and Cinderheart. Lionblaze evenly met Tigerheart's gaze.
"I wish to settle this without a battle." he admitted steadily. Dovewing flinched as Tigerheart lashed his tail in fury. There was no way that this would end without bloodshed. Her pelt burned with shame as Lionblaze glanced angrily at her. Brackenfur's gaze followed his, as well as Thornclaw's, but Cloudtail and Cinderheart kept their focus fixed on the ShadowClan cats.
Without warning, Tigerheart launched himself at Lionblaze. ShadowClan cats swarmed into the marsh, diving at the small ThunderClan patrol. Dovewing struggled in the thornbush, but the thorns had caught her. Lionblaze suddenly yowled in fury and Dovewing snapped her focus to the middle of the battle. What she was seeing shocked her.
Lionblaze was pinned down by the cat Dovewing had loved. Tigerheart's long, curved claws were sinking into the furious warrior's neck and his hind legs kicked viciously so that they tore out large clumps of golden tabby fur. Dawnpelt swerved, dodging an angry Cinderheart, and clawed Lionblaze's eyes.
Dovewing gasped in horror as she stared at the blood rapidly flowing from Lionblaze's neck. As moments dragged on, Tigerheart released his hold of the dying warrior and sat back calmly. He fixed his cold, ambitous gaze on Dovewing. She flinched as he flicked his tail to the dead warrior.
"Lionblaze is dead. You will follow shortly."