Raggedstar nestled into the clump of reeds and bracken. His jaws parted, taking in scents of the forest. A full moon glimmered over his head. He rested momentarily; then he rose on powerful legs, and padded onward.
The night scents filled his nose. Prey rustled in the fronds. It was a serene moment, one that Raggedstar frequently took time to appreciate; unusual, for the leader of ShadowClan, to take delight in the calm serenity of the forest at night. He did not care. No cat would question his motives. He was still a fierce leader.
As he padded on, he shut his eyes, allowing his paws to carry him along.
He came to the ridge. Tussocks of grass sprayed from the nooks in the rock. Trees swayed in a gentle evening breeze. The view was ravishing from this vantage point; Raggedstar paused, and sat on his haunches. The wind ruffled his fur. His scent glandes filled with succulent fragrances. The grass tickled his pads.
This was the reason he lived.
He spent a moment longer on the ridge, then stood up and padded away. He'd been gone long enough, and his Clan would begin to wonder where he'd disappeared to. It would be an indignity if some cat were to happen across him now, sitting idly in the ferns. He had a reputation, after all.
Then a noise caught his ear.
Raggedstar stopped to listen. His ears pricked attentively, angled forward, straining for a sound. He detected a faint rustling just ahead, as though something were moving through the growth...
He padded one speculative step forward.
A noise came behind him. A twig snapping. A rush of cold air.
Raggedstar whirled around, hackles raised for danger, but it was too late. A bulk of matted brown hair landed on top of him, flattening him to the ground, pushing the air out of his chest, and a pair of cruel talons latched onto his throat.
Most alarming, a familiar scent reached his nasals.
"Brokentail?" He gasped, his muzzle pressed into the dirt.
The weight on his shoulders increased, as though his attacker was leaning in, and sharp, deadly claws sunk into his flesh.
"Father," said Brokentail. "Know it is I who killed you," he hissed.
Resolve flushed through Raggedstar. Pure, red-hot fury.
He forced his son off his shoulders. With a yowl he wriggled free of Brokentail's grasp, and leapt to his paws, the hair on his back tingling.
Brokentail attacked him again.
Raggedstar was barrelled over before he could respond. He felt claws dig into his pelt again, and squirmed beneath the powerful grappling arms. He slashed with a paw, but his mark was missed.
Brokentail caterwauled in anger.
His son lashed him with furious blows. Raggedstar tried to dodge the flurry of attacks, but was too slow. Dizziness overcame him as each lash was met, striking him across the muzzle and head; blood welled his vision.
Staggering, Raggedstar sauntered backward.
Brokentail attacked for the final time.
Raggedstar fell onto his haunches again. Brokentail leapt at him. Raggedstar did everything he could to keep those horrible, snapping jaws away from his chest, although that meant sacrificing his sides and flank to Brokentail's claws... Before a heartbeat passed, his flank stung and bled from dozens of scratches, and Brokentail did not relent. He continued to assault his helpless father, raking him down.
Soon his blood welled under his paws, and Raggedstar slipped under his very own blood.
Crashing to the ground he spared a single, wistful glance at his son.
Perhaps Brokentail's eyes should have held remorse. Guilt for the terrible thing he'd done. But they were darker than the night sky, and screamed with anger and fury and death.
That is not my son.
Raggedstar allowed that thought to compensate his shattered soul, as he stared into Brokentail's dark empty eyes as the fallen warrior bent down to bite his neck.
Whipped this up in less than an hour. Just an idea I had. Thanks for reading! :3
