This the sequel to A Tiger's Sight. It still takes place back in the old forest. However, we will be seeing the adventure through Hawkstripe's perspective.
Let's see what legacy Hawkstripe will leave behind.
Review and Enjoy!
A Hawk's Revenge
Chapter 1
The sunhigh sun shone brightly above the forest. Birds sang wonderful songs. Mice scuttled in the shelter of the forest roots. Squirrels raced up and around the thickest trees. Frogs croaked loudly on their lily pads, safe from all harm. Rabbits perked up in the heather as they searched for danger. Fish leisurely swam through the cold, refreshing water. Greenleaf was here and it was hot. Prey of all types looked for shelter in the shade or water. Most predators waited patiently for sunrise and sundown, when the days were cooler. Only one predator was out and about. Only one ignored the rising temperatures and buzzing insects.
A silent group paused in the shadows of the trees. Before them was the river. Beyond was the open moor. Teeth glistened as lips drew back. Claws dug into the cool earth. None were happy with the recent developments. These fur-brains were hunting on their territory. They had the audacity to demand prey from them. Eyes glanced to the large white leader. He had warned the other leader. One snorted. Some leader he was. Too old and frail to do anything about saving his starving family. Why should these cats have to bear the burden?
Voices made ears prick with excitement. Two patrols of cats appeared from the heather. Their thin bodies proclaimed constant hunger. Silent pawsteps marked skilled hunters. Rippling muscle in the shoulders and legs warned that these cats knew how to fight. Not that the hidden patrol cared. They were stronger. They were well-fed from the river's generosity. All the advantages were on their side. Several shared smug smiles. Mark another victory for their Clan.
An orange tabby tom crouched at the back of the group. His black stripes allowed him to blend perfectly with the shadows. Claws were sheathed in his white paws. Deep blue eyes were half-closed. Suddenly a huge yawn opened his white jaws. This tom was bored. This tom didn't care about anything going on. His leader flicked his tail as the Windclan cats crossed the Twoleg bridge. His Clanmates cautiously moved forward. The tom remained where he was. Casually he watched the rival Clan approach the ambush spot. It was almost time for the battle to start. A smile touched his lips. Silently he rose and approached a young, excited she-cat named Emberpaw. Her amber eyes were shining with excitement. A reddish brown tail was stiff as a tree. She didn't want to make a mistake. She didn't want to ruin the ambush.
SNAP!
Heads whirled around to find the source. Emberpaw crouched low as the orange tabby snarled at her. The Windclan cats froze. Their leader, a ginger she-cat with pale stripes and white paws, bristled. Her Clanmates followed her lead. The white leader threw back his head and yowled the order to attack. Instantly the sunlit clearing was alive with fighting. Windclan outnumbered Riverclan two to one. Riverclan had the advantage of strength and full bellies. Claws flashed in the light. Teeth bit into fur. Blood flew in all directions. Bodies hit the ground as Riverclan tackled the Windclan trespassers.
Blizzardstar snarled at the ginger she-cat, "Retreat Sunstreak! Your pathetic Clan can't hope to beat us!"
Sunstreak, deputy of Windclan, purred at Blizzardstar, "Says the leader of traitors."
Both reared in combat. Ever since the sickness, Riverclan's reputation had taken a beating. No cat trusted them. No Clan wanted to help them. Even Dapplefoot was shunned by the other medicine cats. Berrypelt had explained how Tigersight and Swiftpool had helped Thunderclan when Blizzardstar and Skychaser wouldn't. All cats had mourned when Swiftpool announced the death of his beloved mate. Many had offered condolences. None could believe their ears when Blizzardstar explained how he was forced to exile Swiftpool. Thunderclan, owing their debt to the tom, went in search of him.
And they found him…
Slaughtered outside of his home.
Windclan and Shadowclan came to pay their respects to the tom when Thunderclan buried him next to the river. Riverclan had rolled their eyes. Only two had shown up. They had come shortly after night had fallen. Neither were allowed to be there. Both were risking punishment for sneaking out. After their father's burial, Lizardstar had offered them a place in Thunderclan. The tom had declined for both of them. Riverclan was their home, regardless of their choices. But time allows wounds to heal or fester.
Sunstreak kicked Blizzardstar off and raced to aid a Clanmate in need. The cat was being attacked by Troutclaw, one of Riverclan's greatest fighters. A single blow sent him rolling away. The deputy helped her Clanmate up. Both ginger ears turned as pawsteps could be heard. She gasped as a heavy body pounced on her back. They rolled closer to the bushes. Sunstreak rolled, claws lashing out. Those claws raked through orange fur. Two paws batted at her ears. She hissed and raked her claws down one side of the cat. A growl of pain was her reward. A back paw kicked her away. The Windclan deputy landed on her paws and turned to face a charge. She froze. The tom was standing there, watching her. His deep blue eyes were emotionless. Blood raced from his scratches. Her blood coated his white paws though he never scratched her. Then the tom dipped his head, turned, and vanished into the bushes.
Troutclaw turned on the orange tabby, "What were you doing? We lost the battle because of you!"
Deep blue eyes looked up at his uncle and mentor, "Lost because of me? I fought several Windclan warriors, driving off two. Sunstreak got the best of me. If I hadn't run then she would have clawed me to pieces." The tom rose to his paws, "If anyone should be blamed, it's Emberpaw for stepping on that twig and giving us away."
"Don't you dare blame my apprentice, Hawkstripe!" Swallowtail spat.
Hawkstripe looked at the older warrior, "I was right next to her. She shifted position and stepped on a dry twig."
The small apprentice nudged her bristling mentor, "It's true, Swallowtail. The twig was beneath my paw. I stepped on it. I messed everything up."
Blizzardstar stepped past, tail running down her reddish brown side, "And next time you'll be more careful. You did fight well."
Hawkstripe sighed then smiled, "You did at that. Sorry I snapped, little one."
Emberpaw beamed up at him, "Don't worry about it, Hawkstripe!"
Blizzardstar turned to Hawkstripe with smile, "You did well with Coalsplash and Wingowl. Windclan is desperate and we underestimated how far they would go to win. This loss was no one's fault."
The orange tabby dipped his head. Then he padded away. His deep blue eyes locked on someone hiding at the back of the Clan. Her green eyes shined with worry. A smile touched his lips. His pace quickened until he reached her. A warm purr escaped her throat as they rubbed heads. The tom's tongue ran over a scratch on her tan shoulder. Someone had hurt her. Who didn't matter. No one liked her. She was the outcast. She was weak like their mother. But Hawkstripe knew that strength meant nothing. A loyal heart was worth so much more. Softly his tail drew Lightwish, his precious sister, into a hug. That kept her from seeing his narrowed gaze. How could he be a loyal warrior? How could he care for his Clanmates? All they did was mock and hurt his mother. They banished his father. None mourned for their deaths. None remembered that they had risked everything to save them. But that wasn't the end. Hawkstripe and Lightwish had grown up with no one to love them. Riverclan only cared for him now because of his strength and skill. Everyone hated his sister because she was more compassionate and loving. Lightwish was powerful warrior, a great hunter, but strongly believed that claws and teeth weren't the answer to everything. That made her an oddity. That made her a burden.
A snarl touched Hawkstripe's lips, "All they want is an excuse to bully someone."
"Will you be alright?" his sister whispered.
Hawkstripe pressed his head into her's, "Always. You know nothing can stop me." A white paw pressed into her tan paw, "I'm more worried about you. Who hurt you this time?"
"It doesn't matter. If one cat doesn't hurt me then another will. Let it go. Blizzardstar is already mad at you enough for fighting with our Clanmates," she replied.
Her brother licked her between the ears, "I'll never stop protecting you. You're all I have left to care about."
"I know," Lightwish murmured. Then she pressed into his white chest, "Oh, Hawkstripe! Did we make the right decision? Should we have joined Thunderclan instead of staying here?"
A cold smile touched Hawkstripe's lips, "If we hadn't stayed, we wouldn't be able to sabotage this Clan so much."
"So it was you that stepped on the twig?" his sister gasped, green eyes looking up into her brother's gaze.
"I didn't step on anything. Though, I may have accidentally nudged that twig under Emberpaw's shuffling feet."
"You shouldn't do such things! We're supposed to be loyal to this Clan. We can't spend every day playing a charade. If we don't belong then we should just leave."
"Keep your voice down, Lightwish. Riverclan deserves to pay for what it did to our family. You know that. I know that. Maybe I could have moved on, forgiven them, if they hadn't started hurting you. If Starclan wants me to stop then all they have to do is tell me."
"Oh Hawkstripe. Things don't work that way."
"They do in my books."
Rumblechest's voice rang out, "Hawkstripe! I need you to join a fishing patrol. Lightwish, join the Twoleg border patrol."
Both cats nodded to their deputy. Neither saw him as a grandfather. Swallowtail and Graylight weren't their grandmothers. Waterpelt, who had been killed by a fox three moons ago, was never a grandparent. They had no uncles or aunts. It was just the two of them. It would always be the two of them. Hawkstripe trotted over to Mossfoot's patrol. Lightwish fell in line behind Rainheart's border patrol. The tom frowned after his sister. Hopefully she would be safe.
That's when soft fur ran through his. A sweet scent filled his black nose. The tom padded onward without acknowledging the she-cat. He didn't care about her. If anything, he hated her like he hated every Riverclan cat. Paws raced behind him. The silver she-cat with white spots dappling her coat came to his right. Her green eyes stared at him with love. Her name was Violetleaf. She was the loveable daughter of Mintnose and Cloudjumper. Hawkstripe remembered her birth well. Mintnose had given birth two moons after Hawkstripe and his sister. The whole Clan had been excited for the birth of her and her siblings. Mentally he snarled at the thought. His claws dug into the cool earth. Those eyes refused to look at her.
Reaching the river, Hawkstripe sat down to fish. Violetleaf sat next to him. Soon her green eyes turned to the water. That's when Hawkstripe rose and walked further down the river. He wanted nothing to do with her. The tom knew that the she-cat had several suitors. He really wanted her to focus on them. Unfortunately she only loved him. That made getting rid of her harder. His claws tore through a fish, hooking it out of the water. Deep blue eyes watched the blood run over the stones. A smile touched his lips. Riverclan was wounded, growing weaker. He had been responsible for many "accidents" and lost battles. No one had died yet but Hawkstripe could care less if someone was killed. He only cared about his sister.
Everyone else was a threat.
His patrol was padding back to camp. Each cat had quite a haul. Hawkstripe, himself, had four fish. Violetleaf was beside him once again. She was carrying her three fish. A soft whimper escaped her throat as she stumbled a little. Hawkstripe kept walking onward. Waspfeather stopped beside her to see if she was alright. That was good. Let that suitor look like the perfect mate. Maybe then Violetleaf would leave him alone.
A yowl split the air. Hawkstripe froze. That had been Rainheart's call to attack. The four fish dropped to the ground. White paws flew over the ground. Black tipped, orange ears could hear the patrol on his tail. Deep blue eyes searched desperately for the border patrol. The patrol his sister was on. Like any cat in Riverclan would come to her aid. Lightwish needed him to back her up. She needed him to stand beside her. Bursting from the cover of the bushes, Hawkstripe saw the fight unfolding. The Riverclan cats were being buried under another group. The scent in his nose told him rogues. He snarled angrily. They were thin with ragged fur and covered in fleas. A white tom with large orange patches spotting his pelt was standing on the Twoleg fence. His amber eyes were cold and dark with pleasure. Not a single speck of blood was on his coat. A cold smile was on his lips. It faded a bit as Mossfoot ordered her patrol to attack.
Hawkstripe pushed the tom out of his mind. His claws raked across a gray she-cat's face. A hiss made a brown tom with a white belly think twice. Deep blue eyes desperately searched for his sister. She might need his help. He had to be there for her. He was her brother! Both eyes soon landed on her. Light tan fur was fluffed outward with rage. Claws glistened red. Green eyes flashed with determination and anger. Young Gorgepaw was underneath her. A huge black tom with pink scar cutting across his face stood opposite Lightwish. He smiled at the defensive she-cat. His white left paw stepped forward. Almost instantly Lightwish's claws tore his muzzle. Razor sharp teeth locked into his shoulder. The tom let out a thunderous yowl. Hawkstripe, paws racing over the ground, saw the white and orange tom look towards them. A snarl touched his lips before he leaped down and sprinted forward.
Gorgepaw yowled as the tom closed in, "Lightwish! Incoming!"
The light tan she-cat turned in time to see the tom leap. Then a darker form collided with it. Her brother rolled once and was on his paws. He ducked a lashing paw. Deep blue eyes narrowed as he studied his opponent. Muscles, powerful and well-built, rippled beneath his pelt. Amber eyes showed annoyance. It was as if Hawkstripe was a buzzing insect near the tom's white ears. Then the Riverclan warrior raked his upward across the tom's shoulder. A snarl of anger replaced the cold smile. They separated and crouched. Hawkstripe knew the river was several tail-lengths away. He wouldn't be able to reach it. None of his Clanmates could. This flea-bitten tom had planned his attack well. Not that it mattered to Hawkstripe. The black-striped warrior preferred hard ground beneath his paws.
Each released a loud yowl as they charged. Both leaped at the other in unison. But Hawkstripe had planned it this way. His leap ended short. The white and orange tom collided with his back, unable to avoid his opponent. Instantly Hawkstripe dropped and rolled. A gasp escaped the tom as the air was crushed from his lungs. The warrior released him for a second. One moment was relief was the crushing weight then the next was filled with razor sharp claws ripping through his skin. Yowling, the white and orange tom kicked Hawkstripe away. Quickly he raced for the fence with the fierce warrior on his heels. The tom stopped uncertainly at the top of the fence. He yelped and fell over as Hawkstripe's head slammed into his butt.
Dropping, Hawkstripe raced back into the fray. He ignored the Clanmates closest to him that might need help. What did he care? There was only one target on his mind. White hind paws propelled him into the air. His front paws landed squarely on that black back. His teeth sank into the tom's neck. His weight caused them both to roll. A sickening SNAP told Hawkstripe his aim had been true. One more roll ended with him standing over the body of the black tom. Lightwish, his sweet sister, remained crouched where she had been. Her green eyes were wide with shock.
Hawkstripe…
Her beloved brother…
Killed a cat in cold blood.
Let me know what you guys think! This story will be longer than the prequel due to it being far more in depth. And not all chapters will be this action packed.
