Falconwing

Some cats are not born evil. Evil can be created, molded into a young mind. Like one cat, who once held great promise for the future. But instead of the glorious future that he once foretold, his was destined to walk in a path of darkness...


Slowly but surely his eyes blinked open as he peered through the den. Dawn was just arriving. Falconpaw groaned and stretched out his back. More than anything he wanted to sleep in and enjoy the dreams he'd been having. But of course that never lasted.

Falconpaw had only been an apprentice for two days now and he wished he was back in the nursery. There it was warm and inviting. He always had his mother to look up to. Fireblaze was one of the kindest queens any cat could ever meet. And she always looked after the kits, even when hers had become apprentices. At least that much Falconpaw knew.

"Hey Falconpaw, you ready for some battle training?" He turned towards the sound of Brightpaw's voice. She was only a moon older than him, but she had always been a good friend. Falconpaw nodded earnestly and padded out of the den, with her close behind.

"Don't you miss being in the nursery?" he asked while stifling a yawn. It was hard not to when he saw how dull camp was right now. There weren't any cats around to tell them what to do. Which annoyed him to no end. Brightpaw seemed to sense that and glanced at him in confusion.

"Of course I don't," she purred. "Why would I want to go back there where it's boring and stuffy? Out here we're free to do what we like, and no one can tell us what to do."

He looked at her in surprise. Did she have bees in her brain? Their mentors were always bossing them around. Then again he knew that was their job. Once he became a warrior he could do the same to any cat who dared defy him.

"Falconpaw, you're coming with me." He froze when Leafshade spoke up. The dark ginger she-cat was known for being a fierce battler. He was thankful having Leafshade as his mentor, even if the senior warrior could be cranky from time to time.

"I'll be back soon," he promised to Brightpaw. She purred in amusement and nodded as he trotted after Leafshade. Leafshade led the way to the training clearing where they had only just started practicing. Falconpaw had already shown signs of being a good fighter. Leafshade had boasted that he would make the best warrior in the Clan one day, if he just listened.

"I want to see how much you have improved," Leafshade meowed as she looked down at him. "Fight me, with unsheathed claws." Falconpaw looked at her in surprise.

But we're supposed to fight with our claws sheathed, he protested silently. Stop being a weak mousebrain and fight! another voice scolded him. Finally Falconpaw did as he was told and lunged forward. He remembered the move she had taught him the other day. It was quick and precise, and deadly.

Falconpaw swung his paw down on Leafshade's head, hard. She let out a small grunt of pain and staggered back. But she held her ground as he continued pummeling her with unsheathed claws. When he was ready to stop she suddenly turned on him and pinned him to the ground.

"Why are you holding back?" she demanded, her voice a low snarl. Falconpaw couldn't help but flinch at the ferocity in her voice.

"I-I didn't want to hurt you," he admitted, shaking from the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. Leafshade only rolled her eyes and dug her claws in deeper. Falconpaw held back a hiss of pain when he realized what she was willing to do.

"That is the response of a weakling," she spat. "Weaklings are not tolerated in this Clan. Do you understand me?" He was too afraid to say anything, so instead he nodded. Leafshade lashed her tail before releasing her grip on him. "Good, now try that move again, and this time make sure that it actually hurts."

Reluctantly Falconpaw did as he was told. Eventually her training had won out. After two moons of training he had gotten stronger and could easily overtake her. But Brightpaw and the other apprentices didn't question where his fresh wounds had come from. He was afraid of what Leafshade would do if he told them.


Three moons later and Brightpaw had become a warrior. She was now known as Brightsong, and had already received high praise from the Clan. Falconpaw however, was jealous. He knew he was just as good as her, if not better. Brightsong had a weak heart and often let it show in front of others.

It wasn't until he had gone hunting one day with Leafshade that his attitude changed completely. The forest had been full of life at the time. Falconpaw managed to catch plenty of prey in the hopes of impressing his mentor. But Leafshade had simply turned him down, scoffing at the idea of trying to impress someone.

That was when Falconpaw had changed. He suddenly snapped and turned on her, lashing out his claws across her muzzle. The dark ginger she-cat staggered back in surprise, then smirked at his retaliation.

"I see you've gotten stronger, little kit," she sneered as she dodged every attack. "But strength isn't everything."

With that being said, she whipped around and grabbed him by the scruff. Falconpaw may be bigger than her now, but she was still stronger. His teeth clenched together in pain as she threw him on the ground.

"I'm tired of trying to gain your approval," he spat as he recovered from her attack. "This ends now!" Before Leafshade could react, he kicked back his legs and sprang on her. Leafshade hissed in surprise when he pinned her down. "You're the weak fool for thinking you could control me," he snarled as he bit down on her neck.

Leafshade let out a gurgling cry of shock before her body finally stilled. Falconpaw didn't let go until he knew for sure that she was dead. Once he did he dropped her body and kicked dust on it. But then another more horrifying thought occurred.

What have I done? he wondered.

She deserved to die…. Though she should have suffered more, the voice from so many moons ago replied.

"But not like this," he whispered, bowing his head in shame.

Did you forget what she has done to you? You are stronger than her! There is no room for weaklings! the voice reminded him. Falconpaw raised his chin, realizing that the voice was right. He knew that he was stronger than Leafshade now. But he had a more pressing thought to worry about.

"How do I get rid of the evidence?" he demanded out loud.

Use your mind, the voice replied. I'm sure there is something here you can use.

Falconpaw looked around uncertainly. Soon enough he came upon a fox's den. The scent that came from it was old and stale, but it would work fine enough. Falconpaw smirked as he thought of the panic that would stir in the Clan.

"This should work," he murmured as he picked up bits and pieces of fox fur. He rolled in the scent as well to make it more convincing. Once he was sure that his fur was coated in it's scent, he padded back over to where Leafshade's body was.

By now a pool of blood had spilled where it lay. Falconpaw's nose wrinkled in disgust when he saw flies swarming over it. He wondered how such tiny and weak creatures could stand such a stench. Then again he was covering himself in fox scent.

He padded back to camp, making sure to put in extra effort as his shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Willowpaw, the new medicine cat apprentice, looked at him in surprise when she peered out of the den.

"Falconpaw! What in StarClan's name happened to you?" Fireblaze greeted him with a worried look. She checked him to make sure he didn't have any vital injuries.

"I'm fine mother," he reassured me. "But Leafshade…." His eyes darkened as he thought of his former mentor. "She-she's gone."

Fireblaze stared at him in shock. By now her alarm had gotten all the Clan together. Falconpaw looked at Brightsong carefully. Her eyes were narrowed as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle.

Don't let her know, the voice warned him. She will tell everyone.

"We were ambushed by a fox," he explained as more cats began questioning him. "And it killed Leafshade while she was defending me."

"Stonepelt, go and fetch Gingertail. This looks serious," Willowpaw mewed as she checked him over.

"I'm so sorry this happened," Berrypaw murmured. She along with Willowpaw and Pinepaw were new apprentices. Falconpaw had gotten used to their presence, and even enjoyed Berrypaw's company. He nodded glumly and turned towards Whitestar.

"I couldn't move the body," he admitted. "I needed help."

"Get some rest, young one. We will find the body and bring it back here," the ThunderClan leader meowed after narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.

Falconpaw nodded gratefully and limped back into the apprentice's den. His tail was wrapped around his nose as he heard cats whispering about Leafshade's death. He couldn't help but smirk triumphantly. No one would know what had happened to that awful she-cat.


Another moon had passed since the death of Leafshade. No cat had bothered questioning what really happened to her. Except for Brightsong. She had distanced herself from Falconpaw, now Falconwing. He didn't care though. They may have been good friends as apprentices, but he had changed since than. Of course Brightsong had gotten her first apprentice: Smokepaw. Meanwhile Falconwing still had none.

But he was going to change that. He would ensure that he was the strongest cat there was. Even if it meant going behind the warrior code, like Leafshade had.

Falconwing had made a friend in Berrypool. In fact, she was more than just a friend. The two of them had gotten close over the passing moons, and eventually became mates. Berrypool didn't see the darkness in his heart. She didn't know what he was planning.

Eventually Falconwing had finally gotten his first apprentice. His name was Marrowpaw. And in ways Marrowpaw was like a younger version of himself. For a while Falconwing had almost forgotten about his plan. He enjoyed training Marrowpaw as the days passed.

"Falconwing, I'm expecting kits!" Berrypool had made him stagger in shock when she told him the 'good' news. On top of it all Brightstar had made him her deputy when the previous leader passed away. Falconwing found it all overwhelming, and realized now more than ever that his plan needed to go through.

However he purred and gave his mate a warm lick out of happiness. "That's wonderful news," he told her. "And hopefully they will survive this leafbare."

Berrypool's eyes darkened when he mentioned the coming leafbare. Some cats had predicted that it would be a difficult one. She couldn't help but wonder if they were right. Falconwing only flicked his tail and rounded up his apprentice.

He had no idea just how much he had changed. He wasn't that same spunky apprentice Brightstar had gotten along with moons ago. Now he was different, and darker. No one would ever know what Leafshade had turned him into. And they were all about to regret what she had done to him.


AN: So of course I would start out with Falconwing :P I just had to! So many people were asking why he turned out the way he did, and this pretty much sums it up. Leafshade may have her own chapter depending on what people think. If you have suggestions than please let me know, I will be writing stories about the minor characters in my series, including my Legacy Series and even Fireblazin' if people are interested.