Unfinished Grievances

Part 1: A Prophecy Destined to End (Dark Forest)

Darkstripe stood near the border between the Dark Forest, and Starclan's hunting grounds. He sometimes stood there, wondering if he had made the right choice. He wonders if he hadn't followed Tigerstar, would've he been assets to his clan instead of a hindrance. Darkstripe was lost in his thoughts, when something bounded up and hit his paw. It was a young Starclan kit.

"Why are you over here in the darkness?" The kit asked. "I made my choice." Darkstripe replied. "For it, I must remain here." He spoke rather bluntly. "Oh." The kit said. Darkstripe nudged the kit towards the border. "Run along now." He said. "Can't you come with me?" The kit asked. "No." Darkstripe said. "I can't." "Sometimes, I wish I could, but for now I must remain here." "You should hurry back towards the border." "You can't remain here."

As he finished speaking, a Starclan warrior appeared, and called over to the kit. "Come on Amberkit." Graystripe, the Starclan warrior, said." "You shouldn't be near here, or near him." Amberkit bounded over to Graystripe. "It's good I was here." He said out loud. "That traitor would've killed you if I hadn't." Amberkit looked up at him with a confused look. "You must never get close to this place." Graystripe lead the kit away, and they disappeared into the undergrowth.

"That was heart-warming." A voice spoke up behind Darkstripe. "Thistleclaw, I haven't seen you in quite some time." "What are you doing here?" Darkstripe addressed the cat. "I was looking for you." "I was chosen to ask you something?" Thistleclaw said. Chosen? Darkstripe wondered. "You remember our failed attempt to destroy the clans?" Thistleclaw asked. Darkstripe glared at him and his fur bristled. That was the day he lost Tigerstar for the second time. "Good." Thistleclaw purred at his outward appearance. "I can see you still have some pent up anger inside of you." "Listen Darkstripe." "We are working our way to destroy the clans once again." "Twelve seasons of peace is more than enough time to end what was started on that fateful night."

Darkstripe tilted his head. "How do you plan to accomplish this?" "We can't cross over anymore." Thistleclaw shook his head. "That's where you are wrong, and I was sent here to ask for your help." Thistleclaw said. "My help?" Darkstripe questioned. "Why would you want my help?" He asked. "It is because I want your help Darkstripe." A new voice spoke up, one Darkstripe hadn't heard for a long time. "Scourge." "It's been a long time since I've seen you about." "I didn't even know you were here." Darkstripe said. "I have been here for an incredibly long time." Scourge answered. "I have been here almost as long as you have." "You know I died down in the battle with the clans." "Firestar had killed me, but I no longer care for revenge against him." "I want revenge against all the clans." Scourge said. "Bloodclan has risen to its former glory." Scourge stated.

"So, what does this have to do with me?" Darkstripe asked. "What can you possibly gain by asking me for help?" "What sort of knowledge can I give you?" He asked. Scourge opened his mouth to speak, but Darkstripe continued talking. "Don't bother giving a reason." "I care nothing for you, or your revenge plans." Darkstripe said.

Scourge glared at him. "You're an insolent fool, Darkstripe." "I offer you the chance to get revenge for Tigerstar." "I offer you a chance to redeem your pitiful existence, and perhaps to stop you from fading." Scourge nodded towards the fact that Darkstripe had indeed begun to fade away. "Perhaps they can remember you for a while longer."

Darkstripe took in those reasons. "Perhaps they will remember me." He said. "Perhaps, they will remember me." He repeated the statement.

"Perhaps they will learn to remember Darkstripe as something more than Tigerstar's second." Scourge said. "Follow me Darkstripe." He said. "I will show you to our meeting place." Darkstripe nodded, and followed Scourge and Thistleclaw further into the Dark Forest. He trailed them as they weaved their way through the trees into a clearing. Darkstripe followed Scourge and Thistleclaw to a large clearing filled with numerous cats. Some were Dark forest warriors that had fought earlier, while others were Bloodclan warriors, and some were cats he just didn't know. Scourge climbed up a crumbling, partially broken, rock. Darkstripe saw some skid marks, so he must've pushed it from somewhere. "Cat's of the dark forest." Scourge's echo rang in the silence. "Today is a new day." "Today we start our campaign against the forest cats." The assembled cat's yowled in agreement. "Today, I will name our deputies that will become my second in command." "First, Jaggedtooth." Jaggedtooth climbed up onto the rock. First? Darkstripe thought. "Second, Thistleclaw." Thistleclaw shouldered past Darkstripe and leapt up onto the rock. "Third, I would like Shade to come up here." A small black she cat went up the rock to join them. Third? How many more are there? Darkstripe wondered. "And last, but not least, Darkstripe, you and Thistleclaw were two of Tigerclaw's greatest advisors, so I ask that you come up here and become one of my own along with Thistleclaw."

Darkstripe stood there for a second and then pounced upon the rock, lading with grace. With his new vantage point, he realized a pool was below the rock. "Today, Rock has warned this kit of a new prophecy." In the pool a little tabby kitten appeared."Jaggedtooth, I want you to find her, and kill her." "Oh, and bring Darkstripe with you." "For backup, just in case." He leaned in closer to Jaggedtooth, and whispered him something. Jaggedtooth let a smile spread across his face, but only for a second.

"Darkstripe, come on." He beckoned with his tail. Darkstripe just followed him.

They arrived at a twisted and gnarled tree that Darkstripe had never seen before." Would you like to know, how exactly we will pass into the world of the living?" "Yeah, we aren't as powerful enough to do so, like the way we had done it before." "That is where you are wrong." "On full moons, we have just enough power to cross over, but only for a few moments until we get stronger." "This tree amplifies that power to give us ample time to cross over." "We will cross over right into the den, kill the kit, and be gone within the blink of an eye." "So in half a moon, we will meet here and the deed will be done." "Understood Darkstripe?"

"I understand." Darkstripe said as nodded his head. They walked away from the mysterious tree. "I won't be going back to camp just yet." Darkstripe said. "I need to think about some things, and clear my head." Jaggedtooth left him, and Darkstripe started to walk away, heading towards nowhere in particular.

"Why?" He asked aloud, unsure of what to think. "Why did I agree to such a thing?" Darkstripe just looked down at his paws.

"You know why Darkstripe." Thistleclaw was at his side again. "It's because you don't know what else to do." Thistleclaw told him. Just great, Darkstripe thought. "You want vengeance against those mangy, impure cats." Thistleclaw continued. "I mean, I sure do, don't you?" Thistleclaw asked.

Darkstripe continued looking at his paws."Of course." Darkstripe doubtfully answered.

If Thistleclaw had heard the doubt in his voice, he sure didn't make any showing of it. Those foul clan cats have lived far too long." Thistleclaw said. "I can't wait to get my claws inside the neck of one of them." Thistleclaw's eyes gleamed with hunger. "Their puny necks crushed, blood gushing out of multiple wounds, the sense of triumph, these are all things I-we- want." Thistleclaw said. They sat there for a few moments until Thistleclaw spoke up again."I must be getting back." "You would be wise to return soon enough as well."

Darkstripe nodded, as Thistleclaw padded off. He realized he was close to the border. He continued his walk, and arrived near the same spot where he was before. He needed to think, and think he did.