Warning: This story contains spoilers for Darkest Hour.
Disclaimer: I own nothing here unfortunately.
Info: His offer had seemed perfect, but with the brutal murder of her deputy, Leopardstar's thoughts about Tigerstar are mixed. Can shemake the right decision for her Clan? Slight LeopardxTiger.
Yowls of fury split the air. Clumps of fur flew with the fleeting breeze. The sound of ripping flesh was deafening. Worse of all, a bitter stench made Leopardstar want to vomit. The bitter, iron stench of blood… The crimson liquid ran thickly from Stonefur's battered body. Yet it was as if the horrid wounds did not affect him - the grey tom fought with all the intensity of StarClan He fought courageously, bravely and strong. He would have made a fine leader. Yet he was condemned to death.
A thorn stabbed deeper into Leopardstar's heart with every blow landed on Stonefur's weakening body. She could put a stop to this meaningless slaughter. If she desired, she could end this here and now - but she was powerless to do anything. Her mind was numb and her paws felt like stone. One lone thought echoed around her skull. How could I have let this happen?
Leopardstar's amber eyes flickered away from the gruesome scene. Her gaze caught on the rich dark tabby pelt of the one who had brought this upon Stonefur. Tigerstar. The handsome tabby tom was gazing down calmly at the fight. A slight smile hovered on his muzzle; making his amber eyes gleam in an appealing way. Leopardstar sighed quietly. Tigerstar was so strong…so crafty and wise…his tiger striped pelt always was slick, well-groomed and soft…his eyes shone with such ambition; Leopardstar felt awed by his very gaze. He was a leader unlike any cat she had ever encountered before…
Leopardstar blinked, she mentally jumped off the path her thoughts had been taking.
Yes, Tigerstar was handsome, sly, and ambitious - but could he be too ambitious? His plans - though they sounded good - were unheard of. Combining all four Clans into one? A moon ago Leopardstar had willingly accepted the idea; no questions asked. Now – secretly - the RiverClan leader was having second thoughts. Tigerstar had promised to make RiverClan strong; invincible even. No more prey shortages, no more battles, absolute power and authority – Something Leopardstar craved.
So far the tabby tom's reign had brought nothing but death, fear, and mistrust among the new Clan, TigerClan.
Any further thoughts Leopardstar had were cut short as an ear-piercing screech sounded from the base of Bone Hill. The dappled leader looked down and felt her breath catch in her throat. Blackfoot had joined the fight. Darkstripe had made members of the Clan impatient. Their lust for bloodshed had not been fulfilled cats had begun to shift uneasily, their claws sheathing and unsheathing.
Blackfoot lunged; teeth bared. He would stop at nothing to please his leader…Tigerstar.
Run! Leopardstar silently urged Stonefur - but the grey tom did not see the attack coming — he was too busy fending off blows from Darkstripe.
Sharp fangs buried themselves into Stonefur's neck. Blackfoot's jaws slowly squeezed together as the attacker shook Stonefur from side to side, giving his teeth a better hold on the RiverClan warrior's neck. Though Stonefur thrashed, is efforts were in vain. He was too weak to resist the inevitable outcome. No, no, no! Leopardstar gazed blankly down at the scene; refusing to accept what was happening. Stonefur's struggles grew weaker. His eyes met hers in a silent plea. Please, StarClan, make it stop! Leopardstar longed to shut her eyes, to stop looking upon the dark murder taking place. Instead she looked away from Stonefur for a brief moment as she recalled Tigerstar's words.
"They are half-Clan. How can they be trusted? How can their loyalty be true?" Tigerstar had questioned. His words had been intoxicating; they twisted Leopardstar's thoughts and convinced her that this was the right way. "They are dirty abominations of the Warrior Code. Their loyalty to their Clan is questionable and they should be sentenced to death."
Leopardstar clung to those words now. She recalled the ambitious flare in Tigerstar's amber eyes. Tigerstar is right, Leopardstar told herself. How can Stonefur be trusted? He will always have a hidden loyalty to ThunderClan. Its better if he was dead... Her claws unsheathed and dug into the bones that she sat upon; as if stabilizing her body would stable her wild thoughts.
A final gasp came from Stonefur as he tried one last time to draw a breath of tainted air to sooth his burning lungs. Then he was still. His eyes, once youthful and sparkling, where glazed over in death. Blackfoot tossed his body aside like a piece of fresh kill. The ShadowClan tom raised his head and let out a victory yowl.
Leopardstar turned to look at Tigerstar. A gleeful smile adorned his face. He caught her gaze and his smile became larger. "See, Leopardstar? Now you have one less traitor in your midst." He rumbled happily. Tigerstar's soothing voice washed over her, calming her thoughts. Tigerstar was a strong leader; he knew what he was doing. If he said Stonefur had to die, then he was correct. "Soon, we will rid our Clan of three more half-Clan traitors…" The dark tabby tom had moved closer to her. His breath was warm against Leopardstar's ear. She knew the tom was talking about Mistyfoot, Featherpaw and Stormpaw—the half-ThunderClan cats that were now imprisoned in a pit fashioned by Tigerstar. "And then," His nose was less then a mouse length from hers and his deep amber eyes transfixed her Leopardstar. "Our leadership will be absolute. We will be the most powerful force in the forest." He drew yet closer. Leopardstar felt her heartbeat accelerate as his muzzle brushed hers. "Once WindClan and ThunderClan join us, nothing will be able to stand up to our might." Tigerstar's eyes blazed and he laughed heartily.
He was such a regal figure, his head held high, his long claws shining, his tabby pelt was flawless. Leopardstar drank in his every word. Her misgivings vanished and she laughed as well. Tigerstar was right. They would be powerful. Leopardstar was doing the right thing for her Clan. Her gaze caught on Stonefur's broken body and her laugh died in her throat. Stormpaw, Stonefur's apprentice, had buried his nose in his mentor's fur. "Please. Please, Stonefur, wake up… Don't leave us… we need you to protect us. Please Stonefur help us..." The half-Clan apprentice's mew reached Leopardstar from atop Bone Hill. Leopardstar averted her gaze. The motion did not help, Stonefur's bloody body remained in her thoughts. Suddenly her amber eyes stretched wide as they caught a flash of ginger fur. The faint scent of ThunderClan made the dappled she-cat's neck fur bristle. Intruders! She glanced at Tigerstar. He had not noticed, his back was to the reeds concealing the intruders and he was in a deep conversation with Darkstripe. Leopardstar opened her mouth to warn him, but no words came out. "Are you sure you want to do that?" A gravely voice murmured. Leopardstar started in surprise. A gray tom had appeared besides her, his soft amber gaze fixed on her form. How had he gotten up here without her noticing? Leopardstar's blood froze. Stonefur?! The dappled leader wanted to yowl in surprise – however the noise would not come from her throat. Her eyes flickered down to where she had seen his body heartbeats before. Stonefur's body was still there, his blood had pooled around his form, lapping at his fur.
Leopardstar glanced back at the cat at her side. His pelt was missing clumps of fur and scars marked is flesh. Puncture marks where punched through his throat, yet no blood came. A faint glow came from the tom. Realization jolted through Leopardstar; the cat sitting besides her was Stonefur's spirit. "Those cats are rescuing Mistyfoot, Featherpaw and Stormpaw." Stonefur informed Leopardstar, causing her fur to fluff up in outrage. How dare they rescue dirty half-Clan mongrels? "You will let them. Leopardstar… you know very well that this is wrong; yet you follow him." Stonefur angled his ears towards Tigerstar. As if sensing eyes upon him, Tigerstar turned. "Leopardstar, come join me back at camp, we need to discuss the issue of ThunderClan and WindClan." The tabby tom's gaze traveled right through Stonefur. Leopardstar felt a cold claw run down her spine as she realized Tigerstar could not see Stonefur. "Let them go, Leopardstar. Their lives are not meant to end this way. You know as well as I that they are loyal to RiverClan alone."
Without warning unbidden images filled Leopardstar's mind. She saw Stonefur close his eyes in concentration before her mind was drawn into the flickering images. Tigerstar, teeth bared in a feral snarl, long claws unsheathed, blood caked his handsome tabby pelt. His snarl faded into a mirthless smile as the cat pinned beneath him sputtered, a look of disbelief upon his face. "Why… Tigerclaw?" The tortoiseshell tom choked out. Tigerstar's claws dug deeper into the tom's throat. "Simple. I want power, Redtail…" The dark tabby lowered his head, teeth glinting coldly in the dying light. "And your in my way."Tigerstar's amber eyes glittered with anticipation. Quicker then an adder, Tigerstar struck. His teeth fastened around the tortoiseshell's – Redtail's - throat. Blood leaked from the corners of Redtail's mouth as it opened in a wordless wail. Tigerstar's teeth dug deeper into Redtail's throat. The dying tom coughed, more blood dribbling onto the mud. "You…. you wont… ever…. Lead ThunderClan… they'll see… see through… your… your lies…" Redtail whispered, a veil of mist had covered his dull eyes. His body jerked one last time. Tigerstar laughed, his tongue flickering out lick Redtail's blood from his whiskers. "By that time, Redtail, it will be too late…"
Stonefur's voice pulled Leopardstar's mind from the gruesome scene. "That is the true Tigerstar. Think carefully about what you desire, Leopardstar." Stonefur's form had vanished – only a faint wisp of his scent remained to confirm that he had ever been present atop Bone Hill. "Leopardstar?" Tigerstar was gazing at her, his eyes concerned. The dappled she-cat jolted, the scene Stonefur had sent her was still fresh in her mind. With effort Leopardstar masked her emotions and answered. "Yes, there is no need to remain here." Her voice was icy calm, though her heart thumped so loudly she was sure the tabby tom would be able to hear it. Tigerstar nodded, the concern fading from his eyes. He leaped down from Bone Hill and was at once surrounded by members of TigerClan.
Leopardstar hesitated for a moment, gazing out at the reeds. A pair of tormented yellow eyes met hers. "Good luck," The dappled she-cat murmured, dipping her head. The yellow eyes blinked as if in reply before disappearing a heartbeat later.
The reeds rippled as the rescuers moved off, towards Tigerstar's prison pits. "May StarClan light your path." She whispered, hoping the Warrior Ancestors would hear. After a pause Leopardstar added; "And mine."
I hope you enjoyed, please leave a review - if 10 reviews are achieved the next chapter will be posted. :) Constructive criticism, ideas, and thoughts are loved. Thanks and have a great day!