Brokentail

A ragged brown tom sat up high on a thick branch of an oak tree, staring down at the ground below him. His eyes darted from side to side, watching for someone to come by. It had to be the right someone, though. The cat who could give him all he ever wanted.

You don't have to do this! a voice inside his head cried.

The tom's head jerked up, not sure what he had heard. "Who said that?" he snapped. "Who's there?"

It's me! the voice said again.

And me! a second voice added.

"I don't understand!" the tom hissed. "Where are you? Why can't I see you?"

The voices snickered at the cat's confusion. We're your sisters, mousebrain!

Yeah! Don't you remember us, Brokentail?

"I don't have any sisters!" Brokentail meowed, not understanding the voices. "Just Tangleburr, but she's not my real sister."

The voices snickered again. We are your real sisters.

The tom shook his head. "I don't have sisters!" he repeated. "And why can't I see you? Show yourselves!"

We can't, one of the voices squeaked.

"Why not?" Brokentail was losing his patience.

We're dead! the second voice mewed.

Now the tom was doubly confused. First two invisible cats claimed they were his sisters, and now they were telling him they were dead? "Explain this!" he spat.

I'm Wishkit! the first kit mewed. I was born dead.

And I'm Hopekit, the second kit added. I only lived a few moments.

"I don't believe you!" Brokentail hissed. "You're not my sisters. Leave me alone!"

We're here to watch over you, brother.

We're here for you.

The tom shut his eyes, hoping he was only dreaming. Where was the cat he was looking for? Why hadn't he come yet?

You don't have to do this! Hopekit mewed.

You shouldn't kill him! Wishkit echoed.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Brokentail spat, lashing his tail. "You don't even know what I'm doing!"

You're waiting for Raggedstar.

You want to kill him.

The tom huffed in annoyance. So they did know what he was up to. "It's none of your business what I do. Leave me alone."

Killing is wrong, brother.

He's our father, brother.

"He's my father! Not yours!" Brokentail cried, unsheathing his claws and digging them into the branch. "Go away!"

We can't, brother.

We're doing this because we love you, brother.

Don't do this. Think of the consequences.

Make good choices.

"Shut up!" he yowled. "Just shut up! I don't have to listen to you! I don't even know you!"

Wishkit's tiny voice wavered slightly. We care about you, big brother.

We just want you to be good, Hopekit added.

Brokentail shook his head furiously. "How can you care about me if you've never met me?"

You're our brother.

And we'll care no matter what.

A dark brown older tom strolled into Brokentail's vision, padding unsuspectingly down a narrow dirt path. The tom in the tree watched the other cat, crouching low and flicking his tail back and forth as the cat came closer.

Killing is wrong, brother!

You don't have to do this, brother!

Please don't!

Think of the consequences!

The voices of his sisters grew louder and louder and Brokentail watched the older tom approach. He shook his head to clear it, trying to ignore the voices screaming at him to stop. As Raggedstar paused underneath the tree to sniff a mouse hole, Brokentail leaped down onto his father's back, tearing into his flesh with sharpened claws. His father writhed under his grasp, but could not get away. Raggedstar struggled wildly as his son ripped him apart madly. When the older tom fell limp, he collapsed on the ground, staring up at Brokentail. There was no anger in his gaze, only sadness.

When Raggedstar's breath finally stopped and his eyes glazed over, Brokentail heaved a sigh of relief. His father was dead, so now he could be the leader.

Oh, brother, Hopekit sighed.

What have you done? Wishkit mewed sadly.

"I made myself the leader of ShadowClan," Brokentail meowed proudly. "Now leave me alone!"

We will never do that, brother. We will always be with you.

And we will always love you.

(A/N: I'll do stories three and four tomorrow. They're going to be how I think the leader ceremonies should have gone.)