The slender black she-cat pulled herself closer to the cream tom, purring loudly as she nuzzled his cheek. She leaned into the larger tom, shooting an all-knowing look to the dumbfounded figures of Flarepaw and Fallenpaw.
"Alpha...?" Fallenpaw tested the name- it didn't sound right.
"You'll address a leader with respect," the she-cat said rudely, tail held high in their air with her chest puffed. "Not a stuttering lump." She glanced to the cream cat on her side giving him an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry Alpha darling, I'll send for Adder to punish them."
"No need," spoke Alpha, staring across with a slate expression at the other felines. "I'll find out who they are myself and decide their punishment." The she-cat gave a dejected nod, slinking off into the shadows with a crestfallen look. Her paw steps echoed through the alley she ducked back into, pelt fading within seconds. "Now, I suggest the two of you tell me what you're doing here before I shred your pelts myself." His voice materialized into one cold as ice.
"Wildpaw? Don't you remember me? It's me, Fallenpaw." Fallenpaw stood aghast, body tense with struck emotion. Even Flarepaw seemed mildly shocked. The true Wildpaw they knew would be laughing it up like old times with best friend Fallenpaw, then proceed to try an attempt to hit on Flarepaw. Neither was happening.
"I know no one by that name," growled Alpha, claws sliding out. Since when was he so hostile? "I am Alpha. I am leader. I am strong. Are you one of those underground filth trying to take over the surface? No one takes my land without a fight." His cold green glare fell on the reddish she-cat, purring with a warmer tone. "You might want to scamper off, little blossom. I wouldn't want harm to come to you. Though I must say, you are prettier than Clarice. Wouldn't you stay here with me as my right-flank? We'd be inseparable, you and I."
His new tone sounded a lot more like the Wildpaw Flarepaw had known. But even now, she wasn't going to fall for his lustful antics. Her unsheathed claws glinted in what little moonlight there was, amber eyes blazing with hostility as she lashed out, catching his muzzle with a well aimed swipe. Eyes flashing with anger, she cast another glance to watch Alpha dab his bleeding muzzle with a paw.
"That wasn't very nice," he murmured, features then twisting into a sly grin. "But quite feisty if I do say so myself. You'd definitely be much better than Clarice. Come, we've got much to talk about."
Flarepaw's tail lashed. "I'm not going anywhere with you, BlizzardClan scum!"
"But I think you are," Alpha smirked, jaws parted in a shrill cry. Flarepaw and Fallenpaw tensed up, eyes round with horror as several shadows loomed closer. They leaped with silence and in mere seconds their prey was pinned beneath their claws.
"Get offa me!" roared the struggling lump of red fur, thrashing wildly.
"Temper, temper," tsked Alpha, amused. He turned around with a whisk of his tail, padding back into the shadows. The shadows pinning down the two apprentices shoved them to their paws, roughly forcing them into the alley where the cream tom had disappeared. What irked Flarepaw was that they were easily ambushed without any forewarning. Normally, she would've been able to scent them but their captors were silent and sneaky, not to mention snarky.
"Keep moving," growled the large black and gray tom to Flarepaw once she started resisting the inevitable push forward into the dank, cramped tunnel. The ruffled she-cat continued to hiss and spit, trying any means as a route to escape. Only when did she receive a cuff to the head and threatening claws at her throat did she cease her attacks. Fallenpaw gave her a warning glare, eyes narrowed as he subtly motioned for her to remain that way until everything was sorted out.
Their paw pads were sore from walking on the ground, cracked bits of earth nipping at the soft pink. Something sharp cut into one of Flarepaw's pads.
"Ouch!" her legs buckled, body collapsing on the littered alley floor. Without giving her a chance to inspect it, she was shoved to her feet again and pushed ahead. Stifling hisses of pain, Flarepaw tried her best to ignore the stinging nettle wedged in her pad. Pain like this reminded her of when she first went above ground from the magma caves. On her first day into the sunshine, she had clumsily stumbled into a thorn patch, burrs clinging to her pelt and more than a few thorns lodged deep within her pads. Flickerdapple had her paws full for the rest of that day.
Fallenpaw looked at her with concern. "You ok? You look like you're in pain."
"I'm fine," she hissed out through gritted teeth. Fallenpaw had to give her admiration; Flarepaw was as stubborn as they come. She wasn't about to let something in her paw to stop her from walking. His features turned into a doubtful grimace but his jaws remained clamped shut.
Bits of light bloomed from the sides of the narrow alleyway. Spotlights of the miniature suns revealing the interior of the open tunnel. On either sides of the intruders were cardboard boxes, many torn and covered with street grime. Glimmering orbs, tired and irritated poked from the shadowy boxes, somewhat intrigued by the newcomers. The same black she-cat leaped from her high perch on a windowsill, halting in front of the bristled cream tom with a hostile glare.
"You haven't done away with them yet?" she pouted, brow furrowed with disappointment. She ran a tail along Alpha's spine, purring silkily. "I'd have thought you'd have killed them by now. But I suppose you wanted an audience. Everyone! Our Alpha has returned with prisoners who are deemed to be executed by law of the surface!"
"Doesn't the Alpha have the power to call meetings?" sneered Flarepaw, hiding pain from her tone as she thought of the great Clan leaders calling the gathering to start.
"And you are...?" the she-cat glanced disdainfully at Flarepaw while bedraggled felines scrambled from their homes. Their pelts were heavily matted and some were scarred with battle wounds. Ignoring the felines behind her, she added with a sniff. "Not much to look at. She's awful small if anything."
Growling lowly, Flarepaw felt her claws slide out subconsciously. If there was anything that rubbed her fur the wrong way, it would be any stuck up mouseheart having the audacity to call her "small". For moons as a kit, Flarepaw had been the runt of her litter, growth lacking even once she hit apprenticeship. She remained a small kit whom everyone scorned and doubted her abilities to survive outside the nursery. The first one who had said that to her- her former denmate Wolfkit- had wound up with a nasty scar on his muzzle. Sure, she had been heavily scolded by many of her clanmates including Darkstar, but it had given her satisfaction anyhow.
"What's wrong, deary?" the black feline purred, sensing the reddish apprentice's discomfort. "Did I hit a nerve? Good. And regards to your snide remark, I'm Alpha's right-flank, Clarice. That gives me the authority to call my cats for a meeting. You mean nothing to anyone here. If Alpha hadn't held off your death, you'd have been dead before even reaching here. Consider our great leader's choice. The merciful Alpha has offered you a few more minutes of life." Glossy tail lashing, Clarice stalked off and took her place on the sill. Her chest puffed out with pride, staring down at the gathered cats below. She flicked her tail as she scooted over to give room. Her warm green gaze fell on the cream figure of Alpha as she motioned for his presence. Purring loudly, Alpha moved away from the prisoners and took his seat by Clarice, chest puffed out regally.
Who'd of thought Wildpaw being Wildstar? Flarepaw thought scornfully, shaking her head. I don't care what he says. There's no doubt that he's Wildpaw. But even so, no cat deserves leadership unless it's me. Wow, Flarepaw. That's a little vain, even for you...
Her thoughts were cut short as Alpha's voice boomed throughout the alley. "Cats of the surface! While out during our night hunt, we have discovered trespassers from the underground." He paused to hear the cries of dismay from the crowd. Angry shouts and snarls rose above into hearing until Alpha waved a paw for silence. When they quieted, he resumed. "As I was saying...Smokey, bring forth these underground scum."
More clamoring shouts echoed down the alleyway as the large smokey gray tom shouldered Flarepaw and Fallenpaw into the ring of light where the surface cats surrounded, blocking escape.
"These two have been charged with the crime of hunting in surface cat land. Their punishment: execution." Alpha couldn't help but allow a smirk to cross his muzzle. Only being leader for a few days he had already grown fond of the executions of underground filth. "You all know how these things roll. Who would we like to see die first?"
"The pretty one!"
"The she-cat!"
"Her with the red pelt!"
Both Flarepaw and Fallenpaw felt terror rush through their veins, pelts involuntarily bristling with fear. Their eyes were round like moons as they stared around the outskirts of the ring.
"Very well," purred Alpha. "Smokey, take the tom out of the ring. Leave the she-cat."
Upon his leader's command, the big gray tom pulled Fallenpaw out of the ring who was fighting the whole way back, begging to take Flarepaw's place. "Let me go for her!" he screeched, but in vain once he was pinned outside the circle, but still given a clear view of the paralyzed she-cat.
Alpha sighed with pity. "Dearest blossom, you have a way out from being executed. You only have to agree being my mate, I'd let you have Clarice's spot as right-flank. What do you say? Spend the rest of your life with me or die right here right now?" The lustful glint was back in his eyes, obviously hoping she would choose option number one.
Pure rage blazed within Flarepaw's amber eyes, churning any spectator's stomach with unease. "Never!" she howled with fury, pelt bristling. "In the name of MagmaClan, if I am to die, I will die with honor!"
"MagmaClan..." Alpha drawled quietly, eyes shut with thought and muzzle bent into a frown. Clarice eyed him suspiciously and cleared her throat. "Yes, now, who will be her opponent?"
"Clarice!" one unanimous vote was cast and the black she-cat swelled with pride. "Very well. As my duty as right-flank, I will cast out the plague ridden, underground garbage who dares hunt on the surface." She leaped down from the sill into the ring of light, sizing up her much smaller opponent.
"Bring it on then, dainty paws." Flarepaw hissed bravely as an attempt to hide her fear, dropping into a crouch as she tried to remember her training. Ah Blazefur, you were by far the oldest warrior but now I need your guidance. She cast a wary glimpse at the struggling pelt of Fallenpaw. He was still desperately trying to get into the ring, eyes blazing with fear and a hint of anger. Giving a tense swallow, she tried to message that everything was ok. Fallenpaw winced, shaking his head but it was Flarepaw's turn for payback.
Stay there, she motioned with her paws, mouthing the words to her BlizzardClan companion. Biting his tongue, the orange and white tom stopped struggling and reluctantly watched.
"Get ready to watch your friend die," snarled Clarice to Fallenpaw, smirking as she swung her head back to face the crouching 'paw. Without waiting for a signal to begin, the black she-cat hurled herself at her opponent, claws unsheathed. Flarepaw reared up to meet her, ivory claws glinting in the light of the twoleg constructed sun.
Being bigger, Clarice rammed her full weight into the tiny body of the apprentice. The she-cat's legs buckled under the sudden weight, allowing herself to take the first blow.
Remember your training! she hissed to herself, mind whirling to a training session with Wolfpaw. The muzzle scarred gray tom had been bigger than her, using his size to his advantage. But using a newly taught move courtesy of Blazefur, she was able to take the match.
Her amber eyes shot open as she rolled with the attack, kicking out with her hind paws and sending the larger cat flying. While Clarice scrambled to her paws, this gave Flarepaw time to do the same and get a head start on the next attack. Teeth bared, Flarepaw aimed for the throat. But dizzy as she might appear, Clarice was ready, clipping the reddish cat's jaw with a well timed swipe upwards. The blow sent her staggering and open while the black feline dove for the legs. She swiftly gripped her hind leg with yellowed fangs, yanking upward sharply. An ear splitting pop was heard as Flarepaw felt the bone pulled from its socket. She bit her lip to restrain a pained yowl.
Great, a dislocated hind leg and there's still something lodged in my pad, Flarepaw thought angrily, scolding herself for being beaten too easily. It's not over yet. This is far from being over. Using her strength, Flarepaw's black forepaw lashed out and connected with Clarice's muzzle. She writhed and twisted away to prepare another attack. As Clarice loomed closer, she struck out and was smirking broadly as she found her claws scoring deep cuts in the black she-cat's cheek. Clarice took the blow without flinching, putting her weight against the smaller cat. She fell against her injured leg and somehow managed to push it back into its place. This time, Flarepaw yowled with relief though it was still inflamed with pain and she found it hard to put pressure on.
The small red feline hobbled around in the ring, lashing out with a swipe or two. Clarice retaliated, matching each blow with similar strength. Both were locked into a ball of hissing fluff, rolling around in the ring of light clawing at each other's pelts. A cuff to the head brought them apart, pelts bloody with a mixture of their own and their opponent's blood. Scarlet paste streaked through their ruffled fur, each glaring at one another with hostility. The match so far had been a draw and neither was willing to lose.
Clarice lunged, Flarepaw clumsily rearing on one hind paw. She came crashing down onto the black bodied she-cat and they fell into claw to claw combat once again. With a final snarl, Clarice heaved herself on top of Flarepaw. Panting with fatigue, Clarice loomed over the pinned prisoner, an evil smirk dancing on her lips. Those lips pulled back to reveal slightly red fangs, bared and preparing to sink into Flarepaw's throat.
"Light's out, kitty," she snarled, jabbing her muzzle forward.
"Wait!" an empty screech split the air, everything falling into silence. Flarepaw was still tense, eyes shut as she awaited the final blow. Fallenpaw had refused to look, orange paws covering his eyes. Clarice's teeth hung limply over Flarepaw's throat, hovering a less than a whisker length away. All eyes sought the speaker from the crowd before floating up to the windowsill where Alpha stood, green eyes flashing with surprise as his mouth slowly closed. His jaws snapped open again after a drawn out silence.
"I remember!"
Oooooooo...What does the great Alpha remember? Meh, I kinda feel bad for the cliffhanger since everyone's probably tired of them... :/ But it's necessary and I think this is my longest chapter at just about 3,000 words. So don't get snarky with me for putting in a cliffhanger, next chapter will be up tomorrow most likely. Give me a good few hours. On another note, keep reviewing! I suppose I don't need them in fear of my ego getting bigger but it makes me feel content knowing people are out there enjoying fan-made stories. Or stories in general. Until next time my lovelies!
-Snarky