Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. Erin Hunter does.

Desire

Scourge inhaled through his nose and slipped to the side.

"Fight, Scourge! Or are you afraid to get your paws messy?" Bone growled. Scourge said nothing. He wasn't going to lose energy over something pointless like talking.

"There's still time to quit, Bone. You can surrender and I'll let you leave BloodClan alive." Scourge told Bone after Bone had tried to launch a few more attacks. Scourge narrowed his eyes slightly while they circled each other. Bone was starting to pant. He was losing his energy.

"Do not kill Bone. You kill him and you will pay with your own life."

It was that voice again. And then it hit him. That voice. Bone. That voice was trying to save Bone because the voice was Bone's daughter. Lilac.

"Go away."

"No, Scourge. You said you loved me and then you ordered my death. I will make sure you pay for my death. Do not kill Bone. Do not make things harder on yourself than you already have."

The way she said the last sentence made Scourges skin crawl. He knew that tone. It was the same one he had when he wanted something done and he wasn't kidding about it. Lilac had taken more out of his book that Scourge had realized.

"Fine. I won't kill him. Lay off of me, won't you?" Scourge snarled under his breath.

There was no answer but a slight breeze. Scourge took that as a yes.

Scourge stopped moving and stood absolutely still. Bone would attack once more and Scourge would be done playing with him.

As predicted, Bone leapt at Scourge. Scourge sheathed all but one claw. He didn't drag it across Bone's body and slice him in half like he wanted to do. He merely snagged his claw in Bone's collar. Bone fell to the ground, belly up. Scourge pulled tightly. The collar snapped and fell to the ground. Quickly, before Bone could get up, Scourge set the same claw on Bone's throat. He laid his other paw on Bone's belly. He wouldn't kill Bone, but he would injure him. He made no promises about that.

He unsheathed his claws and sank them. Bone screeched in pain but Scourge didn't let go. He raked his claws against Bone's shoulders and sides. Scourge's claw was still in place, about to sink into Bone's throat. Scourge knew he wouldn't kill Bone, but Bone didn't know that. The cat stopped yowling and went still. He was still breathing. Scourge could see his sides moving up and down at a rapid pace. Scourge stepped away from Bone and bounded back to his dumpster to address his Clan.

They had left their spots on the fence and tables and were now gathered below him again. They all were avoiding his gaze. Perfect. Maybe saving Bone's life was a good thing to do. It showed them that he would let them suffer and not care. That he wouldn't end the pain with death. They'd live through it, but still suffer.

"You will never again challenge me to another fight for leadership. I will win every time." Scourge kept taking his claws and sinking them into the flesh. Bone "Let this be a lesson to all of you who think you can fight me. Bone thought he could fight me and win. But look where he is now."

"Bone, are you now a Regular Warrior. You will move out of this alleyway immediately. If I ever see your face in here again, I will kill. And The Guard will kill you if you enter this alley."

Scourge took a deep breath. Here it goes; Storm would be the new deputy. He hoped Mint would like this.

"Now that Bone is now a Regular Warrior, I now need a new deputy." He swept his gaze along the edge of the dumpster of his Guard until he saw the face he wanted.

"Storm will be the new deputy of BloodClan. You will obey him, like you would obey me. If you do not, I will know about it, and you will suffer." All around him cats were nodded. He glanced at Storm. The tom was rigid. It was as if he didn't want to be deputy. Scourge wondered if that was true, until he caught his eye. The blue eyes were lit up with happiness.

"I, Scourge, name Storm as my deputy and successor." Scourge announced. "Spread the word and get out of my alley." Scourge snapped.

The cats below jumped and left as quickly as possible. His Guard stayed. They knew they weren't included in that order. He waited until all of the other cats were gone until he jumped down from his place on the dumpster.

"Eat something," Scourge meowed to his Guard. He flicked his tail at the food Mint had gotten. They waited as Storm went up to the food and grabbed something. Then the others started digging in as well.

"Storm, come into my den. We need to talk." Scourge flicked his tail. The guard would alright by themselves. They didn't need to be watched. "Get comfy." Scourge invited his new deputy.

"You know why I got rid of Bone. I will not tolerate that kind of stuff from you," Scourge meowed coldly.

"Yes, Sir, I know." Storm's meow was confident.

"Here's what you will do, I want a one of The Guard warriors to be keeping tabs on Bone once he moves out. I don't care who he is, I don't care how it is done. But I want updates on what Bone is doing. And I don't want Bone to know anything. Other than that, you control the rest of The guard, so long as you tell me what you are doing." I also suggest you check in on Ivy. She is the one who keeps the Regular Warriors in order when they are in the other alley."

"Alright, anything else?"

"No," Scourge shook his head. "Just don't start behaving like Bone. I'll say it again and again, I won't have someone thinking they are at the same level as I am."

"Got it, sir."

"Go," Scourge dismissed his deputy. He wanted to speak with Mint now. Was she proud of her father and delighted that Scourge replaced Bone with her dad? He hoped so. "Send in Mint."

Storm dipped his head and left the den. Mint entered when Storm excited. It almost seemed rehearsed.

"I know why you got rid of Bone and replaced him with my father," Mint meowed as she stepped into the den. Scourge froze.

"Why would I do that?" Scourge asked. "I told you, I got rid of him because he was annoying me. He was acting like he was leader. I needed someone knew for the job."

"That's half of it, but the other half is that you wanted to please me. Don't say anything. I can tell. I can read you easier than you think." Mint was completely expressionless. "I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were," Scourge snorted. "But you're a kit, only six moons old. What would you know?"

"A lot more than you're giving me credit for!" Mint retorted.

Scourge blinked. "Fine. You're right; do you want a reward or something?"

"No, I want you to stop thinking I'm a young kit that can't do anything," Mint screeched.

"Stop, calm yourself or someone will hear you and I'll have The Guard on my case!" Scourge ordered. He went over to Mint, who sat still. "Shush, Mint." Scourge purred. He took his tail and flicked her ear with it. Mint purred and then stood up.

"I should go."

And then she left, much to Scourge's disappointment.