"Sorry I-" A large brown shape slammed against me, throwing me across the camp into the bracken with extreme force. The world went black.
How could I have been so stupid?! Leaving myself defenceless and open for attack! I pushed away my thoughts as darkness swept over me like a cold wave. No...Not now...I will go..down...fighting...
"Hopeheart?" A whispy voice spoke. My azure eyes blinked open, blinded by a shimmering light. Is this StarClan? Have I lost the final battle? No. There is always hope.
"Oh young one, don't look to upset, this is StarClan, but you are not dead..." From the blinding light, stepped a silver tabby, much like myself, her voice calm and inviting. "You must stay strong, Hopeheart, as you were named that for a reason...I was like you once, strong and determined to change the Clans ways, but I was alone, whereas you are not. Remember that, Hopeheart: as long as they have you and you have them, there will always be hope..."
The vision began to fade and the glittering shine of the stars was already sinking back into day light.
"Wait!" I called out to the silver tabby. Who was she? I had to find out. Abruptly, the she cat stopped and turned back around, the stars shining back at their brightest.
"Yes?"
"Who are you? What is your name?"
"My name is Wishfur, your great, great grandmother. I tried to fight against the rules, but stood alone in the cruel world and was killed in my first and final battle." Wishfur looked up at me, hope and victory beaming from her grey eyes. "I gave Stonefeather the prophecy, so she would call you Hopekit: so we would always have hope."
I nodded solemnly.
"Thank you. I promise that to the very end, I will fight for this; that I will make you, Stonefeather, Dawnshadow, Waterfur and the countless others who have died for this pitiful cause proud!" I failed to notice the rising anger building up in my voice as I told her this. I really need to stop doing this...
Wishfur smiled softly. "You are very determined, I like that. I have to return you now, but remember Hopeheart, there is always hope..."
And with that, the vision was gone and so was the brown Tom: Talonstar. The evil leader was pinned down on the highrock, Pebblefur and Cloudmist had their sharp claws aimed towards his exposed stomach. With teeth bared, he struggled against their strong grip.
"Let me go you disgusting she cats!" He snapped, trying to free himself.
"Not ever!" Cloudmist hissed slashing at his flanks, blood seeping from beneath his brown tabby fur. The leader snarled and winced in pain as claws takes his pelt.
"Cats of ClawClan!" I called as I leapt up the high rock next to my friends. "I'm sure you all know why were here..."
My blue gaze drifted over the bodies of my fallen Clanmates. So many have been lost... Was it worth it?
"To long have she cats been treated like dirt, today we make a stand! We will no longer be treated that way! This is the forge of a new Clan: a better Clan; a stronger Clan! United, we can face all odds and be stronger than ever!" I shouted across the clearing to all the corners of the camp, injured cats turning to listen to my plea. Some Toms growled deeply, while others stood stunned, faces blank in shock. "And how will we start this new world?! By killing the cruelest of all toms!"
I felt so wrong saying those words, but I knew he had to die if we were to make an new clan.
"No! You can't!"
Nightstorm rushed past, his black fur sticking up along his back, anger blazing in his eyes. Cloudmist sneered down at him and raised her claws.
"That's not good eno-!" Pebblefur suddenly stepped in front of her sister, her face turning to a frown.
"Wait Cloudmist!" The grey mottled she cat interrupted. Then, she turned to the large crowd. "If you surrender, we will not kill him."
A loud sigh of relief came from Talonstar, despite the two she cats still pinning him down, with all their strength. There was a variety of reactions from the crowd, some looking confused, many angry and some even worried. I took a step forward.
"Vote." I mewed simply. "If you want equality, stand by the she cats over there. Whereas if you wish things to stay as they were, stand over there."
The crowd shifted as the she cats, including Mistfall, Vinetail and Spiderpaw, walked over to the right, while most of the toms went to the left. The cats went silent. I shut my eyes in shock and horror. No! Seriously! After all this! A tear slowly began its way down my cheek...
"I'm so sorry Wishfur..." I whimpered to myself, shivering in heart ache.
"Wait!" A silver Tom stepped forward from the toms group. "I would like to say something!"
A ray of hope. Blinking back my tears, I peered down at him. His eyes were fixed on the white-grey she cat beside me.
"Cloudmist. Ever since I first saw your courage, determination and sassy attitude, I knew that what was happening was wrong. I love you and that's why I am choosing equality." Thistlestripe bravely said, shaking in his paws, before padding over to the right.
Another Tom stepped forward. "Greybark. You are the kindest cat I've ever met. I now realise how important it is to have someone to love and to cherish as your own. Please accept my humble apology." With hesitation. He joined the right group. Smiling brightly, I watched proudly as another tom joined him and another and another and another...
"Never!" Yowled Talonstar, breaking free from the two she cats "She cats will never be equaaaallll-a-ahh!."
He slipped, legs flailing in the air as he fell from the rock, his eyes wide in horror. The fallen leader hit the floor like a heavy stone. Splat. And with a loud rumble, the highrock shock, it's face crumbling as Cloudmist and Pebblefur struggled to leap away from the cracking stone. Eventually, the rock lay still and all went silent.
"No! I'll kill you all!" Cried a grief stricken elder from the left side: Eaglefeather. He was just as twisted as his son. Kit raper...He deserves what he's going to get...
But before I could anything, Greybark raced forward, slamming her small figure into the elder, forcing both of them into the unstable highrock. With mighty crash, dust blew into the air as the rickety rock collapsed for the second time, crushing the two cats flat.
"No!" Yowled a heart broken Thistlestripe, mourning for the lost of his future mate to be. Mistfall's eyes widened in horror as he stared at his littermates rocky tomb.
"Greybark!" He whimpered, in grief, he usually bright eyes, clouding over. He's lost everything...Well apart from me and our kits... I stood still, my eyes quivering in absolute shock. The silence was deafening.
"We've done it Wishfur...Even after all the pain we've been through, we've done it..." I breathed, slowly shutting my eyes. Pebblefur trotted over to me and rested her tail on my shoulder comfortingly. I turned round and smiled at her, my azure eyes tearing up. The grey she cat nudged for me to speak.
"Cats of ClawClan! The era of terror is over, we have won! I hope that you all realise how important you are to each other, that without one another we are nothing. Together, ClawClan will be at its very best. Don't you realise how important love is?! Love is the thing that binds a clan together; that makes us stronger than our foes and that makes us who we are. We have lost many cats in this battle and we have lost many before this final confrontation, but they will not be forgotten! They have all played a vital part in fixing this broken clan and helped make this clan stronger than ever before! Together we are one. Together there is always hope!" I shouted down from the crumbling remains of the lost highrock, tears streaming down my fur like a waterfall.
Surprisingly, even the toms seemed touched by my speech and gathering round the highrock, dipping their heads in respect for their fallen comrades.
"Hopestar!" Hollypaw cheered from the back of the crowd, her brother , Spiderpaw, by her side, also starting to cheer. Soon Mousenose, Vinetail, Mistfall, Thistlestipe, Spottedclaw, the kits and many others started cheering, their voices raw with emotion.
"Hopestar! Hopestar! Hopestar! Hopestar!"
We've done it Stonefeather, I've made you proud...We've proven them all wrong... You're vision will come true. I will stand upon the highrock and I will become Hopestar, leader of Clawclan.
I hope (no pun intended) you enjoyed this fan fiction of mine! Anyway, I was thinking that I will either add another chapter or start a new fanfic about what happens after Hopeheart is made into Hopestar. What do you think?