Chapter Twenty-One
GRAND FINALE: PART ONE OF TWO
Dovewing's P.O.V.:
"Dovewing?" Tigerheart exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" His eyes were wide, and his tail was trembling.
"Like you don't know!" I snarled at him before returning my eyes to Tigerstar. The cruel ex-leader had a cool, expressionless face. I immediately knew that my mate's mentor had something to do with this. He had probably even planned it himself! My world went red. My claws felt sharper than ever. "I said: Where's my kits, Tigerstar?" My words rang throughout the small clearing. Still, the former ShadowClan leader said nothing.
"Dovewing, what are you talking about? Our kits…" Tigerheart gulped. "Our kits are in StarClan." I could see his sorrow, his pain… I shook the thought away. It was just another act. Of course he had to know that the kits were here!
"Liar!" I roared furiously. The young tom winced and took a step back.
"Dovewing," came a voice beside me. "He's not lying. I would know." I glanced at Jayfeather, who had quietly stepped up next to me.
"He's telling the truth?" I whispered. "B-but Tigerstar would tell him, wouldn't he?" The gray tom shrugged.
"It wouldn't be the first time Tigerstar has kept secrets," he pointed out.
"I'm lost, Dovewing," Tigerheart meowed, his eyes wide in confusion. "What's going on here?"
I took a deep breath, trying to gather enough patience to explain. All I wanted to do was rip Tigerstar to shreds- him and whoever else was behind this. "The Dark Forest stole our kits after they died," I hissed, glaring at Tigerstar. "We thought they were safe in StarClan this whole time, but we were wrong. Our poor kits are in danger!" My mate looked at me in disbelief before bowing his head.
Tigerstar padded over to his side and whispered in his ear, "Think, young one. Would you truly want them in StarClan? StarClan holds the power to save cats, so why didn't they heal your kits? They betrayed you! We have always been loyal. We want the best for your kin. StarClan is the enemy."
"That's not true!" snarled Lionblaze, who had also padded up beside me. "StarClan can't always save cats, but they will always stand by our side! You, on the other paw, are greedy and selfish. You wouldn't watch over any cat unless they came to your advantage!"
Tigerstar glared at my former mentor. "Oh, is that so? Then why did Briarlight live after the tree fell? Why did Sandstorm recover from green cough? Because StarClan saved them! Yet, StarClan did nothing to help the three little ThunderClan kits!" he growled. "If I had that kind of power, I would let no cat go hungry, or become sick, or even die!"
"You're a rotten liar," Jayfeather hissed. "I know the kinds of things you've done with power before, and it was far from helpful! There's a reason you're in the Dark Forest, Tigerstar, and it wasn't because you were too good for StarClan!"
Throughout the whole argument, Tigerheart's head stayed bowed. "Who do you believe?" I murmured. "Me? Or him?" We watched intensely. I didn't know what I would do if he fought against me. My heart could take no more sorrow or betrayal.
At last, Tigerheart raised his head. His eyes were venomous. He slowly turned his head towards his mentor and spat, "You. You! You stole my kits!" I watched in amazement as my mate's claws slid out. He's on my side, I thought incredulously.
Tigerstar purred in cold amusement. "You think you can beat me, do you? I have taught you everything you know! I know every move, every trick, and every pounce! You can't win this fight!"
"Not alone, he can't," growled Lionblaze, "but we're here!"
I snarled, "I'll turn you into crowfood, you fox heart!"
I threw myself at the Dark warrior, but just as my claws were coming down on his throat, he slid out from under me and ran. "Follow him!" screeched Jayfeather.
Tigerstar slipped through the bushes with the four of us racing closely behind. Oh no you don't, I thought maliciously. You're not getting away that easily!
Ivypool's P.O.V.:
"Faster, Ivypaw, faster!" taunted Hawkfrost. I rolled away just before he could pounce on my shoulders.
"Umph!" he panted as he crashed into the cold, hard ground.
"Fast enough for you?" I hissed at my mentor. I wished I could be anywhere but here in 'training' (It was more like spying).
"You can make your jokes," he snarled, "but let's see if your words can match up to your fight!" He leaped at me again, his claws shining in the half-light. I prepared myself to roll under the tabby tom and scratch his under belly. Suddenly, though, he changed direction and halted next to me on the grass. I glanced at him, puzzled, but he was looking into the ferns.
A flash of movement caught my eye. The bushes quaked and out popped Tigerstar. He was hurtling at top speed. Tigerstar was running? Why? If he was fighting or training, he would never run from outstretched claws. My answer came as Dovewing, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Tigerheart came plunging into our training session.
"You can't run forever, Tigerstar!" Tigerheart was hissing. "Eventually, you have to stop, and when you do, you're crowfood!"
What were Dovewing, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather doing here? What in StarClan's name was happening? I looked at my sister in confusion, my eyes pleading for answers. She mouthed so only I could see, I'll explain later. Trust me. I nodded.
Tigerstar came to a stop next to Hawkfrost. "I never intended to hide," Tigerstar snarled, a mischievous gleam in his eye, "but I'm not mouse-brained. It wouldn't be a fair fight, now would it? Three to one? I guess there are four of you, but I'm not counting the good-for-nothing gray lump over there," he mocked, pointing his tail at Jayfeather. "He doesn't even have proper warrior training!" Jayfeather hissed in response. "Hawkfrost," the tom continued, "let's see how well you've trained Ivypool."
"Great idea," growled Hawkfrost, his icy blue eyes glowing. "Ivypool, attack Lionblaze! Now!"
For a moment, I froze. I couldn't attack Lionblaze! He was my Clan mate! I was not loyal to the Dark Forest! I was loyal to my Clan! But I needed Hawkfrost's trust, so that I could spy for Jayfeather. My head began to spin. I looked at Lionblaze in alarm. He nodded slightly, so only I would notice. I knew then that he needed me to fight him, even if it was just for show. I took a deep breath and pounced.
1. NO, this is NOT the last chapter, as I had intended it to be. There is a LOT happening, and I feel it's best to split the chapter into 2.
2. YES, this IS the Grand Finale! It's just part one. Part two will be posted tomorrow.
3. R&R! :D