This is only part one cause MAN the whole thing is long x_x

Spruce: My fault? (Part one)

Allegiance:

D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S.:

Jessica: Slightly dark grey tabby she-cat with icy blue eyes. Convincing and cunning, not very merciful. Brilliant fighter.

Spruce: Dark brown she-cat with a splash of black on her back with blue eyes. Bossy and boastful, likes things her way.

Pumpkin: Light orange tabby tom with amber eyes. Quick thinker and first to think out flaws in plans.

Luna: Black she-cat with russet fur on chest and brown eyes, has a slightly squashed muzzle. Unusually more flexible than most cats and has fast reflexes.

Sailor: Black tom with white splotches and yellow eyes. Good hunter and though not the brightest cat around, can be the cat to unexpectedly come up with a good idea.

Blueberry: Grey-brown tabby tom with grey-blue eyes. Loyal to Jessica, can be a little shy.

Scar: Light grey and pink hairless she-cat with orange eyes. Self-conscious, and jealous of other cats' fluffy fur.

Eli: White longhaired tom, but his coat is so dirty it looks grey-brown, he has green eyes. Though annoying and just plain stupid at times, very aggressive.

Peter: Orange tabby tom with brown eyes, scrawny. Though he was forced to go with the rouges he tries to live life to the fullest.

Mushroom: Lilac coloured coat with darker points, blue eyed she-cat with abnormally short legs. Good climber and surprisingly fast despite her short legs.

Ginger: Cream coloured tom with dark blue eyes. Has lots of energy and gets excited by small things.

Curls: Curly grey long haired she-cat with yellow eyes. Grumpy and easily annoyed.

Bamboo: A pink hairless cat with abnormally short legs. Like Scar, he is jealous of the other cats for their fluffy fur, and he is jealous of some of the rouges longer legs, very self-centred.

The wind howled, feeding the hot flames that climbed still higher at the sap-filled pine trees.

"Get. Out."

Green eyes glared at blue. Fury and desperation clouded my thoughts. A gasp of pain; blood welled up from a wound from the claws that had been unsheathed.

"You changed all right. I don't need you. I hate you, you worthless piece of fox dung."

Fire blazed, lighting cracked, trees exploded into flame.

"Goodbye. I hope you burn."

One last look at the tear-stained face, one last chance gone, one last heartbeat to flee before the flames would circle them and there would be no escape.

• • •

Did I say those words? Did I really say I wanted a cat to burn alive?

Rain was pouring from the sky, soaking my dark brown pelt. The black patch of fur on my back looked like a splash of ashes that were liquified. I was running without knowing where I was running to, only knowing that I was running from something or someone.

Maybe I'm running from myself.

The forest grew darker and darker around me as I swiftly fled farther and farther away from the burning trees, alight with the glowing orange-red flames. I ran on, leaving the fire and with it my only friend.

My only friend.

The image of Moss with her three new closest friends flooded her mind until it was the only thing I could see; my flying paws tripped on something and I fell with a splash into a dirty puddle.

I could not find the strength to get up. I lay there, numb, looking through half-closed eyes at the shadowy forest.

The shadows seemed to fill my vision until it was all I could see, until I realized I had closed my eyes.

Unconsciousness was so easy to slip into...

• • •

I saw Moss laughing with another cat. Who is she? What does Moss think she's doing? I felt anger bubble beneath my fur.

"Hey Moss!" I thrust my way between the two. Both looked surprised, and I saw a flash of hurt in the grey tabby's face.

"So, do you want to play 'Hunter and Prey'?" I asked loudly, nudging her away from the tabby she-cat. "It'll be so much fun! Come on."

I looked behind me, and glared at the grey tabby. She's my friend, no one else's!

• • •

I was alone in my den. Moss seemed down all the time. Why? Am I not good enough?

I was growing more perturbed that I would lose Moss as my friend. She seemed to be getting more downcast and even a little bit resentful towards me, asking me why she had to do what I asked her to.

She seemed to be getting more determined to meet other cats and find new friends.

I wasn't stupid and self-centred. I knew there were much, much better cats then me. How can I be as good as them? Moss is the only friend I have. If I lose her, I'll be alone. All alone...

I need to push her away from them. She met Fox when they were one month old, there's a strong connection there. She seems very close with Rain for some reason too, but why? She's just some timid little kit! I have to be better than her at least. Spark she met only about a moon ago, but they've become close so fast already.

I can't let her get closer to any of them, I'll lose her!

• • •

"Hah! You call that a hunting crouch? You like like a crippled fat badger!" I sneered.

Rain flattened her ears and got up. "Please, leave me alone, Spruce."

I stepped forward threateningly. "Oh, nice comeback! Real smooth, boy do I feel scared! Now get away from here!"

Rain's eyes met mine, and she trembled slightly. Finally, she turned and sprinted away while I watched her, satisfied with what I had done.

The next day, Rain didn't approach Moss with me by her side.

I only have to scare them off, and they won't try to be friends with Moss. She'll be with me. I'll have my friend still by my side.

• • •

"Hey, look what I caught!" I pushed the squirrel towards Moss. "I did it on my own even though I my paw hurt sooo bad."

My paw didn't hurt at all. I had stolen the squirrel from Fox, one of Moss's friends.

Moss' eyes widened at the squirrel. "Oh. Um, that's nice..." She bent and sniffed the squirrel, and she shut her eyes tight. "Um... Just asking you know... Why does the prey smell like Fox?"

I felt a jolt in my belly. "I bumped into her on the way from my hunt and she tried to steal this squirrel it was so horrible of her but I finally told her it was wrong to steal and she left so that's why it smells like Fox." I meowed loudly in a rush.

"Oh. Okay." Moss turned away. "That's an amazing squirrel you caught!... I'm just... I'm just not hungry. You can eat it."

Are you serious? I pushed down a growl. Ugh. "Fine, I'm just being nice to you like I always am and you just push me away!" I snapped. "Some friend you are."

Snatching the squirrel in my jaws, I stalked away. With one swift glance back I saw Moss' ears and tail droop, but she didn't look too regretful.

• • •

"Why are you friends with her anyways?" My ears flicked forward to the direction of the voice.

I ducked under a bush and peered out. My hackles raised as I saw Moss with Spark.

"I mean, she bullies you, bosses you around, steals your prey, forces you to do her work, brags to every cat, and is horrible to others!" Spark spat. "You need to ditch her. You can't let her control you like this."

Moss sighed. "But she's my friend... I... I know she's a good cat underneath." Moss didn't sound too convincing.

"I can't just leave her right?" Another sigh.

Spark shook her head. "I guess it's your choice. But I'll always be around if you need a break from ol' Spruce."

I had heard enough. I slinked silently away from under the bush.

So that's what others thought of me. But Moss didn't, she knew I was good.

This is why she can't leave me. I'll be alone because every cat hates me. Every cat hates me...

She's my only friend, she can't leave me alone...

• • •

Mosslight. Mosslight! Rage coursed through my pelt. She changed her name for a bunch of stupid, useless friends! What's the point? She's made her name sound like the weird 'warriors' from the Four Clans Tale!

Moss was becoming more rebellious, questioning the things I told her to do. I felt like I was clinging on by the tips of my claws on the cliff that was our friendship. One more mistake by me would send me falling into the dark abyss of loneliness.

• • •

"Ugh, great. The weather just had to be thundery and rainy when we get here. Why did you choose such a bad time?" I hissed at Moss.

"Because I needed to tell you something that couldn't wait for sunny weather." Moss turned to me.

Apprehension prickled through my fur. "What do you want? Dragging me out here in this ridiculous weather, it's just like you to do that."

My friend glared at me. "I'm leaving, Spruce. I want, I need to leave you and go with my friends. I need to go where you can't."

"I can't be friends with you anymore."

Lightning cracked and thunder rumbled in the distance, loud and echoing, but all I could hear were the terrible words that Moss had spoken.

Horror and panic tore at my heart. No! No, please, no!

"What are you talking about Moss? You can't be serious, you can't possibly want to go with those stupid cats you call friends! They'll betray you, they'll leave you for dead!" I snarled. "Don't go with them, stay with me. You were always my friend, you can't just break it off like this!"

Moss' eyes filled with tears; she shook with anger and despair. "I was never your friend! Or at least, you never treated me like one!"

Never treated you like one?

I stared at her.

"It's not my fault I had to do this. Your actions led me to my decision! This is all your own fault, the reason I'm leaving. It's because of you!"

My fault?

"No it's not!" I spat. "Those cats— Rain, Fox and Spark— they've been telling lies about me. Talking behind my back."

Moss' fur was whipped up by a gust of wind, and I flattened my ears against the cold.

Agony filled Moss' eyes. "Those cats are my real friends. Not you. You never were. They only helped me realize I had to do this. I knew you weren't doing me any good in my life. They only helped me find the courage to leave you. You can't blame them. This is your fault."

My fault.

The rain poured down from the heavy clouds, splattering down into the mud Moss and I stood on. The wind was roaring, the pine trees bent to the wind's direction, and the lightning flashed nearer than before as the thunder rumbled.

I can't be my fault.

The fury that swept over me made my paws want to leap forward and tear Moss apart.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS?! YOU WERE MY ONLY FRIEND, I DON'T DESERVE TO BE LEFT ALONE!

Right?

"After all this time we've been together, you go and betray me like this? What happened to our friendship?" I yowled.

What happened? Tell me!

Was it really my fault?

• • •

I groaned. I felt the wet, unpleasant texture of the mud I lay on. Pushing myself to my paws, I staggered over to a bush nearby and lay down once more. My fur was matted and dirty.

No bad dreams. No nightmares. Only horrible, terrible memories...

The sky was still cloudy, but it wasn't raining as hard; it was only lightly drizzling. The petrichor was pleasant and welcoming after the harsh smell of ashes and burning trees.

I don't need Moss. Who needs friends anyways? They're just an additional mess of emotional chaos.

"Your fault," I rasped to myself. Whether I was hating Moss or myself right now, I didn't know.

• • •

I tore into the vole I caught hungrily. Almost half a moon had past since Moss had left me.

The fire had scared most of the prey away. I had planned that I would try and find a place for myself today. I was on my own now; I had left my parents moons ago, for I was tired of them treating me like a kit.

My ears pricked. There was a sound of some cat stalking in my direction, hissing under their breath.

I finished the vole with another bite. They aren't gonna steal my prey.

"Who's there?" I called out, fur bristling threateningly.

The cat's voice stopped abruptly as well as their pawsteps.

"Show yourself!" I spat.

A dark grey she-cat with ash-coloured stripes stepped out from behind a blackened tree.

"Hello." She meowed smoothly. However, her tone did not match her appearance; her fur was distinctly ruffled and her tail was lashing furiously.

I narrowed my eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

She ignored my question and instead answered with another question. "What's your name, who are you?"

"I'm the one asking the questions here!" I snapped.

"Well, my name is Jessica. Good day, goodbye." Jessica made to leave, but I stepped in front of her.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" I inquired. There really was no real reason to be asking her all these questions, but I had not talked to any cat for so long...

The tabby glared at me. "I don't need to tell you anything, get out of my way!"

Please don't go... "If I tell you who I am, you tell me what's wrong." I snapped.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "I would fight you right now if the fire hadn't... Fine, go on."

"I'm Spruce. My stupid 'friend' just left me, after all I did for her! She just accused me of being the bad friend and took off with her other 'better friends'. She just left me all alone after that big fire around here; I managed to escape without too much injury an—"

I broke off. Why did I tell her that much? Was I alone for so long that I needed to tell some cat?

"Um... Well what's up with you?" I muttered, lowering my head to look fixedly at a piece of blackened wood.

Jessica meowed slowly, "Is your friend, by any chance, named Fox, Moss, or Spark?"

My head shot up again and I stared at her. "Y-Yes! Her name was Moss!"

The grey tabby began pacing, tail flicking and eyes narrowed. "Was Moss friends with any cats named Fox, Spark, and Rain?"

I nodded vigorously.

Jessica unsheathed her claws. "Rain was my friend. Or she said she was. She promised she would never leave me out on anything. She told me many things about how great Moss, Fox, and Spark were. But what about me?"

I nodded again to show I knew how she felt.

"I hadn't heard from her for while, so I went to see what she was up to. Her mom tells me that she left! Left, with Fox, Spark, and Moss. Left, to create a stupid clan from the Four Clans Tale! Left without me."

I stood up and replied, "I know, Moss did that to me too! Except she kept shouting about how I was a bad friend before she ran off!"

Jessica kept pacing, circling around a burned, thin pine tree. "'Friends', they called us. And Moss accused you of being the bad friend? They're the bad ones."

She halted and looked up at me. Jessica looked an awful lot like Rain, except for the torn ear and the darker colour of her tabby pelt.

"Do you know what I want?" She asked softly. I shook my head, uncertain.

"Revenge." Jessica hissed.

Revenge? I blinked; I had never thought of revenge after Moss had left me, but now that the thought had entered my head...

Revenge. It was like the thought had kindled a small spark into me that would roar into a blazing fire.

"Yes." I growled. If Moss knew how I felt, if I could cause the pain she caused me...

Isn't that evil?

No.

It would be even. It wouldn't be something evil. We would be even.

"You can stay with me tonight." I told Jessica. "Come on."

• • •

Over the next moon, Jessica and I talked more about how our former friends were betrayers and liars. I wanted revenge, but I had no idea how I was going to get it. Jessica, however, was already planning out what she was going to do. I swore I would help her.

"How do I know I can trust you? You may very well be a liar and a cheat as well, just like Rain." Jessica asked slowly when I told her.

I just shook my head firmly. "I am not, I am far more honourable than those foolish backstabbers. You are free to kill me if I waver from my loyalty."

Jessica had smirked. "Now you, are a truly noble cat."

Almost a quarter moon had passed since I swore loyalty to Jessica. An owl hooted dolefully, looking out at the burned prey-scarce land. I heard a slight 'clack' as the owl took off, making the brittle branches shake. My stomach rumbled, I hadn't found any prey since Jessica and I had shared that vole yesterday...

"Look who I found, Spruce," Jesssica purred silkily, pushing her way through the burned bush I was sheltering behind.

I grunted, "is it prey? Because I'm starving."

Flicking her tail irritably, the grey tabby shook her head. "No, I said 'who', not 'what'."

I scrambled to my paws. "You foun— is it Moss? Or Rain? Or is it Fox or—" I broke off as a ginger tabby tom peered cautiously around the scraggly bush.

Jessica beckoned him forward, a broad grin on her face. "Meet Pumpkin! Pumpkin, this is Spruce. Welcome to... To our group."

I stared suspiciously at the newcomer. "Does he know our plan? Can he be trusted?"

"I do know your plan," replied Pumpkin evenly. His voice was smooth and not exactly deep, but almost rich like honey. "And I've found a couple mistakes; not to offend you two, but I do think I pay a lot of attention to detail then you both. This will be useful when you are deciding on an attack or something similar."

Don't get smart with me. I turned back to Jessica. "Can he be trusted?" I growled.

Jessica flicked her tail dismissively, "He has already vowed to stand with us. He can suffer the consequences he goes against his word."

Pumpkin dipped his head obediently, "I only wish to find a more social life where I can be of help. Solitude was never the path for me."

Same here...

• • •

Over the next few moons, Luna, Blueberry, Sailor and most unforgettably, Scar, who had no fur, swore alliance to Jessica.

Luna's fur was black with a little russet on her chest; she had a slightly squashed muzzle, and was surprisingly fast for such a stout looking she-cat.

Blueberry was a grey-brown tabby tom who was quite shy, but he was a pretty good jumper. Jessica told me that she would need to train him to pounce like that during battle.

Scar's skin was pink with grey splotches and was very self-conscious of his hairless body. I often saw her glaring at the others as though she were jealous of their fur and wanted to steal it. However, her lack of hair made her a brilliant hunter because there was no fur to accidentally brush against a leaf or fern.

Sailor had black fur with splashes of white scattered around his pelt. He didn't seem very bright, but he was a great fighter and Jessica praised him for that.

Blueberry, Luna and Sailor had all come from the same barn some distance away. The trio had been looking for some more excitement and adventure than just watching the twolegs and their horses walk about.

Scar had told Jessica he had been seeking adventure as well, but I think it was mainly because he wanted more protection. I suppose it was understandable considering she was lacking protection fur would've given her.

I looked up as Jessica padded over to me. We were traveling to find a better place then the burned up forest to plan our revenge.

Revenge. It was a word so often associated with bad and evil cats I felt very strange calling it 'the plan for revenge'.

"Pumpkin pointed out something," Jessica told me as she padded in, "we're gonna need more cats then this if we want to attack Moss and Rain's little clan. I've ordered Sailor and Luna to find more cats; Blueberry is too shy and other cats will avoid Scar because of her hairless body, they'll think it's odd."

I waited, knowing Jessica had more to say because of her twitching ears. "And?"

"And I've finally found the perfect name for our group!" Jessica crowed triumphantly. "I know Rain's secret."

Leaning closer to me, she whispered, "Rain's afraid of the dark."

I snorted and burst out laughing, "are you serious?! She's scared of the dark? She's a cat, we can see well in the dark!"

Jessica nodded. "I know, it's pathetic," she sneered. "That's why I'm naming our group after her fear: D-A-R-K-N-E-S-S."

I quickly pieced the letters together and gave Jessica a rather bewildered look. "Darkness, right? But why did you have to spell it out?"

Straightening, Jessica padded a little way off and looked up at the grey, cloudy sky. "Because it stands for something. I thought up of it myself: Doing Anything for Revenge and Killing, No End to Suffering Souls. D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S., you see?"

I thought that sounded pretty tacky, but I held my tongue. "Oh, I get it!" I replied out loud. "That should get Moss and Rain terrified."

"Jessica!" Pumpkin voice called from beyond the bush. "Luna is back, and she's found three new recruits!"

"Excellent." Jessica purred, trotting away without another glance towards me.

Is this really a good idea? I sighed, Jessica seemed a lot more eager about the whole D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. thing than I was, and doubts were starting to form in my head.

• • •

The cats Luna found—Eli, Curls and Mushroom— along with the cats Sailor found—Bamboo and Ginger — joined D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. Jessica finally seemed satisfied with eleven cats to command, and twelve cats including herself to take on Rain's new clan.

Plan after plan was revised and improved, adjusted to Jessica's liking, before at last...

"So this is final?" I asked, looking down at the various scratch marks made by Jessica, Pumpkin, Ginger, Mushroom and myself.

Pumpkin nodded slowly, also staring hard at the plan we had drawn out and discussed. "Hmmm... Yes, yes... I think this is good..."

Jessica lifted her gaze from the lines in the dirt. "Alright. So first we—"

"Jessica!"

Luna burst into the clearing, scrabbling away when she realized she could have scuffed away the plan.

"What is it?" Jessica snapped, "I'm busy here!"

Luna paced in place, tail flicking in impatience. "I know, I know, I'm so sorry, but Eli found some cat and he knows! He knows where Rain's clan is!"

Hisses and snarls grew louder, and soon enough Eli's filthy pelt pushed roughly through the undergrowth. He was growling at an young, orange tabby tom who was very thin. The newcomer was hissing rather weakly and struggling in Eli's firm grasp on his fur.

"Not here." Jessica ordered, "He might accidentally smudge the plan we sketched out."

Fixing her teeth on the tabby's scruff, she harshly thrust him away until he was a good three tail-lengths away. "Eli, how did you find him?"

Eli glared at the scrawny cat. "He scared off my mouse. I told him he owed me a piece of prey, and he wanted to escape. I attacked him, asking him if he wanted to be reported to my leader and said he was trying to get away from a group of cats and didn't want to be in another."

I felt a stab of pity for the orange tabby. He hadn't even willingly wanted to come.

"I questioned him about this 'group of cats', and he asked if I would let him go if he told me." Eli laughed, "I just said if he told me about the group of cats he wouldn't be killed! So he said the group was called 'RainClan'."

Jessica's eyes widened in triumphant delight. "Oh, really!"

Leaning closer to the scrawny tom, she cooed mockingly, "so you refused their request to join their little clan and wandered instead to us, eh? Tell me, what's your name?"

"Peter."

The reply came, not from the cat in front of Jessica, but rather from Pumpkin, who was staring at the young tom.

"What?!" Jessica twisted around to look incredulously at Pumpkin. "You know him?!"

"He's my half-brother. My mother took another mate after my father died, and they had Peter."

Eli unsheathed his claws and spat, "so are you on this cat's side?!"

Jessica clouted him over the ears. "You idiot, of course not! Peter is a weak little kit who decided in the end a clan was not for him. Pumpkin is nothing like that."

I glanced at Pumpkin and Peter. How did I not notice how similar they were? The orange tabby coats, though Pumpkin's pelt was lighter, and the amber–brown eyes...

I narrowed my eyes. Pumpkin was still staring at Peter. Were they close? Was Pumpkin upset about the way Eli and Jessica had treated his half-brother?

Jessica turned back to the young newcomer, a falsely sweet smile on her lips. "So Peter... Tell me about RainClan."

• • •

Two moons had passed since Peter's arrival. During the two moons, Jessica, Pumpkin, Ginger, Mushroom, Peter and I revised the plan to ensure Jessica's satisfaction. Scouting parties were sent to spy on RainClan, as well as to make sure Peter wasn't lying.

Pumpkin hadn't shown any affection towards his half-brother, but was never harsh with him either, like many of the others were. Jessica kept praising him day after day on his skills, and I have a very strong suspicion that she had taken a liking to him. Maybe more than a just a liking...

"Attention D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S.! Gather 'round!" Jessica yowled. I bounded over to her; Peter looked up uncertainly as I sat down.

Jessica narrowed her eyes, "I suppose you should come listen to what I have to say as well," she replied to Peter's unspoken question.

When every cat had gathered around her, Jessica began, "our plan has finally been perfected. I will claim my vengeance, and all of you who sworn loyalty to me will have the honour of fighting alongside me. You will always be my allies even after our mission is completely accomplished. If you ever need help in the future after this, your kits and your kit's kits will be my allies."

You mentioned this before... I began to mutter silently, but then I thought about what she had said. 'I will claim my vengeance.' Did Jessica... Forget about me? What about my revenge on Moss?

Do I really want revenge on Moss?...

"So? Aren't you going to tell everyone the plan?" Peter asked boldly.

The grey tabby glared at him. "You're our prisoner. It's not your place to ask questions." She paused. "I-I was going to tell everyone before you so rudely interrupted," Jessica added in a hiss.

"We will pretend that we weren't planning this. We will act like we weren't expecting them, and decided to attack on the spot. They'll underestimate us a little, and when we show our true power... They'll truly fall into despair." Jessica smirked, "Emotional injuries can cut much deeper than physical ones..."

"I will tell Rain that you all have a long history with the cats in RainClan. It will make her even more scared. I know almost all of you have seen these cats around where you used to live, so try and aim for those who know you. It will seem like we are telling her the truth, that we all are here for revenge."

A couple cats looked rather worried by this, but the grey she-cat didn't acknowledge it. Ginger stood up, waiting for permission to speak. Jessica nodded in his direction, permitting him to say something.

"When are we going to do it?" he meowed.

Jessica's smirk widened. "Tomorrow. We're all going to take a look at their camp today so everyone is more familiar with the place."

There were a couple surprised looks exchanged between the cats who hadn't heard about it. Even I was surprised— I was one of the planners but Jessica never discussed this...

Only Pumpkin looked like he had heard it before. Jessica tells more to Pumpkin than to me. Does she really care that I want my revenge too?

Maybe I don't.

Maybe she knows that.

• • •

"Alright... Here."

Jessica was leading small groups at a time to take a look at the RainClan camp. Pumpkin, Peter, Luna, Jessica and I were in the last group.

"There's the disgusting leader: Rain. My dear old friend," Jessica's growled, voice dripping with sarcasm.

I spotted Moss holding a bundle leaves in her jaws. She approached an elderly cat and set down the leaves before pushing them towards him. I heard her meow something inaudible.

Moss is... What's the term... Oh yeah. Moss is medicine cat?

"...Over there, and then we'll circle them. If they need to be persuaded, Spruce will kill one of the kits."

My head jerked up in shock. "What? Kill a kit?! You never said anything about that!"

Jessica flicked an ear dismissively. "It's just a kit. It's not hard. Just cut their throat, they stop squirming and meowing, then it's over."

I was horrified. Kill a kit? However, after all my days of lying to Moss, I had practiced hiding what I really felt over and over...

"Sorry, it just caught me off guard. I thought we were going to kill Rain." I replied smoothly.

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "Killing her is too merciful. She needs worse than death. Suffering through life is more terrible than death."

Is all this just because she left you to make a clan?! How could something so small lead to something as serious a murder?

• • •

I hardly got any sleep that night. Dreams full of a kit's frightened screams and blood on my paws...

I woke the next day with my heart thudding uncomfortably fast. Anxiety gripped me tight and refused to let go.

The sun was sinking lower and lower in the sky, and when it was almost evening, Jessica called, "the time has finally come to take my vengeance, and you will all be remembered for your hard work! If you remain loyal to me," she added with a cold look.

"Now follow me!"

My heart pounding harder than ever, I ran to catch up with Jessica. In heartbeats it seemed, we reached the RainClan camp. Why is everything going by so fast? Can I really do this?

Jessica sent the other cats away until D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. had surrounded the camp.

Jessica raised her tail high so the other cars could see it, and flicked it every time she whispered a word.

"Three. Two. One."

With a yowl, she leapt out of the bushes and launched herself at the nearest cat—the elderly one I had seen Moss tending to yesterday. The golden tabby she-cat hissed in shock, while the other members of RainClan gasped as D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. hurtled towards them.

Go go go! She'll kill you if you don't fight! Fear coursing through me, I tackled a dark grey tabby tom and fastened my teeth in his shoulder.

He threw me off and screeched, "Foxflame! Where's Rainstar?"

Foxflame? I scrabbled to my paws and saw Moss' russet furred friend replying frantically, "I don't know! Check her den!"

Where's Moss? I scanned the clearing but my friend—former friend— was nowhere to be seen. An unintentional wave of relief swept over me that I knew would have me killed by Jessica if she knew how I felt about her being safe.

"Circle them!" I heard my leader command. Instantly, we all began to force them back, trapping them in their very own camp.

"Check the dens and bushes! Bring any cat who are trying to hide!" Jessica ordered. Luna, Eli, Mushroom, Scar, and Sailor quickly went to a section of the camp to look for other members of RainClan.

Please don't let them find Moss if she's there.

But I'm here for revenge! I'm here for revenge... I remembered the burning forest and Moss' accusations. I remembered the bitter feeling I had when she broke apart our friendship.

Anger began to burn in my chest and I saw Foxflame again. Growling, I rammed into her and she staggered back, pushing her closer to her other clanmates as the RainClan cats backed up as D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. closed in on all sides.

There were still many cats fighting back. I saw a black kit with a bit of white on his muzzle swinging in the jaws of a white and grey queen. "If they need to be persuaded, Spruce will kill one of the kits."

One part of me was screaming, "are you mad?!" while the other part of me urged me to wrestle the kit out of it's mother's grasp and...

Jessica's snarl startled me. "There's a kit! Che, this RainClan are pretty good fighters..." she growled resentfully. "Get the kit. Make it dramatic, make them fear for their life and make every cat else fear for their lives too."

Before I could say something she had spun around and slashed at a cream furred tom, disappearing among the crowd of cats that were still battling.

She'll kill you if you don't! The thought struck terror into me. Just get it over with, it's just a kit. Just snap their neck and it'll be over...

Trying to focus on the fury that had risen inside me moments before, I unsheathed my claws and leaped at the queen. She hissed through her kit's fur, "get away, you monster!"

Knocking her to the ground, I left a scratch that was almost on her eye, blood dripping down her face and half-blinding her. With her sight unclear, I snatched the kit roughly in my jaws and attempted to rip her son away with force.

She howled in fear and rage when I tried to. Kicking fiercely, she tightened her grip on her son. The kit was mewing shrilly, confused and pained. At last I slashed her muzzle and the queen was forced to let go. With a triumphant snarl I snatched the kit high out of her reach and sprinted away.

"No, Spookkit! Give him back!" the queen screeched.

Panting heavily through the mouthful of fur, I scrabbled up the tree I knew had to be their meeting place as there were many scratch marks already on it.

I had a heartbeat to catch my breath, before I pinned the kit vertically to the trunk of the tree carefully with my claws and yowled, "SURRENDER OR THE KIT DIES!"

Terror filled the mother's eyes. "No, no, no!"

"Not a step closer towards your son."I hissed, glaring down at her. I saw Jessica with the widest grin I had ever seen.

"P-please, please, don't hurt him! Please, please, please..." the queen sobbed.

"Then surrender!" I spat.

The members of RainClan fell limp and stopped fighting. I watched as D.A.R.K.N.E.S.S. stopped attacking them and began herding them back until they were a small, crowded circle.

Oh thank the stars... I won't have to kill a kit after all... I took the kit gently and leapt down the tree. Jessica padded over to me and whispered, "gimme that—" Snatching the kit from my jaws, she padded forward until she was I front of the kit's mother, Rainfeather, Foxflame, and several other cats.

I flexed my claws, feeling Spookkit's fur trapped there. I shivered, wanting to toss it away to erase all evidence of what I had done to make RainClan surrender.

"This is just a warm-up, RainClan!" Jessica addressed to the surrounded cats. "If you try to stop us— well, I won't make it too complicated."

With a single, deadly swipe, Jessica aimed her claws precisely at the helpless kit's throat. It let out a strangled, choking cry, before the kit collapsed, dead.

Spookkit's mother shrieked. "YOU! YOU SAID—You s-said... You wouldn't h-hurt him... No... No..."

Rainfeather's eyes were stretched wide in blank horror. I felt sick to the very core of my being. I had come to take revenge on Moss. Not an innocent kit I hadn't even known...

"Hey! There's another one!" Blueberry's surprised voice made me turn my head to see—

Moss!

The sight of my former friend seemed to ignite a flame inside me. I remembered everything I hated and why I wanted to get revenge in the first place. Her negligence, her refusal of my pleas for her to stay, the accusations, the way she left me to stay with her "better friends"...

"Mosslight! Help! Spookkit is injured!" the mother yowled fearfully.

All my pity and empathy vanished. Idiot, can't you see your son is dead?

Before I knew it, Moss had sprinted away, and Foxflame had finally managed to wrestle Pumpkin to the ground after many threats wishing him ill.

As if some cat had turned on a light, a hope in all of them, the cats of RainClan began fighting back. Jessica hissed in disbelief. I couldn't believe it myself; we had just killed one of the clan's kit's and yet they still refused to surrender?

"Didn't I just tell you little kitty clan that if you fight against us I would kill that black and white kit? Do you want me to kill his scrawny white and brown kit friend?"

I realized Jessica had leapt up onto the branch where I had stood threatening to kill the other kit who was cowering by his mother, stunned by the murder of his brother.

As soon as the cats were reminded of it, they ceased their fighting. Jessica smirked and jumped off of the tree. "Now who, is your leader?" she asked.

"Is it you, fierce little fighter?" Jessica questioned Foxflame. The two she-cats were nose-to-nose. I wondered if Jessica was play-acting or not— Foxflame really seemed like the leading type.

"No." the russet-furred she-cat spat, aiming a blow towards Jessica's face. My leader flashed forward outstretched claws, cutting into Foxflame's paw.

"Who is your leader? Show me!" Jessica spat. A heartbeat later a striped, grey tail raised in the air.

"Ah," she hissed as she recognized Rainfeather— or rather, Rainstar as she was leader. "You. Of course. The time to settle old scores has come my friend."

"There is... No need. Leave us alone." Rainstar pleaded, voice cracking. "If you want the territory we'll move. Just please," her voice cracked, "leave me—us, alone."

How is she the leader? Foxflame motioned for RainClan to step in closer for protection as the thought came to my head. Foxflame should be leader— at least she's doing something.

I stalked forward to stand beside Jessica. The moment I did, Mosslight's eyes locked with mine and she cried out.

I bared my teeth in a malicious smile as she stared at me in horror; the feeling of anger and the prospect of revenge was back stronger than ever. Yeah, that's right Moss!

I'm back!

Part two will be up soon!