Hazelstar jolted awake as an ear-screeching yowl rang through the camp. At first she assumed it was Jetfur, perhaps another captive, crying out from pain or perhaps sorrow. But this mew was too familiar, and Hazelstar immediately recognized it.
Screechshade.
She should've known her kits would be arriving any day.
Hazelstar stood up and padded outside, the morning sun slowly rising. She watched Fang dart across the camp, rushing to his mate's side while Hazelstar sat by the fresh kill pile, picking through pieces of prey.
"Hazelstar," Fire called.
Hazelstar turned, noticing her deputy approaching.
"What?"
"Screechshade's kits are arriving," he informed her.
"I know that!" Hazelstar snapped. "I heard the yowl. I am guessing Snowflake is by her side, correct?"
Fire nodded.
"Then she is fine," Hazelstar assured him. "Let me eat my breakfast in peace, and I'll visit soon."
"Very well, Hazelstar," Fire sighed, bowing and padding away.
Hazelstar ate a plump squirrel slowly, watching as the others began to perform their duties, occasionally glancing at the nursery.
By the time Hazelstar had finished eating, she heard tiny mews coming from the nursery, and she assumed Screechshade's kits had born.
Hazelstar rose to her feet, padding across the camp into the nursery. She was not surprised to find Screechshade lying near the side of the den with two kits suckling at her belly.
Both were brown toms, though one was a shade lighter than the other.
"I see the kits have been born," Hazelstar observed.
Fang nodded. "Aren't they beautiful?"
"Oh, yes, fabulous," Hazelstar exclaimed sarcastically. "Have you named them yet?"
Screechshade nodded slowly.
"The darker one is Serpentkit, and the lighter one is Lionkit."
"Well, I'm sure they will prove valuable," Hazelstar explained. "And your kits too, Snowflake."
The white she-cat turned, watching her three kits cower near the corner of the den. They were not too young to understand that Hazelstar had supreme power.
"Well, Fang, return to your duties. I've got some meetings to take care of," Hazelstar explained, issuing a farewell.
She padded outside her den, heading towards the captive den. The guards stood firm, their eyes wide awake, not drooping like they previously had been.
"Everything all right with the prisoners?" she asked.
One of the guards nodded his head.
"We were able to silence the she-cat's wailing over your brother very quickly. Rabbitfur and Deerheart have done well," he explained.
"Perfect," Hazelstar purred. "I require those two, as well as my brother and his mate."
"Certainly," a ginger she-cat said. "We'll bring them over to the rock in a matter of seconds."
Hazelstar nodded and raced across the camp towards her rock. Only she ever sat there, unless she was appointing apprentices or warriors, of course. In a matter of seconds, Rabbitfur and Deerheart were escorted to the rock, as well as Tigerstripe and Jetfur, both of them coated in dried blood.
"MOONCLAN! I REQUIRE YOUR ATTENTION!" Hazelstar yowled.
Cats quickly gathered near the rock, waiting for her curious announcement.
"Deerheart, Rabbitfur," she motioned.
The father and son padded up the rock, standing beside Hazelstar.
"As many of you know, we took in two NightClan exiles a few sunrises ago. After testing them, they have proven themselves loyal to MoonClan. Now, I will appoint them full MoonClan members!"
The MoonClan cats cheered, glad to have more fighting at their side.
"Rabbitfur, do you promise to dedicate your life to MoonClan, even if it means going against your former clan and kin?"
"I do, Hazelstar," Rabbitfur dipped his head.
"And will you worship the Dark Forest and fight valiantly in battle, even at the cost of your own life?"
"Yes, Hazelstar," Rabbitfur repeated.
"Then Rabbitfur, I pronounce you a full member of MoonClan!" she yowled.
Cats yowled, cheering, "RABBITFUR! RABBITFUR!"
"Deerheart," Hazelstar said.
Rabbitfur's son looked a bit anxious, and he gulped as he stood next to Hazelstar.
"Deerheart," she began. "Do you promise to dedicate your life to MoonClan, even if it means going against your former clan and kin?"
"I-I do," he stammered.
"And will you, Deerheart, worship the Dark Forest and fight valiantly in battle, even at the cost of your own life?"
"Yes, I will," he said, a bit more confident this time.
"Then I too pronounce you a full member of MoonClan."
"DEERHEART! DEERHEART!" the clan cried.
Hazelstar turned to the MoonClan warriors now, the crowd falling silent.
"Though these two were strangers only a few sunrises ago, you are all required to treat them with the upmost respect as you treat your other clanmates! Understood?"
Slowly, cats nodded.
Hazelstar smiled. "Good. I require Tigerstripe and Jetfur now."
"No!" Tigerstripe shouted, struggling as he and Jetfur were hauled up onto the rock. Two guards stood by them, making sure they did not leave.
"You're insane, sister!" Tigerstripe spat.
"I'm insane, brother? I left this very camp at six moons while you basked in its glory. And now when you have a chance to reclaim your warriorship, you turn it down? I am being nothing but generous, dear brother."
"Oh, hush!" Jetfur spat.
Hazelstar focused her eyes on Jetfur. "I must say, I didn't expect you to bring this puny she-cat back, brother. She's much too small. We all know she was a coward in battle."
"Leave her alone!"
"Oh, very well, my fun is over," she said. "But still, you two will fight for MoonClan in battle."
"Never," Tigerstripe growled.
"Then the powers of Moonstar and the Dark Forest will come upon you," Hazelstar told him.
"Then let them," he replied.
Hazelstar ignored his comment and turned to the MoonClan members. "Many of you may remember your fellow clanmate, Tigerstripe, correct?"
Heads nodded.
"A great warrior who was sure to be loyal to MoonClan forever. Oh, what a great plot twist this is. He has returned with his so called "mate", Jetfur, whom I'm sure many of you remember. Now, they will be captives still, of course, unless they perhaps have a change of mind."
"This is ridiculous," Tigerstripe groaned.
"I'm giving you a chance here, brother."
"No," he repeated.
"Very well. There will be a slight change in arrangements. Bone, could you please step forward."
Hazelstar watched as her brother's eyes widened. It wasn't everyday you were able to reunite with your old mentor.
"Bone, you were Tigerstripe's former mentor, correct?"
"Yes, Hazelstar. I trained him many moons ago," the white tom explained.
"Then you shall reteach him and Jetfur as well."
"But I am already training Chesnuttail and Cloudfoot," he argued.
"Not any longer. From now on, you shall train Tigerstripe and Jetfur. Go, brother. Touch noses to your mentor like the good ol' days," she joked, pushing Tigerstripe forward.
Tigerstripe stumbled, falling in front of Bone. The tom laughed, and she watched as Tigerstripe growled. He did not often find himself humiliated, she supposed.
"Touch noses, then," Hazelstar repeated.
Tigerstripe stepped forward to touch noses with his mentor, only to receive a slash down his right cheek.
"Welcome back to training, Tigerpaw," Bone sneered.
"Deerheart, Rabbitfur!" Hazelstar snapped.
The two focused their attention on her.
"You two will take over Chesnuttail and Cloudfoot's training. Don't let them manipulate you. I trust both of you."
"I shall teach them well, Hazelstar," Rabbitfur purred.
"StarClan will destroy you!" Jetfur spat.
"StarClan is nothing to me anymore," Hazelstar growled, watching as they were taken away into the woods.
And it was true. StarClan had done nothing for her. It had only caused more grief, more heartache. The Dark Forest gave her power, which was something she supposed she always craved.
As the clan padded away, Hazelstar felt a surge of energy, and suddenly, a gasp came from Tigerstripe.
"Your eyes…" She could hear him whisper.
Hazelstar tilted her head, looking at her reflecting in a nearby puddle. They were the green eyes she had been born with, though something was different. It only a lasted a second or two, but her eyes had flashed a blood red, just like Moonstar's…