My longest chapter! Parts taken from The Darkest Hour.
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. Erin Hunter does.
Desire
"This is Leopardstar, the other leader of TigerClan," Tigerstar meowed. "And Darkstripe, one of our strongest warriors."
"Nice to meet you," Scourge meowed, half-heartedly. She might be called the leader but the power was obviously in Tigerstar's paws, not hers, therefore, she was just a deputy, a second-in-command. And Darkstripe didn't look like the best warrior, just the one who was too cowardly to do anything that follow orders.
"I will take ThunderClan and RiverClan as part of our agreement," Scourge told Tigerstar. He glanced at Leopardstar out of the corner of his eye and saw her bristle slightly, but calmed herself when Blackfoot flicked her with his tail tip."When my Clan fights for you, those are the territories I want." Tigerstar narrowed his eyes.
"Are you saying WindClan and ShadowClan territories aren't good enough for you and your Clan?" Tigerstar meowed in surprise, "I would've thought it would fit your Clan perfectly! After all, it fits my Clan's needs perfectly."
"And that's exactly why we're taking ThunderClan and RiverClan," Scourge meowed in response, "You just said ShadowClan's territory works well for you, I see no reason for you to have to move out."
"You surely—"
"We are taking those two territories as our part of the deal or there is no deal!" Scourge hissed venomously. There was absolutely no way he would settle for anything less that ThunderClan and RiverClan. Those were the two territories fresh with the moist prey. He saw a flash of panic in Tigerstar's eyes but it was gone within a second and Tigerstar dipped his head.
"Of course," Tigerstar meowed to Scourge. "They would suit your Clan." Scourge bared his teeth and gave a quick nod.
"Yes, they would." Scourge replied. "Now, do you need anything else? I've already told you about the dogs and you have Boulder, who can send us a message whenever you need something, so, are we done here?"
Tigerstar frowned and stared off into thought, Scourge waited patiently. "You're not happy here?"
"Tigerstar, we are warriors, and we do not want to be treated like criminals," Scourge meowed coldly. "I know you've posted warriors outside the Training Hollow and that you always have tabs on us," Scourge paused. "So we are going back to our home until you need us. You can send Boulder when your plans are set in stone."
Tigerstar looked thunderstruck but after a quick recovery, he nodded his head. "That's a good decision. We're still trying to finish some last minute things." Scourge flicked his tail.
"We're leaving," He ordered to his Clanmates.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Scourge," Tigerstar meowed. "I shall send Boulder when I need you." Scourge didn't do anything but nod at the larger leader and then turn and flick his tail motioning his cats to follow him.
"We'll see you soon," Scourge meowed over his shoulder and then left the Clans with his guard.
"Tell the other cats that if they see Boulder they need to let him in and send him straight to our alley," Scourge ordered one of his warriors. "And tell them that he is not to be harmed. If he has one paw set on him without my permission, I will make their death painful." Scourge finished and Thistle slipped off into the shadows.
Scourge sent his other warriors on patrol around the alley before he ducked under the dumpster to see Lilac. His eyes softened when he saw his two kits and his sleeping mate. He went to her and purred softly in her ear. It twitched and he did it again.
"Would you—" Lilac snapped but cut herself off when she saw Scourge's amusement. "Scourge! Scourge, you're back!" Lilac went over to him and pressed her head into his shoulder. "I haven't had a lot of sleep lately. Lavender and Skull looked up at Scourge with large eyes.
"Who are you?" they asked curiously.
"I'm your father," Scourge responded to the little bundles of fur. They jumped on him and squealed. "They're big for two weeks." Scourge noticed. Lilac purred.
"Yep," she answered.
Moons passed and the kits grew and Scourge wondered what was going on in the Clans and if Tigerstar had forgotten them. Scourge secretly wondered if Tigerstar had abandoned his old plan and made another. Would Tigerstar do that? Scourge cursed under his breath. Of course Tigerstar would do that. He was kidding himself to think that Tigerstar wouldn't do that.
"Scourge," Bone meowed.
"Yes, Bone?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I am." Scourge replied and then stared at his deputy. "Do you think Tigerstar has turned his back on us?"
"So what if he did?" Bone asked. "Why do we care?"
"Because, if he doesn't come through on this agreement, then we don't have ThunderClan and RiverClan. We won't have any of the forest."
"Why's that bad? Remember, Scourge? Squirrels live in trees, not cats."
"Because I want to claim the forest as my own." Scourge replied and if has gone back on the bargain, then I have to come up with a new one."
"Which is…?"
"Simple, we attack the forest and take it as our own, like we would do after we got their territories." Scourge replied. Scourge felt like he was talking in circles, but lately that's all his mind seemed to do.
"Papa!" Scourge turned to see Skull bounce over to him. And this was why Scourge's mind was going in circles, because of his kits. "Mama just told me about StarClan."
"StarClan," Scourge repeated. "And why would she tell you about that?"
"She was telling me about the Clans," Skull replied, sending a little swipe at his father. Scourge dodged it gave the kit a mocking cuff over the ear. The kit squealed with laughter and went to playing with Scourge's lashing tail.
"StarClan, that's a story for kits," Bone scoffed harshly and Scourge sent him a warning glance.
"You should not listen to petty tales like that," Scourge said to his son as gently as he could. "One day you might be a leader of BloodClan and if you are, you shouldn't fill your Clan's heads with lies." Skull nodded.
"Skull, you are a strong warrior, but a strong warrior always thinks before he talks," Bone meowed and Scourge shot him another warning glance, which the big cat missed.
"Scourge, Bounder is here."
Scourge looked up from his kit. "Then hurry up and bring him here!" He snapped. He turned to his kit, "Go get Lavender and Lilac," and the kit scampered off, leaving Scourge's tail alone.
"Lilac, you must come with me, I need to have you on my side when we go back. The kits are strong; we can find a cat to watch them."
Lilac frowned. "I'm not sure, Scourge, they're still my kits and I don't feel comfortable leaving them here with another cat."
"Please, Lilac, I'm begging you. I need you in the forest." Scourge pleaded in her ear. "I need you to come this time." Lilac hesitated for a moment and then leaned her head closer to him.
"Then I want Clover to watch the kits. She's a good mate to Bone and she was a wonderful mother. I want her to watch my kits."
Scourge nodded and called Bone over to find Clover. It wasn't hard seeing as she was just resting in the park. "I want you to watch Skull and Lavender while we go into the forest." Clover frowned and for a heartbeat Scourge was sure she was going to protest. But she just dipped her head and padded over to the small cats.
A few moments later Boulder was ushered into the alley with Ice and Clover. "Scourge, Tigerstar needs you as soon as possible."
Scourge nodded his head. "Get everyone! The time has come!" For the past few days, Scourge had had his Guard and his warriors go around and recruit other cats in BloodClan territory. All of them from the age of four moons older had to live close and take care of themselves before the fight against WindClan and ThunderClan. With all of the strays, Scourge knew he had outnumbered ShadowClan and possible had enough numbers to match TigerClan, which was what Tigerstar had mentioned to him a few times. But the name hadn't stuck with him and he had continued to just use their Clan names.
As soon as all of the Clan had come, Scourge lead them to the forest with Boulder on the other side of him. There were many of them and they ended up traveling up in sections so they wouldn't get caught. He had Bone, Ice and Snake each take a group and lead them to ShadowClan. It was pretty easy to get across WindClan territory. There seemed to be a large fight, Scourge could hear the wails and snarls upwind.
He entered the sour-smelling territory and met a small patrol of cats.
"Where's Tigerstar?" Scourge demanded. The cats glanced at each other warily before flicking their ears and meowing, "Follow us." They led BloodClan cats into ShadowClan territory, dropping the cats besides Scourge and his guard off at the Training Hollow. They didn't all fit so most of the cats were outside of the Hollow.
The rest of the cats followed Scourge, Boulder and the ShadowClan cat into the camp. It was empty besides two queens and her kits running around and the patrol that had returned.
"Where is everyone?" Snake asked, glancing around, asking the question that everyone was wondering.
"At the battle." The cat replied. "You can wait here, Tigerstar should be here soon." He nodded to the pile of fresh-kill off to the side of the camp. "You're welcome to have any of that if you like." He flicked his tail over to a section of the camp with moss lined nests. "You can rest there from your journey." And the ShadowClan cat left the camp with a swish of his tail. Scourge and his Guard padded over to the nests and sniffed them. A few of his warriors circled and settled into the nests but most stood by awkwardly.
"Well," Cloud meowed, flicking her tail, "I suppose I ought to get something to eat." She chose a mouse and a frog and brought them back. She set the mouse down in front of Scourge and began peeling the frog skin for herself. Scourge bit into the mouse and swallowed. It was so fresh and wonderful. He wanted more so he'd never have to eat a stale mouse again.
Scourge finished his mouse in moments and kicked the bones off to the side. Bored, he began to survey the camp. It was concealed in a hollow that had a warrior's den under a bramble bush, a single den under roots of a large tree and a large den where there were a lot of kits mewling. It was a nice camp, well organized and better than the boxes they used now in the alleyway. He couldn't wait until the whole forest was his.
He noticed something after a moment. A part of the camp had a tangy, strong pungent scent. "What's that part of the camp?" Scourge wondered.
Lilac nudged him and Scourge purred. "I'm hoping for the ThunderClan or RiverClan camp but this one would do if I don't get the other ones quite yet." Scourge meowed in her ear. "See that nursery over there? Can you imagine that for Skull and Lavender?" Lilac's eyes were wide with ideas. Scourge pointed over at the single den under the tree. "I think that's the leader's den."
"How do you know?" Lilac asked.
"Because that's the warrior's den over there," Scourge explained his reasoning. "I know the basic functions of a Clan." Lilac laughed.
"Of course."
"Scourge."
The BloodClan leader spun around and took a pace away from Lilac so he could confront the large tabby by himself.
"Tigerstar," Scourge meowed. "It's wonderful to see you both again, Leopardstar and Blackfoot." Scourge meowed with fake interest. Tigerstar's eyes danced over to Lilac.
"Who is this? I don't remember seeing her last time." Tigerstar purred. "You found a female friend."
"Do not mock me, Tigerstar," Scourge sneered. "We're here for a reason, now what will you have us do?" He paused. "It took a long time for us to return, why are we here?"
"Tomorrow, my enemies and TigerClan will gather at Fourtrees where I will need reinforcement." Tigerstar paused. "I'm going to propose to the other two Clans once more and if they don't agree, then we will fight."
"That's it?"
"I want you and your Clan to hide while I talk and then you'll come out afterwards and then we'll fight to the death." Tigerstar explained to Scourge, who was listening intently, wondering if there was a catch anywhere…some hidden meaning behind the words.
At long last, Scourge nodded and dipped his head. "I believe it'll work." He stood up and meowed, "I am going to tell me other Clanmates."
"Russetfur, Blackfoot!" He called "I'd like you to—"
"Tigerstar, I can figure it out. I can get back to the Training Hollow by myself where my Clanmates are." He paused. "Also, I am going to send some warriors over to WindClan territory so they can eat." He waited for Tigerstar to object. "Lilac, Snake and Ice, walk with me." He ordered. The three cats got up and followed their leader. "Bone…" He gave his deputy a small nod that said watch-over-the-ShadowClan-leader-and-their-camp.
"Scourge, I-I-I really don't like Tigerstar, he scares me." Scourge glanced over at his mate, Lilac. He'd never known Lilac to be really scared of something before. He nudged her collar that had been put there a couple moments before they'd left for the clans— she had taken it off so she wouldn't accidently scratch the kits. "Lilac, you're a strong cat, don't fear Tigerstar, he's just big." Scourge paused. "I doubt he uses his brain in fight, I bet he just uses his brawn. Something you don't do."
Lilac nodded, but he noticed she was trembling slightly and Scourge pressed his nose to her fur. They had entered the Training Hollow which was overflowing with cats. There were too many of them, but even though they were cramped, if they fought well, they'd have a ton of space.
Scourge jumped up onto a small rock and called attention to his Clan. The regular warriors that were sitting amongst the cats shushed everyone up and pointed to their leader.
"BloodClan! We will all go to Fourtrees; Tigerstar will give a speech or try to persuade the other Clans. And I know that they won't join him because otherwise they would've already. And then Tigerstar will have us attack. After we attack the other Clans, we'll move onto their Clan and take this place for ourselves." Scourge told his Clan. He was met with the Clan's full support and he nodded to himself.
"Listen up," Lilac meowed loudly. "We're going to fight to death and if you don't, I will personally kill you." Scourge knew Lilac was tough but her tone was slightly unexpected, especially after her nervousness about Tigerstar. But he didn't interrupt as she continued. "You will fight your hardest for this victory. You will fight with all of your strength and there will be no hesitation!"
Ears flicked and tails lashes and eyes gleamed. "Understand?" Scourge meowed, looking down at his Clan. "We leave at sunhigh. Ivy, Scar, Mouse and Shadow, find three cats each and send them hunting on the moor." He waited until his four regular warriors dipped their heads and started calling our names before he turned to his warriors and flicked his tail to signal their dismissal.
"Let's go, I think everything's settled here." Scourge murmured in Lilac's ear. "I want to find a place to sleep away from ShadowClan' camp and this place."
"You don't want to sleep in the nests they made for us?" Lilac asked.
"No, not really, I'd rather be away from Tigerstar and his group."
"What about your group?"
"My Guard?" Scourge replied, "They can take care of themselves." He ran his tail over her gray fur. "Now stop asking questions and let's just find a spot to rest."
They walked around for a long time before they found a place of soft bracken and settled into it. Lilac pressed herself against Scourge and murmured, "Are you scared for tomorrow?"
"No," Scourge replied honestly. He wasn't scared, he was confident. Tigerstar was a big cat who relied on brawn rather than brain. He would not be that hard to beat, especially since the TigerClan leader was underestimating him. "I'm not scared because I know what I'm doing."
"Scourge, you should give those poor Clan cats some time before you take over the forest."
"What?" Scourge perked his in surprise and stared at his mate. That was not part of the plan. "Why?"
"They have frail cats—"
"So?" Scourge interrupted, "Why should I care about an old cat that can't even look after himself?"
"And queens and kits," Lilac finished. "They have kits, Scourge. At least give them some time to leave after our victory."
"But they will be dead…" Scourge replied slowly, not comprehending everything she was asking. "They won't need time—"
"No, not the dead cats, Tigerstar and his Clan. Give them time to leave, give them a choice to leave or fight and give them time to think about it." Lilac pressed on. "I just don't feel right about doing this in one battle. It's feels wrong to me." Scourge frowned.
"Then I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable," Scourge decided, "When we have our victory today, I will give them each a chance to stay and fight or leave."
Lilac said nothing but purred into his shoulder. Scourge licked her ears in response and touched her nose with his. "I love you." He whispered. "I don't want to lose you, ever."
"Me neither."
Scourge woke up with a sharp poke in his side. He opened his eyes and saw Magpie and Spice. "What?" He growled. He would've unsheathed his claws but he didn't want to hurt Lilac who was still sleeping soundly right against him.
"It's almost sunhigh," Spice replied, looking unfazed at her leader's annoyance. "Tigerstar was going to send out a patrol to find you but we told him you would not be pleased and right now, Tigerstar does not want to piss you off, so he agreed to let us search for you." The ginger she-cat purred. "And it was not hard! This place is so much fresher than the Twolegplace, I could smell you easily."
"He doesn't want to annoy me," Scourge sounded amused, "I see…"
"Nope, Tigerstar wants this to work and he's not going to give BloodClan to any reason to go back on the agreement," Magpie told Scourge.
Scourge just nodded. "Go back and tell Tigerstar we'll be ready." The two she-cats nodded and left. He ran his tail over Lilac's sleeping form; she must not have been getting a lot of sleep with the kits.
"Lilac," He spoke gently, "Lilac, it's almost sunhigh." The small gray she-act stirred. "Lilac," he mewed again.
"Huh?"
"It's time, we have to go." Scourge meowed to her and began to lick her clean. He ran his tongue over her and felt her do the same to him.
"Ready to go?" He asked when they were done. "I want to get this over with. The sooner we get rid of half of the Clans, the easier it'll be to get rid of the other half." He thought for a moment, "Let's go to the Training Hollow, I want to see how the other cats are doing."
He sniffed his way to the Training Hollow from where they were. And Spice was right; it was easier to scent through the freshness of the forest, they didn't have any of the Twoleg rubble Scourge was used to.
"Listen up, BloodClan!" He heard some cat announce. Scourge came in and saw Bone one the rock he had stood on before. He was looming over the other cats with menacing eyes while The Guard was sitting against het side, watching the crowd with hungry eyes, waiting for anyone to make the wrong move. "Today we will fight and toady we will win!" The chorus of yowls was unmistakable and when Scourge looked over at the wave of cats, he thought they had roughly forty cats.
He heard a bush rustle behind him; it was Tigerstar, of course. "Are your cats ready?" He asked, amber eyes glittering. Scourge gave a terse nod and padded up to Bone.
"Let's go." Scourge meowed. He turned towards his guard and Regular Warriors. Listen," He ordered, "Scatter yourselves out within them. It'll control discipline." His warriors dipped their heads and each took a place with the acts of BloodClan around them, shushing them or giving them a good rake in the ear when they deserved it. Good, scourge thought.
"We're going to enter in lines, My Guard will figure it out and you will follow their orders, there is no time for disobedient cats." Scourge hissed. He jumped down from where he stood with Bone. "I want you to be there with me in the front." He muttered just so Bone could hear.
"You've got a nice control over your Clan." Tigerstar remarked from where he and his deputies Leopardstar and Blackfoot were sitting with his "best warrior" Darkstripe. Scourge nodded.
"A good leader must have control over his Clan or the Clan won't be able to function." Scourge replied.
"Yes, I agree, shall we?" Tigerstar stepped out of the way to let Scourge and Bone out. They padded out of the Hollow and Scourge could hear his Clan following silently. They walked with a fast pace and the forest seemed to go past them in a blur. He could hear Darkstripe and Blackfoot talking quietly to each other but they seemed to be arguing with each other than agreeing. So much for harmony in their Clan, Scourge thought. If his deputy and his best warrior are arguing.
"Where's your Clan?" Scourge asked conversationally.
"I've sent them ahead." Tigerstar answered. The two leaders shared a stony silence before Tigerstar meowed, "Wait here, you'll be able to see what's going on, but you'll be hidden behind these bushes." Scourge nodded and waved his tail for his Clan to stop. They did and Scourge turned his attention to what was going on at Fourtrees. There seemed to be some argument with Tigerstar and a little cat who looked like time, his son, Scourge guessed. Scourge could've almost laughed. Tigerstar needed to get his act together if his own son was rejecting him. Scourge knew that Skull would never betray him.
Scourge sensed that it was time to come out. He and his Clan stepped from the bushes and walked towards the Clan cats. There were gasps of surprise coming from every cat besides TigerClan.
He let Bone take the lead and he fell back behind him. He heard a disdainful meow come from a cat about their collars. If he knew that the ones who had collars were the ones who were the strongest, most elite, Scourge sneered to himself. Scourge tapped Bone's flank, who took the role of leader and joined Tigerstar on side and Scourge took the other.
"So, Tigerstar, do you want to tell us who your new friends are?" A ginger tom asked. Scourge looked at the ginger tom, he looked like he was the leader for the other two clans who looked like they had combined as well.
Scourge heard Tigerstar reply to the ginger tom and they started talking. Scourge was more focused on Lilac. She was sitting besides Ice and Snake. She had a look of nervousness on her that the other cats didn't have, but her eyes were determined and ready.
"You mouse-brained fool!" Tigerstar's snarl shook him from Lilac and he focused. "I was prepared to come here and talk with you today. Just remember that it was you who drove us to this. And when you Clanmates are dying around you, they will blame you with their last breath!"
And then he said the words that made Scourge freeze and turn cold. "BloodClan attack!" How dare he tell my cats to attack! He doesn't see me trying to tell TigerClan what to do—yet. No cat moved from his ranks and he felt a puff of triumph that no cat obeyed.
"Attack! I order you!"
That was the last straw, how dare he order his cats like that?
"I am, Scourge, leader of BloodClan," Scourge noticed all of the shocked meows of surprise that such a small ca could be leader. Tigerstar, my warriors are not yours to command. They attack when I tell them to, and not before."Take that! Scourge snarled in his head at the TigerClan leader. He was greeted with an ugly look from Tigerstar. Scourge sent him a smug look and turned back to the ginger tom, who was now in front of him.
"Greetings, Scourge, I am Firestar, leader of ThunderClan," Firestar meowed. Scourge looked at the tom with curiosity. So this was the ThunderClan leader. "I wish I could say you were welcome in the forest. But you would not believe me if I did, I have no wish to lie to you. " Scourge had to give it to the cat, he was smart. "if you believed any promises he made to you, you're mistaken."
Scourge was definitely curious now. He knew Tigerstar had no intent of following through with his promises— and neither did he. He had no intent of letting TigerClan and BloodClan share the forest. But Firestar didn't need to know that.
"Tigerstar told me he had enemies in the forest," Scourge replied. "Why should I believe you instead of him?"
"Cats of all Clans!"Firestar yowled, making himself heard over everyone's whisperings, which stopped as soon as he spoke. Scourge listened as Firestar revealed the truth about Tigerstar. Scourge didn't know that Tigerstar was so brutal, and he scolded himself or not guessing it sooner. He and Tigerstar were too much alike: too ambitious, too cunning and too vicious and heartless to do anything different from the other. Scourge too had killed for power, as had Tigerstar.
"This is Tigerstar's history," Firestar meowed, a note of urgency in his voice, "it shows one thing; he'll do anything for power. If he promised you a share of the forest, don't believe him. He won't give up one paw print, not to you or any other cat."
Scourge's eyes narrowed and he glanced at Lilac, who had calmed herself and the trembling had stopped a little but she was still shaking like a leaf. He couldn't leave her like that. She had to get somewhere safe because she was losing it. And if a fight started like in his plan then she wouldn't be able to fight…she'd be the first one dead and Scourge would rather go back to living with a Twoleg than let her die at the paws of any cat.
Should we go? I could call it off, I have a perfectly good reason to because of Firestar… Scourge thought to himself. He thought quickly, there wasn't a whole lot of time to be wasted—he needed to get her out o here soon or she'd break down.
"My Clan and I fight when I choose." Scourge sneered. He turned to Firestar to cover up his ulterior motive, " I will think about what you have said. There will be no battle today."
"Traitor!"Tigerstar screeched. He leapt but Scourge was ready, he had anticipated something like this. Scourge neatly stepped aside and Tigerstar fell on the dirt. Scourge unsheathed his claws and prepared himself for Tigerstar's next move. Tigerstar leapt again but Scourge didn't care, he had become an expert on this move. He had mastered it.
He pushed Tigerstar in the air took his other claw and dragged it, a clean cut Scourge thought. Tigerstar screamed as he realized what happened. Scourge just looked down at him with the words "Nice try," glowing in them. Back and watched Tigerstar's death, feeling immensely pleased with his kill.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his cats brace themselves, getting ready for fight but Scourge stopped them, knowing he had to get of there fast, and turned back to the Clans, "you see what happens to cats who deft BloodClan," Scourge meowed, "You friend here, thought he could control us. He was wrong."
"We don't want to control you. All we want is to lead our lives in peace. We're sorry that Tigerstar brought you here with lies. Please feel free to hunt before you go home." Firestar meowed to Scourge.
So much for being smart, Scourge sneered. "Go home?" Scourge looked at Firestar and the Clans behind them. "We're not going anywhere, forest fool. In the town where we come from, there are many, many cats and live prey is scarce. Here in the forest we don't need to depend on Twoleg rubbish for our food." Scourge let his gaze leave Firestar and he turned it on the other two Clans who hadn't disbanded.
"We're taking over this territory now. I shall rule the forest as well as the town. But I understand you may need some time o think about it. You have three days to leave—or meet my Clan in battle. I shall wait for your decision at dawn on the fourth day." Scourge hoped Lilac would be proud of him, or at least be happy with the leniency he gave them.
Scourge flicked his tail and he left, his warriors following him. On their way back into ShadowClan territory, Scourge sent his Regular Warriors to go out and clear out the camp. He was going to take it for himself. He ordered his warriors and they obeyed, running up ahead to get them out of the camp.
He sent the cats back to the Hollow but took his Guard and Regular Warriors back to the camp and sat down in the center and waited until all of his warriors had arrived. He looked around and saw a large boulder, he jumped up on it and yowled for everyone's attention.
"My Guard! My Regular Warriors! We will rest here for three days and then we will go into battle!" Scourge looked around and saw a Regular Warrior. "Scar, I want to send word to the other cats that they must stay inside ShadowClan borders." He glanced around, "Understand? E will not launch a surprise attack like cowards." Scar nodded and took Ivy and Shadow with him and left the camp. You can all rest under there," He flicked his tail under a bush that was the warrior den." Scourge pointed to the den under the roots. "That will be my nest, if you have any complaints, take them up with Bone." He dismissed his warriors and slipped to the tree and the roots. He caught Lilac's eye and flicked his tail, motioning her to come over.
"Thanks," Lilac murmured in his ear when she approached him. "I didn't think you'd pull that stunt you did—calling off the battle." He paused. "That's so unlike you…"
"You didn't look well." Scourge answered, he guided her into Tigerstar's old den. It stunk of his stench but Scourge put that out of his mind. There was a soft moss nest which Scourge curled up in with Lilac. These Clan cats weren't stupid; they knew how to use everything.
"Sleep, love," Scourge meowed n her ear. "In four days we will see our kits again and bring them into our new camp." Lilac just purred.
The three days passed quickly. He could tell his warriors were getting restless with waiting, but they followed orders and stayed on their side of the border.
"Let's go," Scourge ordered. He turned to Bone, "Fetch the other cats, we're going now." Bone dipped his head and left.
"Scourge."
Scourge turned around to see Ice and Magpie, between the two of them there was a cat. Darkstripe.
"Does Leopardstar have a message for me?" He asked coldly. Darkstripe shook his head.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm going to fight for you today." Scourge looked at Darkstripe critically.
"Very well," Scourge replied. He waved his tail and dismissed him. "Keep and eye on him." Scourge muttered to Magpie.
He waited patiently at the big rock and when he saw the Clans hesitate, he meowed, "I know you're there! Come and give me your answer!" Firestar and the other remaining two leaders came forward.
"Greetings," Scourge meowed to be polite, "Have you decided to leave or do you presume you can fight against BloodClan?"
"We don't have to fight; we will let you go back to the Twolegplace in peace." Firestar answered.
Scourge laughed at those words. He'd come too far to just go back without a fight. He was ready and he was going to win.
"The forest is ours, we rule here by the will of StarClan!"
"StarClan!" Scourge scoffed, "Tales for kits, StarClan won't help you now!" He paused and glared at Firestar yowling, "Attack!"
Scourge felt the power of his Clan as they surged forward. Firestar gave his own cry of war and the fight began. Firestar immediately jumped at Scourge, who dodged him. Snake, seeing that Scourge was getting attacked, leaped onto the ginger leader. At the same time, Scourge snuck away. There was no reason for him to fight if his Clan was going to do it for him. He found Lilac who was also managing to stay out of the fight.
"Let me get him!" Lilac whispered. She had spotted Firestar. She let out a shriek and landed on his shoulders. But Scourge felt his heart fall as he realized she wasn't as good as she had once been. Staying the nursery must've been really bad for her fighting skills. But Firestar didn't kil her, just gave her a strong cut. Scourge was slightly thankful that they believed in StarClan, otherwise Firestar would have killed the only cat that really mattered to him.
Scourge watched Firestar the whole battle, keeping out of sight. At one point in time he saw Darkstripe attack Firestar. Scourge made a mental note to keep him in mind if he lived throughout the battle.
But Darkstripe didn't last long because a few minutes afterwards, a large gray tom leapt at him and slit his throat.
Scourge was taken aback at getting jumped on by a cat. He tried to stay out of the battle and so far it had worked. But this warrior wasn't giving up. Scourge threw the tom off of his back by rolling. He let out a hiss and began to scratch the cat apart. It was pretty easy, he was already weak.
He heard a yowl and spun around. Firestar! The dumb forest-fool.
"Firestar!" Scourge snarled, turning away from the severely injured cat. Scourge leapt and after a quick little tussle with the leader, Scourge raked his unsheathed claws across his throat. The moment Firestar went down a white tom jumped at him.
Was there no end to this? Scourge thought. He began taking swipes at the white tom.
"Scourge, turn and face me!" Scourge did because he thought he'd never hear that voice again. Firestar was alive! Moments before he was still and dead!
"How?" He snarled, "I killed you!" Scourge hit the white warrior and turned to face Firestar.
Firestar jumped at him and Scourge tried to unbalance him and split him, but Firestar was fast and dodged his claws. Scourge tried again and again but the forest-fool was good at dodging. And suddenly he had his neck; Scourge was gasping for break and wailing with terror. He'd never been in this situation before…he didn't know what to do.
Firestar sent one last blow, which Scourge tried to dodge. But because he was so weak, that didn't happen and Firestar's claws and teeth latched onto his throat.
And then, blackness.