Disclaimer: I only own the characters and plot. The Idea of warriors belongs to Erin Hunter.
Blinking heavily, I took a stumbling, hesitant step forwards, then called out in frustration as Sunnygaze stepped directly in front of me, swishing her tail to obscure my view, a look of cold-hearted excitement blazing in her eyes. Gritting my teeth together, flinching at the grating sound they made, I ducked past the ginger-furred warrior and called out to Ashstar, who swivelled his head to look at me, electric gaze scorching lightning through my pelt.
"What about Stormpaw?" A note of rare challenge crept into my voice, and I ventured on. "Surely you wouldn't want your precious son to miss out on any action?" BAM! Ashstar was by my side, his head driven into my body in a flash of shadow, my limbs falling out from underneath me as I skidded and collapsed onto the soil, the fierce impact slamming me to the ground. Chest heaving, the grey tom stretched out a paw and hooked his claws into my head, jerking my skull upwards, forcing my gaze to meet his, hollow, heartless eyes carving my very soul from my body.
"Stormpaw is ten times the cat you will ever be. I never want to hear a word against him coming from those filthy jaws of yours ever again- understand?" Twisting against the leader's grip, I let out a mumbled reply, then called it out louder as he forced his face close to mine a growl reverberating in his throat, claws digging in harder.
"I understand!" Withdrawing with a satisfied nod, the tom signalled with his tail to the fur scattered on the ground, sweeping the area, my gaze following observantly, taking in the deep-sunk pawsteps, russet, coarse fur and pungent scent, the evidence adding together, the conclusion emerging in my mind the very moment Ashstar spoke it.
"A fox has moved into the territory. You and Stormpaw will chase it out. I will also send Goldenpaw to watch. It will give her experience, and she can report back on your performance. Sunnygaze, take Brightpaw back to camp, and send Stormpaw along. Tell my precious son that it is time for him to make me proud." A purr crept into the leader's voice as he spoke the last part, and a shudder of jealousy passed over me, causing my paws to shake upon the ground as I scrambled upwards, taking a shaky step forwards, the dull ache of being slammed into the ground still present in my side, sending weakness splashing over my legs.
Stop it. You've been through worse. Deal with it. Snapping words of warning to myself, I planted my claws into the ground and gritted my teeth, looking up defiantly, scanning the area, taking in the surroundings and calculating strategies in my mind, trying to override the pain and fear that had burrowed its way into my brain and seemed determined to feast on the little confidence that remained in my mind.
There are trees here, so speed will be difficult... I mused to myself, tilting my head in a contemplating manner. Agility will be key if it comes to a chase, but to get it over with fast would be best... Trailing away into thought, I let my limbs relax, tail twitching on the ground in a gentle manner.
"Hey dad! I'm ready to become a warrior!" The loud raucous voice of Stormpaw shocked me out of my relaxed state, and sent me bolting upright, head whipping around to see the muscular, sleek-pelted tom, an almost perfect replica of his father, skidding onto the path, Goldenpaw trotting meekly behind him, though her eyes were sparkling with pride. Dipping his head, Ashstar shouldered his way past me and ran his muzzle affectionately along his son's before motioning to the bushes, gaze flickering over to Goldenpaw.
"Goldenpaw, I want you to watch from the safety of the bushes. If the fox gets too close, Stormpaw will protect you. I want to see this battle from the eyes of a young cat. I will be waiting for your call. Yowl for me if there is trouble, or once they are done fighting." Nodding wordlessly, the golden she-cat flicked her tail in acknowledgement and padded away, the flash of vivid colour from her eyes the only thing visible amongst the leaves and dappled shadows of the undergrowth. Bounding away, Ashstar murmured some hushed words to Stormpaw as he left, leaving me and the arrogant tom alone amongst the trees, the only sound our breaths whistling out into the air.
"Get tracking, Filthpaw." Eyes narrowed, I whirled around on my brother, claws flashing into the ground, fury causing my pelt to stand on end.
"Why don't you do it?" I spat, but was greeted by a rough, deep laugh from the tom beside me, harsh and mocking.
"I need to save my strength for the actual fighting! You really think that I would bother with the tracking? I have you to do that for me." Growling, I lowered my head submissively and inhaled a deep breath, scouting out the fox's scent trail grudgingly.
"That way." Hissing bluntly, I padded forwards, stepping over the deep indents in the earth watchfully, nose angled towards the ground, senses trained on following the trail, tail whisking angrily in the air at the triumphant presence of Stormpaw behind me, claws clattering into the mud with every step, teeth shown in a scowl, the grimace permanently etched onto my jaws. Suddenly, scent flooded over me, and I slammed to an abrupt halt as, through the bushes, a large, narrow-faced, russet creature stood, face buried in the shredded remains of a rabbit, blood staining the ground and its muzzle, bones scattered across the clearing.
"Why did you stop, Filthpaw?" Flinching angrily, I took a shaky step backwards as the fox, eyes cold as ice, burning with fierce anger, blood dripping from its muzzle, fur ragged and ungroomed, its entire appearance wild, feral and vicious.
"You just told it we were here, you arrogant mousebrain!" I whirled around and yowled bitterly at my brother, who staggered backwards at the ferocity of the anger in my voice, then narrowed his eyes in fury.
"Then get out of the way and let me fight!" Barging past me, Stormpaw threw himself into the clearing and head on at the fox, claws glinting in the air, fur ruffled, eyes electric and blazing. Crouching fearfully in the shelter of the plants, I watched as the tom slammed into the creature and raked his claws into its pelt, a battle shriek exploding into the air as he scrambled onto its back and tore into its russet back, red blossoming through the coarse fur in the path of his claws. Letting out a feral screech of anguish, the fox bucked and writhed, attempting to throw Stormpaw off, but the tom clung on stubbornly, ripped side to side on the animal's back, hanging on for his life.
Then the fox froze. It stopped in its tracks, jerking my brother free as the animal's bones seemed to lock in place, a yowl of surprise escaping him as he clattered to the ground, sprawled out in the bracken, a dazed look to his eyes. A shake passing through its pelt the fox, eyes seeming to burn with a fearsome intensity, the wild look of an uncontrollable fire lancing over dry leaves, catching and torching everything that couldn't run fast enough. Then it lunged. Slamming into Stormpaw, its jaws snapped shut around his neck, a cry ripping through the air as the tom was plucked from the ground and jerked into the air, thrashing and screaming as the fox crunched down on his spine, blood beginning to spurt from his neck in thick, choking streams, the flow intensifying by the heartbeat.
"HELP ME!" The desperate shriek ripped through the trees, freezing me on the spot. Eyes wide, I watched, everything seeming to fall into silence as blood, thick, warm blood, poured onto the ground, Stormpaw's jaws open in a non-existent scream, eyes wide with panic, pupils contracted into slits, tearing side to side in what could only be described as the rawest sense of fear, the sense that death could be brushed by a single paw, the fear that stops the heart and freezes the mind.
The fear that made me move. Exploding to my paws, I rocketed forwards, a yowl of pure fury splitting the air as I slammed head on into the fox, the creature's eyes widening in surprise, Stormpaw dropping from its jaws and slumping to the ground, eyes fluttering shut. Claws tearing through pelt, I felt the world grow hazy as red descended on my vision, heart turning to flames, eyes catching alight as everything faded from my body except a single word, drumming endlessly into my mind with every stroke of my blazing heart.
Kill. Jaws snapping shut on flesh, an almost unnatural thrill passed over me as blood rushed into my mouth, my teeth driving into the fox's neck as it let out a feral scream, then fell to the ground, twitched once, twice, then was still, blood pouring from a gaping hole in its neck, more blood dripping from my jaws, splattered over my pelt, staining my paws, washed over my pelt, the sickening stench of it slicing through the exileration and leaving me weak and trembling.
"Ashstar." The acknowledging meow caused me to whirl my head around, breath heaving in my chest, an abnormal sense of relief at the sight of Stormpaw, standing shakily on his paws, a lopsided smile on his jaws at the sight of the dead fox, looking onwards as the leader surveyed the clearing and nodded in satisfaction, gaze travelling to his son.
"I assume that you dealt the killing blow?" Stormpaw's gaze flickered over to me, eyes filled with a brief uncertainty, the glance sending a flash of hope surging through me, however it was shattered in a single blink as his eyes reverted back to a steely, smug pride, a smirk creeping to his face as he purred softly, voice soft and self-fulfilled.
"Of course." A feeling of betrayal stabbed into me, claws burying themselves into my chest as the tom spoke, my paws shaking with anger, but the spark of hope flickered back to life as Ashstar beckoned towards the bushes, and Goldenpaw stepped out elegantly, shaking her pelt free of leaves and turning to face the leader.
"Is there anything left for you to add, Goldenpaw?" casting a desperate glance towards the apprentice, I felt as if she had reached inside of my chest and ripped my heart as she spoke, each word slamming into my pelt like brambles.
"Nothing, Ashstar."
A/N: Ugghhh... I thought that being on holiday would make me update more, but it's just stolen my writing ability... Have a long chapter, anyway!
Storm