Warriors: The New Era.

Chapter Thirty Three: Expendable

This chapter marks the return of the Triumvirate. They are fun to write, as they are practically the Three but the opposite. Very fun...


Crowflight held his glass of orange juice, and sighed "So what do you do for a living?"

The man sitting across from him smirked arrogantly "I run a tech industry. Clawtech, you ever heard of it?"

Crowflight shook his head "No. Should I?"

The man obviously found his confession annoying "Uh, YEAH! We help build inventions for daily uses, like toasters, microwaves..."

"Toasters, wow," Crowflight scowled as the man went on to brag on how 'special' his company was. After several minutes of this, Crowflight had enough "I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

He excused himself from the man and walked straight out of the bar, not even pretending to go where he said he would be going.

"That's one off the list," Crowflight mumbled as he walked down the sidewalk.

The longer he walked the longer it took him to realize that he had no idea where he was. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called his sister "Hey, Ravenheart? I need a ride."

"What? Did something go wrong?" Ravenheart said on the other side of Forrestlake, with some loud noises in the background.

"He's...not the one I'm looking for" Crowflight mumbled.

"On my way. May take a bit, I'm busy getting Tigerjaw out of a...situation. You uh...you okay? This wasn't another catfish was it?"

Crowflight shook his head "Nah. Just another annoying pompous asshole."

A large boom erupted through the phone speakers.

"What was that?" Crowflight asked.

"Uh...nothing?"

Crowflight gasped as he heard another sound over the phone "Are those sirens?"

Silence followed after. Ravenheart stuttered out "N-no."

"Raven!" Crowflight growled.

"No."

"RAVEN!"

"No sirens! You're mistaken. What, you think we're doing some-"

"COME ON YOU BASTARDS I'LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!" Tigerjaw's voice echoed through the phone "RRGHHHHH!"

Crowflight face palmed "Oh my God, what are you two doing?!"

"IT'S NOT OUR FAULT! Flame and Violetshine started an attack on a police precinct trying to free Sleekwhisker! We showed up to help, but the cops are shooting ALL of us now! We'll be over in five minutes okay bye!"

"RAVENHEART!" Crowflight yelled before the line cut. He had to stop himself from crushing his phone in anger "What the hell happened to lying low?!"

Crowflight sighed and leaned against a building, waiting for his sister.

"Crowflight?"

The young man looked up at a young woman with long raven hair "Ms Hollyleaf. What are you doing in Skyfair city?"

Hollyleaf sighed "Looking for you and your family. Where are they?"

Crowflight shrugged "Hell if I know..."

Hollyleaf held her hand out, and Crowflight took it, pulling himself up "How'd you find me? Oh, wait, let me guess. Trackers?"

"Bingo," Hollyleaf nodded. "Poppyfrost is nothing if not resourceful."

"What is it you want?" Crowflight asked.

"We're setting a trap for someone-"

"And you want me as bait?"

"We want you PROTECTING the bait," Hollyleaf corrected. "You remember the Assassin back on that rooftop?"

Crowflight nodded "Yeah, why?"

"That's who we're trapping..." Hollyleaf sighed.

"Who is the bait?"

"Cinderheart."

"And why can't your brothers and cousin do it instead?"

"The Assassin no doubt could recognize them. You three he's only seen once. I doubt he'll remember you, even IF he bumps into you on the street."

"Why would he bump into us on the street?"

"You three will be outside a warehouse, and when he gets in position, you use your powers and capture him. Easy peasy."

Crowflight nodded in understanding.

Hollyleaf sighed "That, and...I doubt any of them have the restraint to take him alive?"

"You want him ALIVE?!" Crowflight asked in wonder.

"Alderheart was one of us. He became twisted somehow. We can't just scrape him off like gum on a shoe!"

Crowflight pursed his lips "I...don't know. I guess we'll try to keep him alive."

"Thank you."

"Now get outta here," Crowflight snapped.


Rock smiled at his new weapons "Do they work?"

Bone nodded "I tested them myself. The ARS has sent us good weapons. We are one step away from achieving your mission."

Rock rubbed his chin, "That's usually when the ground gives way at your feet...keep looking. Despite their 'friendliness' we must anticipate an attack. I want double the security for our bombs."

"What security? The ARS has sent us THEIR soldiers!" Bone pointed out, "We can't trust them to guard those weapons!"

"Can we not?" Rock grinned, "Bring me the first squad of ARS soldiers."

"Yes sir," Bone nodded, walking away and ordering other officers to do as Rock said.

Rock began to walk away, when a sharp feeling of pain erupted from his stomach area. He almost fell to his knee, but he maintained enough balance to keep himself standing. He clutched his chest and breathed deeply.

"I'm running out of time. I need the device operational. I need Jack Graves."

Rock turned to see 12 soldiers, lined up in Military prescion. The one in the center held his head up high, "Is there a problem sir?"

"Yes. 12 problems."

Rock's eyes cackled wirth red electricty, and he levitated above them, blasting holes through all of them with lightning. The men screamed in pain and terror, and fell dead to the ground.

Bone witnessed this with stunned eyes.

"Eck ta, sut ka, melan RA!" Rock chanted, the corpses glowing a hideous yellow.

The soldiers stood up, skin flaky and rotten, and their eyes glowing a hideous yellow.

"You serve the Bright Lord now..." Rock grinned madly.

"We live to serve, master," They all said in unison.

"Zombies?" Bone asked.

"Revenants," Rock corrected, "Reanimated corpses that serve whomever restored them to life. If they were spies to Sky, they aren't now."

Bone shook his head "We're playing a dangerous game, sir."

"Sir?" Rock turned to face Bone, "What did you call me?"

Bone widned his eyes and bowed his head "It was nothing, my lord."

"See to it that it wasn't. As for you! Guard the bombs!"

"YES, MASTER!"


Cinderheart bit her lip, waiting in the warehouse. The windows up top cast an ugly yellow glow to the floor.

"We're in position," Crowflight said via her earpiece.

Cinderheart nodded, and gulped.

She had made contact with The Assassin a while ago, and decided to meet face to face, in order to confront why Breezepelt had to die. The assassin maybe wouldn't come, but it was always possi-

She was moved out of her thoughts as soon as the shadows moved.

"Assassin," Cinderheart nodded.

"Cinder. Why?"

Cinderheart sighed "Because we need to talk. Why did Breezepelt have to die?!"

"Why?"

"Yes why!" Cinderheart snapped.

The Assassin chuckle, the warps in his voice making it echo in machine like pitches, "He was stubborn, and couldn't shut up. He insulted me that I couldn't kill him back at the hospital, so I proved him wrong. It was so easy luring him outside the house."

Cinderheart bit back tears "I believed in you! I thought you were the only one who could see what was going on! But you're just another faction! Another party who wants us dead!"

"I'm playing the game, it's your sister's fault for deciding to join the game," The Assassin snorted.

Cinderheart growled, "You should have quit while you were ahead."

"You should quit while you are behind."

"NOW!"

Tigerjaw crashed through the wall to the warehouse, charging towards the Assassin. The Assassin jolted his head to look at Tigerjaw, just as the man knocked the Assassin down. Tigerjaw picked him up, and threw him across the room, as Crowflight leaped out of the shadows, stopping The Assassin midair and slamming him down on the ground.

Ravenheart flew through the hole Tigerjaw made, scowling "CHI MO KA!"

Lightning burst from her fingertips, hitting the Assassin square on. The Assassin wiggled and squealed in pain, his screams echoing in his mask.

Tigerjaw lifted his fist and slammed it down on The Assassin's mask, cracking it in two. One side of the mask skidded across the floor, while the other remained intact across his face. The unconscious Assassin laid still on the ground.

Ravenheart ceased the attack, floating down to the Assassin, "Is he out?"

Crowflight looked at the lying still Assassin. "I sense no brain activity. He's out."

"HELL YEAH!" Tigerjaw smirked, "He didn't even touch us!"

Ravenheart looked deeper at the Assassin, looking at all the parts that were visible.

His mask was still across his mouth and right eye, but the other eye and his hair were in full view. His hair was brown and long, and Ravenheart recognized it.

"Hey, Crowflight? What was this guy's name again?"

"His name was A-"

The Assassin's eyes shot open, and he grabbed Ravenheart by the throat, choking her. As Ravenheart tried to break free of The Assassin's grip, said Assassin pulled out a pistol, shooting Crowflight in the hip unawares. Tigerjaw whipped his head around, and snarled, charging back at the now standing Assassin.

The Assassin dropped the gun, and pulled a stun-gun out, shooting it at Tigerjaw, and when the cords connected to Tigerjaw's flesh, the brute's muscles contracted and spasmed. He fell to the floor, gasping for air.

The Assassin turned back to look at Ravenheart, letting her go just to punch her dead in the throat. Ravenheart's eyes popped out of their sockets, and she gasped for air.

"I just crushed your larynx, you won't be saying any spells for a while," The Assassin snarled under his mask.

"LET HER GO, ALDERHEART!" Cinderheart screamed from behind the Assassin, lifting the gun the Assassin dropped.

"ALDERHEART IS DEAD!" He roared, looking back at her with one wild amber eye.

"Drop the gun, or I'll kill her," The Assassin warned "This is your last and only warning."

Cinderheart sighed, dropping the gun.

"Good. Now tie them up with these," he tossed her some zipties, and a metalic handcuff-like thing for Tigerjaw.


Poppyfrost watched from the screen in shock.

The rest of her family watched behind her.

"He took them down in less then 30 seconds," Berrynose said beyond a whisper.

Lionblaze nodded, while Ivypool hugged Foxleap's arm. "This...that shouldn't have happened! We have to rescue them!"

"No."

It didn't take a genius to say who said that.

Half Moon slowly turned her head backward to look at Jayfeather in the eyes, her voice gaining a slight growl "Why not?"

Jayfeather shrugged. "The Triumvirate are a threat, and Cinderheart was a traitor. Why do you think I didn't want ANY of us there? We had nothing to lose if The Triumvirate failed, or succeeded. Now all who were threats are gone. They have a traitor and-"

Lionblaze was foaming at the mouth. "YOU BASTARD! YOU PLANNED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING!"

"OH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T FORGIVE THE BITCH WHO GOT BREEZEPELT KILLED!"

Half Moon cracked her knuckles as Jayfeather continued. "Now, we can focus on what's important. Taking out Rock, and getting Jay's Wing back. Tomorrow we sho-"

"You're the traitor."

Half Moon glared at Jayfeather, fists clenched and face snarling "You sacrificed four humans just to save your own. You have changed Jayfeather. You're not the man I fell in love with. You're a coward and a traitor!"

"So it's cowardly to sacrifice a traitor instead of all of YOU! I AM PROTECTING YOU ALL! HAVE SOME GODDAMN FAITH!" Jayfeather shouted, "I HAVE A PLAN! THIS IS THE PLAN!"

"What PLAN?! WHAT GODDAMN PLAN, JAYFEATHER?!" Honeyfern screamed, "I DIDN'T REALIZE OUR LIVES WERE SO FUCKING EXPENDABLE TO YOU!"

"IT WAS US, OR THEM!" Jayfeather countered, folding his arms, "I figured it might as well be them."

Foxleap scowled, "YOU ARE A DISGRACE, JAYFEATHER! A DISGRACE!"

What happened next was something no one expected.

Jayfeather's eyes glowed dark blue, and Foxleap began to choke, his hands flying to his throat.

"NO!" Sparkpelt drew her gun and pointed it at Jayfeather, finger already on the trigger. "Give the word, Boss!"

Lionblaze punched Jayfeather right in the jaw, sending his brother flying to the floor. Lionblaze looked at Jayfeather in a mix of anger and sorrow, "I thought I was mistaken. But Berrynose was right! YOU CANNOT BE TRUSTED!"

"I DO NOT SEEK TRUST!" Jayfeather hollered back, his eyes cackling with red electricity, "I DEMAND OBEDIANCE! EITHER STICK WITH ME, OR LEAVE!"

"Very well."

Everyone turned to Half Moon who hung her head low, "I had hoped it wouldn't come to this. But if you can no longer see reason, then I see no reason to stay with you. Goodbye, Jayfeather."

As if Half Moon said a spell, Jayfeather did a complete 180 "Wait...what?!"

"Goodbye, Jayfeather."

Half Moon left the Foxcave, biting back tears as she fled upstairs.

"Wait...where is she going?!" Jayfeather asked them all.

None of them replied.

Lionblaze was the first to follow, not sparing Jayfeather a second glance, as Jayfeather looked on confused, "Wait, where...what's going on?!"

One by one, the group left Jayfeather, following Half Moon, some glaring at Jayfeather, others saying nasty and rude things that which he deserved.

The last two there, was Jayfeather...

And Foxleap.

"Foxleap, wait! Where are they going?!" He asked in desperation.

Foxleap didn't say a word. He leaned forward in his chair, as Jayfeather continued, still on the floor, "Wait, Half Moon's...is...they...wait. They are leaving?"

"They don't trust you anymore, Jayfeather," Foxleap rose from his chair. "I don't trust you anymore."

"But...we are friends! I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!" Jayfeather screamed.

Foxleap began to cry. "You were always my friend, I wish you could see that."

The red-headed innovator left Jayfeather all alone.

Jayfeather began to panic and hypervenalate.

"Wait...they...I...he...we...I thought...wait...wait...what...they all...friends...I...I..."

Jayfeather couldn't take it.

He rose off the floor and bolted upstairs, each step he took, he almost tripped, and he grabbed the hand rail for support. He shoved the door down, and flew across the house, passing some it's inhabitants and fled out the front door.

Jayfeather ran into until he could no longer tell how far and how long he had been running.

When he collapsed, sinking to the ground covered with red autumn leaves, he looked up, surrounded by trees and bushes.

He then asked a question that he needed an answer to.

Physically and mentally.

"Where am I?"


Next chapter, we will focus on The Dragon Sickness that is stuck inside Jayfeather. It will solely be Jayfeather-centric, going through the thoughts and actions he has made.

What did you think?! Review you thoughts!

Oh, and before I go, what in the world made you think Poppyfrost was going to end up with Fernsong? I've decided that he isn't getting a love story (interpret that how you wish) and Poppyfrost isn't either. That scene last chapter was to focus on how much of a nice guy Fernsong is, forgiving her instantly. They are NOT going to end up together. That's incest.

Next chapter coming soon!

Adios.