Chapter 19: FearClan

It was a show of their strength, sharp claws digging into the captured cats as Cedar ordered the toms around. Moth's green eyes unreadable as he held down the mottled brown she-cat. Kicking out her hind legs powerfully as Pounce sank his fangs deep into her joints and pulled roughly. She screamed, her eyes full of fear as she writhed.

Cedar approached, her belly swollen with kits. Her bright green eyes glimmering in malice and hate. "So, we have captured two of them?" she growled, seeming to be pleased.

Reed dipped his head respectfully, "Yes, Lion suggested it. We hoped, altogether, that this would please you."

Heather padded over, her tail sweeping behind her. "Sounds like a good call. Even from a traitorous cat."

Lion felt as though ants or fleas were crawling among her pelt. Swallowing her pride, she looked to the clan-cats. The brown she-cat was pinned uncomfortably, appearing to have given up on living. Cedar's mate soon padded into position, his pale green eyes watching coldly.

"Let us find out their secrets." Falcon hissed, slashing the mottled tabby who let out a pained yelp. "Still awake, are you?"

"Back off Falcon." Heather snapped, padding up to the clan-cats as said tom backed away, gold eyes gleaming with excitement. "We have no need for their secrets, anyway. Those cats already want them back."

"What should we do then?" Moth mewed softly.

"Scar them." Cedar ordered, her tail flicking. "Break their bones. I don't care, they deserve to pay for their very lives."

"Lion, you will have the honors." Heather decided. "To keep your place among us, you must begin the session and end it. Be it with ferocity or death."

Her stomach sank, would there be no way to satisfy them? Lion looked to them, knowing it wouldn't be right to go after Drizzlepaw. She glanced to the mottled brown she-cat who stared with pleading eyes. I can't betray them! If I do, I will be alone and in danger of two groups!

She knew that they couldn't plead to one another to understand or even allow them to survive. Glancing over the apprentice and the warrior, she made a choice. Attacking a younger tom would only appear weak in the others eyes. Anger boiled within her as she lunged forward.

Moth jumped off in shock. A shriek escaped the she-cat that writhed beneath her. She dug in her claws ripping into the flesh as she clutched to their shoulder. With a powerful kick, the air escaped her lungs as she tumbled away. Gasping for air, she turned her amber eyes on the wild-eyed she-cat who scrambled to her paws.

"Spottedstorm, no!" Drizzlepaw mumbled, starting to come to.

Lion ignored him as she struggled to her paws. Pounce launched himself onto the she-cat, Spottedstorm, raking his deadly claws onto the clan-cats flanks. Moth held back as Frost and Timber joined the fray, slashing the mottled brown warrior's chest and face.

Berry swiftly pounced onto Drizzlepaw, pummeling his back with powerful kicks. Clumps of fur coming off in red-stained tufts. Hefty blows slammed into the young tom as he yowled and struggled to fight back, limbs still heavy. Reed bit into the tom's pale gray throat. Drizzlepaw gurgled, his jaws wide in a silent scream for help.

Lion watched in horror as Drizzlepaw's eyes rolled and he fell limp. Blood oozing from his wounds as Reed pulled at his throat. His body was still, blood poured out and stained the grass with it's crimson color. Reed let go, his ice-blue eyes turning to the mottled brown she-cat who feebly fought, previous wounds reopening as she fought for her life, unaware of the death of her apprentice.

"Let me go!" Spottedstorm hissed, her eyes falling on Dusk. "Help me! Please!" She begged, desperation making her mew shrill.

Dusk stared with wide amber eyes, frozen in fear. She was useless as ever as Cedar gave an order, her breath ragged. "Finish it, Lion. Finish the session."

"P-please... d-d-don't... I'm not... I don't want to die!" Spottedstorm yowled in panic as Lion stiffly padded closer and closer.

Was it truly worth it? Lion wondered breifly, her mind swimming as her body moved of it's own accord. Was she no better than the toms? Their eyes met one last time, sympathy spilled over her. Spottedstorm didn't deserve this. No cat did. Closing her eyes briefly, she murmured beneath her breath.

"I'm so sorry..."

With her claws outstretched, she sliced a ragged gash into the young warrior's throat. Warm and sticky, the life was escaping the she-cat. The warriors legs jerked slightly, twitching as blood bubbled out of them. Her paws were stained red and her mind and heart stained with guilt. Did the clan-cat truly deserve to die?

At a sharp gasp, she snapped into attention. Her amber eyes met bright green ones. Cedar was hunched over with a pained wail. Heather took over, snarling orders to the toms to get rid of the bodies before she raised her voice.

"She-cats! Come to me! Cedar has begun kitting!" At her words, Berry, Frost, and Timber rushed over. Lion quickly followed, her paws feeling like stones as she forced herself to move. "Dusk your supposed to come when called!" Heather yowled.

Lion dared to look, seeing that Dusk hadn't moved, her eyes squeezed shut and fur fluffed out. "Best to leave her be. This was her first time seeing what we do around her." she told Heather, giving her a look. "She won't be able to provide help right now."

Heather herded her closest friend to her den. Shadow followed, uncertain what he could do. Lion stopped and nipped his tail, earning his attention. She gave him a look, the tom she brought in foolishly was the cause of all this.

"Keep out, we will tend to her." Lion told him sourly, "Just stay out here in case Heather has one of us come to you for one reason or another."

"Can I trust you on that?" Shadow asked.

The reddish-brown she-cat narrowed her eyes. "What choice do I even have?" She turned and slipped into the den.

As her eyes slowly adjusted, she could hear the pained yowls and wails. Carefully, she padded closer to see the she-cats taking jobs. Heather was close to Cedar, running her tail over their leader's flank with hushed whispered. Love and affection in her eyes, something Lion had never seen before. Were the rumors true? Did Heather have a one-sided love for Cedar?

Shaking her head, she focused once again. Berry had her paws on Cedar's belly, which rippled with powerful contractions. Frost had a willow branch in her mouth and was prepared to push it to her while Timber was on watch for the slithering shape of a kit. Lion resigned herself to the final duty.

"Shall I send Shadow to bring water-soaked moss?" Lion asked Heather.

The creamy brown she-cat lifted her head, honey-colored eyes watching her for a moment, before nodding. "That would be a good start."

Lion dipped her head as she went back to the entrance to give Shadow his task. Doing her best to ignore the pained moans and yowls of how it was all Shadow's fault. The she-cat could only wonder and hope that all would be well. Especially since it appeared to be the beginning of a long night.

. . .

The moon hung high in the sky when the kitting was finished. Cedar was asleep, unaware of a missing kit that was pulled to the side. A small black and brown-gray kit was unmoving and lifeless. It's body tinier than the others. Nameless, they hid the kit from view as Berry, Frost, and Timber left to give Shadow room. Leaving Lion with the work of taking the deceased kit away.

"Come, see your kits." Heather mewed, her eyes downcast.

Shadow crept closer, seeing the shadowy shapes. The faint moonlight couldn't illuminate them enough, but it was okay. Lion knew he was smitten with the kits. Much like Heather seemed to be. She looked to the dead kit, hidden behind her safely still. Looking up, her amber gaze met the honey ones.

"Lion, go get something to eat for yourself. Check on Dusk." Heather ordered, her mew subdue. "Guide her well. She will not become your responsibility until a moon into leaf-fall."

"A moon into leaf-fall?" she echoed, confused. "Didn't the clan-cats want to wage war when the leaves change color?"

"As far as they know, their cats are alive and well here." she explained, "If they strike they will believe we will kill them. So, they will wait and by then the kits should be old enough to be without Cedar."

"You won't talk her out of it?"

"This was planned since the day Bushstar died and Nightstar rose into power." Heather informed her darkly. "I have tried to push it back further, but she won't wait any longer."

Lion nodded stiffly, turning to pick up the kit. Pale green eyes spotted her, she knew this at the tone of the mew. "What do you have there?"

The air was thick with the scent of birthing fluids and warm milk. Lion held onto the unnamed kit, looking to Heather for guidance. Only to see the sharp honey eyes return, hard and cold.

"A runt was born and didn't survive."

"Let me see them."

"Why bother, the kit is dead and Lion needs to bury it."

"What if it isn't?" Shadow challenged. "Don't I get a say in this at all?"

"What say? You didn't carry them for two moons. I didn't see you pregnant with her!"

"I didn't see you either!" the black tabby tom hissed.

Lion stared hollowly before slipping out, knowing that Heather had given her an opening. She ran, carrying the dead kit out of the camp, fear pulsing through her. Desperation scorched her heart like fire. Shadow learned how little she cared, but he also learned how she submits to the abuse. Was she a victim? Was this kit also one? She did not know.

What she did know, was this kit had been lucky. There was no chance they would have survived the rough life they had. The runt was the only lucky one in the litter in Lion's eyes.