Chapter 30

FearClan/Willow

The night was full of snarls and yips in the distance. One that he could not figure out how far or how close it was. Willow slipped out of the willow-den to check it out. Rustles sounded, snow falling in a soft crunch as numerous paws raced by. A faint rank stench reaching his nose as slowly the cats came out into the clearing. They were in a hushed silence as the brush seemed alive with shadowy slim creatures.

With only the starlight to go by and the scent, Willow was positive that it was the foxes. They were racing by, knowing that this camp was wary of them. Not even bothered by their presence as they raced past them. Heather climbed the gnarled root to be beside Shadow, their gazes fixed on the flashing shadows in the din of the forest. Her tail tip twitched before curling over her back with certainty.

"They must be heading to BushClan territory." she meowed as soon as the rustling brush settled. "We will leave them to tearing those cats apart."

Willow looked around as fur seemed to lie flat all around him. Only Hawk looked mortified into the direction of where the foxes had gone. Pale green eyes wide, fur rumpled from an uneasy sleep. He slowly pushed his way through to her, his amber eyes flicking over her before realizing what was happening. Her eyes were unfocused, her claws deep into the frozen earth as her jaws were parted in foggy billows of breath. With a single blink, she was back with them as she looked to him shakily.

"What's wrong?" he whispered.

"BushClan is in as much danger as we are." she breathed shakily. "If those foxes kill enough cats, they may come back here the no-moon after tonight and finish us off."

"What can I do to stop this?" he dared to ask.

A rough shove pushed him aside as the golden tabby tom leered at him with hate. "How can you even dream of asking this feather-brain a thing?"

"She is my advisor, I can ask her whatever I want!" he argued, whirling around to Heather, who had only watched calmly. "We have to do something, Cedar wanted us to defeat BushClan, didn't she?"

"That she did." the rogue leader answered, her single eye glinting in the starlight. "It just would be better if the foxes did it."

"That's the cowards way out!" Willow snapped, taking the cats around him by surprise. As much as he wanted to go see the Moonstone, he wanted nothing more then to save them from the tragedy they suffered. However, he had to be careful with his wording. Any small slip of the tongue he could be sending Hawk to death. "The foxes would think they can do whatever they want to us when they're done with BushClan. If we attack while they're distracted with those Clan-cats we can show our strength that way."

"And that's why you would ask Hawk about what you can do to stop it?" Reed sneered.

"BushClan may have more cats then we do, but would you really want them to be killed off by the foxes? Do you want to be known as the cats who let foxes do what couldn't have been done when this all started?" he kept his gaze fixed on Heather. "I may not be the leader, but if I was, I would have put those foxes in their place to know we aren't afraid of them."

"We are not afraid." Shadow hissed defiantly.

Willow took a step forward. "Well Heather, would you really let some mangy foxes do what you and Cedar couldn't do?"

"We could have handled them!" Timber protested.

"I'm not talking to any of you." he snarled, looking back to Heather. "What will it be? Let the foxes do what they please and attack us again with the strength they gained by eating more cats or attack them?"

"Neither." Heather meowed coldly. "Time and time again you have pushed against me too hard Willow. Make a choice now. Will you stay here where it is safe from those foxes like a good little kit or leave us without a future leader and get yourself killed by those things?"

His heart was pounding in his chest, blood roaring in his ears. Was she finally pushing back, realizing what kind of monster he was appearing to be? Or was she questioning everything he had pressed for in the past few moons? Whatever it was, he knew what his choice had to be.

"Be a coward then." he turned and walked towards the entrance of the camp. "You are all welcomed to stay here, but if you want true survival come with me. I promise I can make those foxes leave us alone and know we aren't afraid. I'd rather die trying to ensure the safety of my cats from these beasts."

"Go ahead, I know no cat will follow you blindly for that." Heather sniffed contemptuously.

Willow waited patiently, knowing full well that was not true. Every cat here was blindly following another cat. Why else would they treat Hawk so badly despite the skills that could have saved them? He looked to Timber who was whispering to his sisters, the very two who would more then likely stay behind. She was probably telling them how fish-brained he was to go after the foxes.

Soon, the familiar long furred figure stepped up to Willow's side. The starlight could hardly do it justice, the familiar stripes of his advisor and green eyes that glittered like far-distant stars in the sky. She sat beside him, her posture far from the shamed and battered she-cat she had become. Her long bushy tail curled around her small paws.

"Typical!"

"Let that dumb she-cat go with him, she would give up her life and he will come running back in fear!"

"I am responsible for Willow, thus, I will protect him the best I can." Hawk meowed calmly, hushing the cats on the other end of the clearing. "Cedar is dead because I caused those wounds and was unable to save her. Guilt has clawed me from within for many long moons. I have done everything I can to atone for it. It was never enough for all of you. So, I will gladly throw my life away to protect this cat. He is not a future leader to me, but a cat who has grown by leaps and bounds. Far more then the hate you all have without mercy."

"Then go." Heather replied coldly, "Show this kit that he is foolish."

"Nettle, Ant! Why?" Timber suddenly yowled.

Willow glanced over, surprised as his sisters walked up to his small group. The black tabby looking over the group with a satisfied nod. The gray-brown tabby shaking out her long fur as though they had made the simplest of choices. Heather leaped down from her perch and hurried over in shock.

"Ant, I forbid you-"

"Heather," Ant began in a growl. "How many moons have I been promised I could hunt and fight along with my siblings? How many moons have I been told that I cannot play with my brother because his destiny is far greater then my own? How many times have I been told I should have been the first born?"

Silence met her words, leaving Nettle to speak up next. "Our entire lives have been a step behind. Leading to Juniper resenting Willow. Leading us to wish we were ideal for you, but we never were. Forbid us if you want, but you can't stop us. From this day forward, Willow is our leader. He at least has FearClan's reputation in mind more then you mouse-hearts!"

Shadow jumped down, his tail lashing. "I forbid you two to follow those cats!"

"Why, so you don't have to be hurting us like you hurt Hawk?" Ant snapped, causing their father to recoil. "If it didn't stop you from doing it to her, then go ahead and do it to us. It makes no difference. All you see is Cedar in us, never once have you seen us for who we are. Pounce at least treated Juniper like a stranger, it was worse then being treated as Cedar's kits."

"Agreed." Nettle narrowed her eyes. "But at least Juniper doesn't have to worry about that now. He's dead. Only when your dead does the love truly show."

Hawk shook her head. "This is unforgiveable."

"It's the Kit-Watchers job-"

"To watch over the kits." Willow finished. "Nowhere has it been said that they have to provide the love of a mother and father. Shadow says he loved us, but how can we be sure? He's only here because he loved our mother, not us."

"That isn't true!" Shadow shouted, guilt flashing in his eyes.

"Then why look so guilty?" Willow challenged. "Why act so hurt when it's put into words if it isn't true?"

Silence filled the clearing as Ant scoffed, turning away. "Willow, let's just go. If they want to be afraid, let them. We have bigger prey to hunt."

"Agreed." Hawk mewed softly, "At least they aren't rooted in place like these so-called cats."

Willow nodded, turning to the entrance of the camp and leaving with the three cats. Four cats couldn't handle this, but he knew it was the best they could do. He was certain BushClan would fight with their lives on the line, so they were going to do the same. Would they return without a cat missing, he didn't know. All he did know was he had faith in his sisters to fight with the revenge for Thistle and Dusk on their minds.

"Will Hawk be able to fight though?" Nettle asked from somewhere behind him.

Hawk answered for him. "I can fight. Every medicine cat in BushClan is given basic fight training to defend themselves. In FearClan, you have to know how to fight to survive and Lion taught me as much as she could before the first snow fell."

"Good." Ant commented. "We thought we might have to fight for you."

"Nonsense, unlike Shadow I don't need to hide behind a group. You three have often reminded me of the cat he once was. I'm proud to know that you three will make your mark as cats of your own. No matter who brought you into this life." Hawk murmured as they hurried.

Nettle started to take the lead. "I can smell Pounce, he must have climbed a tree nearby."

"Leave him." Willow ordered. "It's his choice if he wants to fight the foxes head on or head home to rest."

"Right." Ant replied, picking up the pace as they broke free from the brush.

Frost glistened on the Twoleg Bridge, but there was the sign of many paws having trampled through. Some skidded and slid, giving a clear sight that the frost has slowed the foxes down even a little through here. Paws tingling, Willow began to cross carefully. It was a priority no matter what any before them could say. Whether or not Heather or BushClan liked it, they were here to avenge the losses they had to take and no cat could stop them.

May Thistle and Dusk find rest and happiness. Willow thought as they crossed as quickly as they could. For we are now finding the closure we have needed for some time.

Wild cries of cats and foxes clashed in the no-moon night. A war was happening within the bushes and spindly-trees. Paws scrabbling against soil as they approached. The sound of claws slamming into thick fur and flesh sounded through the eerie quiet. At last, they have arrived to put these foxes in their place.

The closer they got to the edge of the fight, the more they could see the figures of the foxes fighting with guttural barks. Their claws lashing at the cats of BushClan who dared to fight back. Cats screeching and yowling their battle cries, sharp claws glinting in the starlight. Without warning, foxes were fighting through the barrier around the camp further ahead. Their yelps echoing to Willow's ears.

With a single glance, Hawk nodded to him. Making his final choice he gave an order in a yowl. "Attack those foxes! For Dusk and Thistle!"

Swiftly, they broke apart and targeted a fox that was attempting to join an attack on a single cat. They may not be fully grown yet, but Willow ad his siblings worked together to fight the ragged furred foxes. The cat they rescued looked to them in surprise for only a moment before ignoring their presence. It truly was a battle between fox and cat. The only battle where there is no border separating them.

Author Note:

So, I have to look up for how many days it takes for a new moon to show up. It only lasts for three nights. First night is first/last quarter, second is the new moon, and the third night is the last/first quarter. I have learned a lot. xD

Also, yes I am keeping this as realistic as it can be. Meaning, they can see in the dark like proper cats can. With the smallest amount of light, they can see. So with moonlight and starlight they can see pretty well.

That's it for the fun facts of kitties. Thank you for reading! Hope you all have a good day/night! -Nightsky