Disclaimer: I do NOT own Warriors. It belongs to Erin Hunter.
'Thoughts' Dreams Memories
Bluestar raced through the fields, moving as fast as her paws would allow. Ravenpaw and Sandpaw struggled to keep up. Everything was moving in a blur for the two apprentices and without Tigerclaw to boot, they were still fairly in the dark. All they knew was what Bluestar told them but it still didn't feel like much. Sandpaw tripped over an unseen rock and went tumbling head over tail, Ravenpaw skidding to a stop to help her. Bluestar growled in frustration before turning to pick the younger molly up roughly by the scruff, snorting.
"We don't have a moment to lose! ThunderClan is in danger! No more mistakes! We have to move!" Bluestar hissed with narrowed eyes, ignoring the surprise and concern covering the apprentices' faces.
"But what about Tigerclaw? He's still out there somewhere." Sandpaw called back, trailing after Bluestar with Ravenpaw at her heels.
"There's no time! I will not risk my whole loyal Clan for just one demon!" Bluestar shot back with another growl, causing the pair to falter and look at eachother. Was it only the non-demon cats Bluestar was worried about?
"Ravenpaw, Sandpaw! I will not wait for you! Hurry up!" Bluestar's shout caused the pair to come back to reality and sent them running faster to catch up to their leader.
The barn, the structure that the friendly demon Barley lived in, was coming into view. Soon they would be entering the Clans' territories once again. Yet just was they were crossing a ditch and about to reach WindClan's border, a few low chuckles sounded in the bushes before them, along with some unfamiliar scents, six in total.
The bushes shook violently before a large red furred molly came stalking out, following by five other cats, each of them much bigger than the Clan cats. "Where are you going, small ones? Why the rush? Perhaps we can help you get to where you're going?" the red molly said, a small smirk on her face as she walked towards them. The other cats blocked the path at her tail waving a signal.
"I am the leader of ThunderClan! We have no business and no time to deal with you. Move aside!"
Sandpaw flattened her ears as she moved closer to Bluestar, she could smell blood and rotting flesh coming from all of them. But when she looked into the molly's eyes, she felt her mind faltering before she shook her head, growling. Yet that hesitation cost her as the red molly grinned and flung herself at the pale apprentice. Sandpaw's eyes widened in fear as she felt the massive female's jaws clamp onto her shoulder and drag her down.
Growling in pain, Sandpaaw tried to swipe at the other molly but even though she had undoubtedly gotten stronger from eating other cats herself, it was still nothing compared to this female. Her claws barely seemed to faze the molly and she smirked before biting harder.
Snarling weakly, Sandpaw tried clawing at her attacker once again and managed to get her claws into the other's eye, making her yowl in pain and loosen her grip. It was just enough for the pale furred apprentice to wriggle away and create some distance.
The apprentice briefly glanced to see Bluestar managing to drive one of the demons off, though she was bleeding heaving from a wound on her head while for a moment, she couldn't even see Ravenpaw. The black furred tom then jumped from the shadows of a nearby tree above, trying to take down one the hungry demons and doing so by shredding open his leg.
His opponent barely seemed to notice and though he limped, unlike his friend, he didn't run off. The others stayed too, glaring at the Clan cats and baring their fangs. Sandpaw groaned as her wounds throbbed, what would it take for these guys to leave?! Would they only stop if they were killed?!
"You fight well, Clan cat. I wonder if your flesh will taste all the better for the work you made me put in before killing you." The red furred she-demon snorted softly, a taunting grin on her face before she lunges at Sandpaw, intent on finishing their battle.
Sandpaw barely had time to react before someone pushed her from behind, Bluestar. The ThunderClan leader had just enough time to look back at the apprentices before she was swarmed by the demons, their bodies completely covering Bluestar's.
Eyes wide in confusion and fear, Sandpaw rushed to save her leader, charging into the red pelted molly and sinking her fangs deep into the other's scruff and hauling her off with all the strength she had. A quick glance told her that Ravenpaw had done the same with a tom and now Bluestar was struggling to rise with the other three demons still clinging to her.
Sandpaw threw the other female with all the strength she had, baring her fangs in challenge before rushing forward. Her claws hooked onto flesh and for a second she grinned with satisfaction as she felt her opponent's skin first stretch and then burst, the molly's blood flowing between her toes as Sandpaw brought her paws, clawing the demon further.
However that moment was gone as the red molly managed to get under Sandpaw and fling her into a tree, stunning her. The demon then pressed all her weight down on her chest while her clawsdug into the softer flesh there. As the breath was being crushed out of her, the demon smirked, sneering down in Sandpaw's face.
"You will be a worthy meal! You certainly made me work for it, I'll enjoy every minute of eating you!" she snarled, playfully snapping her teeth dangerously close to Sandpaw's eyes, grinning darkly. Sandpaw looked up at the fearsome molly, she felt fear beginning to swamp her and she trembled, closing her eyes.
No one was going to save her now. Ravenpaw and Bluestar were fighting for their own lives. Tigerclaw had disappeared, there was no one to help her. She felt one the molly's paws leave her chest, perhaps she was readying for the killing blow.
The demon's claws came down and Sandpaw felt searing hot pain burn her whole chest. Her eyes opened in terror as she stared at the demon trying to claw her to pieces. The fire spread to her face as the molly continued to tear at her. The ThunderClan apprentice opened her mouth to scream but it was cut off with a gurgle as she felt her throat being cut.
As she felt her whole body burn, Sandpaw closed her eyes once more. It was all she could do, she was going to die after all.
She was going to die? But...she didn't want to die. She had a full life ahead of her, she hadn't become a warrior yet. And...she still hadn't found Firepaw.
Firepaw. What would Firepaw think of her, dying like this? She would scoff and call her weak. Would this be how her life ends? Being eaten by another demon?
'SANDPAW! FIGHT BACK! You are a demon just like me! Don't be afraid! You are a demon, don't run from what you are! Confront it! Embrace it, Sandpaw! Go for her throat like a real demon!'
As the red furred female readied herself for the final blow, Sandpaw opened her eyes as a growl tore it's way from her throat. Firepaw's words, be they real somehow or fake, pushed her to her paws. She lunged, putting all her power into her bite as she aimed for the demon's left eye, crushing it like a grape.
The demon screamed in agony and through a lot of twisting and jumping about, she managed to dislodge Sandpaw who landed on her feet. The larger female shook her head, raining droplets on the ground before moving to glare at Sandpaw with her remaining eye, only to shrink back and flatten her ears.
Sandpaw stared back, her lips covered in blood that she licked off. Narrowing her eyes, she lashed her tail taking a step forward. Her movements were calm, almost lazy and her fur laid flat on her body. Only her eyes, narrowed into slits and filled with such a will to go on, showed an unwavering desire to bring down the one who threaten her To rend her body limb from limb and and leave nothing of her behind.
"Get out of my way. There is someone I need to find and to do that, I cannot die here. I won't be your prey!"
The demon snarled and arched her back, hissing softly. "You think just because you got in a lucky hit, you're safe? I'm done holding back! Prepare to die, Clan cat!"
Sandpaw huffed softly at that, showing her fangs slowly. "I won't be afraid ever again. If you don't leave...I'LL EAT YOU ALIVE!"
"Go ahead and try, runt!" The two then charged at each other, the larger female getting the upper hand by landing on Sandpaw's back. However, Sandpaw didn't remain idle and sunk her fangs into the red female's chest, biting down as hard as she could. She then maneuvered out from under the molly, tearing into her shoulder as she did so.
Her opponent growled and ran after her, trying to hook her claws into Sandpaw's legs and trip her, but Sandpaw remained just always out of reach. The pale flame molly then suddenly turned, opening her jaws and charging straight for her attacker. There wasn't any time for the demon to react and Sandpaw's fangs struck true.
Ripping open her throat, Sandpaw stood over the slain molly, staring down at her corpse. Then without any hesitation, she began to eat. Sandpaw would have finished the meal with no remorse but a struggling cry brought her attention toward the deeper darkness. Ravenpaw was facing a hulking demon of his own, but the black cat was faltering. His claw swipes were slow and sluggish and soon the other male was able to pin her fellow apprentice down.
Growling, Sandpaw dashed forward, tackling the male and quickly slashing his throat. Ravenpaw watched the murder happen in stunned silence, it was only broken by the two remaining demons seeing what had happened to their companions and running off.
Ravenpaw said nothing as they ran, leaving him and Sandpaw alone. It was then he remembered Bluestar and limped over to her.
The pale silver-blue molly was lying on her side, her fur was in tatters and she was deathly still. Ravenpaw tried nudging her but the leader didn't respond. Sandpaw walked over to Ravenpaw's side and sat down, staring down at Bluestar's body. Ravenpaw looked up at her and flinched, seeing the cold look in Sandpaw's eyes and the blood that still coated her body. Was this really his Clanmate? What happened to her?
The pale flame apprentice blinked once and lowered herself onto her belly, then placed her head on her paws. She didn't seem to really notice Ravenpaw and only sighed gently. "We'll wait until she wakes up. To leave her here, those demons might come back. While I'm not sure, I don't think this is her last life."
Ravenpaw merely nodded but as his eyes scanned across Sandpaw's body, she looked the same but he felt like something was still off. Sandpaw caught him staring and only snorted, flicking her ears.
"I heard Firepaw's voice...She helped to defeat that demon. Now...I'll embrace who I am. I won't be afraid of anything anymore."
"So...you are like the rest of us now." Ravenpaw muttered, looking mildly tense but Sandpaw only smiled a little and moved to lick his cheek.
"I won't mind, being like the rest of my brothers and sisters." Sandpaw replied with a soft smile before turning her attention back to Bluestar's body. "Hurry up, Bluestar. If the Clan really is in danger, we'll need you! Hurry, wake up!"
