Chapter 10: FearClan

News spread around the rogues quickly, so quickly that as night fell even Dusk was in disbelief. She had been settling into the group well now that she had calmed down. She was still kittypet-soft at heart. However, Lion took her under her paw to guide her about the wild. Falcon and Reed joined her along the way as the taught her how to hunt among the reeds and sparse vegetation.

Sadly, Shadow was already close to Cedar, apologizing for even trying to bring their missing sister home. He was strong and tough, something their group needed. Yet, Lion shared a glance to Moth, the bright ginger tom frowning as it appeared the black tabby tom was now one of them. The plans for war only continued in preparations.

The breeze that flowed through their camp was hardly felt as cats fell into their cliques for the night. Pounce and Berry murmuring to one another as they groomed each other's scarred bodies. Reed and Falcon curled up side by side, exchanging hushed whispers along with Frost and Timber. Their eyes flashing in the growing darkness. Moth huddled closer to Lion as Dusk padded over to them, worry in her amber eyes.

"Shadow is awfully upset." she mewed softly.

Moth snorted, "Who wouldn't be when a sibling chooses clan-cats over you?"

"It's all my fault." Dusk went on, almost as though she didn't hear him, "If only I wasn't a coward, we would have been fine."

Lion rolled her eyes. "Stop blaming yourself. What's done is done. All we can do is show support of whatever hare-brained ideas Cedar and Heather have."

"Although, Shadow seems to have put love before loyalty." Moth commented.

Dusk fluffed up her fur. "That's not true!"

"All toms think alike." Lion pointed out. "Moth, Falcon, Reed, and Pounce are only here because Cedar was looking for a proper mate. One that is a strong tom to have strong, good-looking kits. They weren't what she was looking for, so she let them stay. Your brother is just foolish enough to think she loves him."

Dusk looked horrified, while Moth nodded in agreement. "Only Heather and Cedar can have kits, too. I know you are concerned and worried, but Shadow is like snow beneath Cedar's paws now. It can be dangerous if he is told otherwise."

"There has to be something we can do! This isn't right!"

Lion motioned for her to lower her voice. "Keep it down. No cat can help you. Not the others anyway. Moth knows I have been complaining for moons about those two and their leadership."

"Then why don't you leave?" Dusk looked so worried and confused.

She shrugged slightly. "Most cats are afraid of the dangers of the wild. Compared to living alone, it's more relaxing to be in a group. More eyes to keep an eye out for you is all. I could leave, but if the clan-cats really wanted to cause fear, they could romp around the Twoleg Place. We would be in even more danger then."

Moth nodded, "Cedar's group isn't the best, but it's better than being alone in the wild. Especially since the river and bits of forest were once a contested area for us and them. For them it was hunting grounds, but for us it's a hiding place from Twolegs."

"Then what can we do? We're outnumbered."

Lion looked to the other cats, who were looking to the willow tree that stood tall and proud before them. "Only the dead would know." she decided as she spotted Cedar walking into the open with confident paw-steps. Close behind her was Heather and Shadow. They flanked her protectively as though creating a truce.

"My precious kits," Cedar trilled, almost scathingly, "Gather around me, it is time for the announcement."

The other cats quickly gathered while Lion herded Dusk to the small group. They were in smaller numbers from countless skirmishes and the first war between rogue and clan. Many had ran back into Twoleg Place, others died in the battle along with Bushstar. Lion knew this, they all did as it was how Cedar formed her own group in the end.

"Shadow will remain as one of us. Perhaps, he will finally be my lucky tom. He will teach us how to fish from the river so we may be battle-ready by leaf-fall. Dusk has improved well and will also stay as one of us."

Dusk huddled closer to Lion, glancing to her in worry. Lion only blinked back to her in sympathy. No cat would willingly stay here without good reason, or so Lion hoped.

Cedar went on, "As such, Heather will remain second in command and Shadow will now be third in command. What he says goes, only I and Heather can overrule him."

Shadow's broad head was lifted proudly, pale green eyes shining in the weak moonlight. His tail tip twitching as he was allowed to speak up. "I will do everything I can to bring strength. Even if it means finding my brother Timmy and my sister Luna to see if they will join our fight."

Heather dipped her head, "Some kittypets can be powerful fighters. So we will see. Until then, we have much to discuss about how to deal with this impending war with BushClan. They are set to strike at the bridge when the first leaves change color. Which means, we can strike first when the winds turn cold and we can smell leaf-fall in the air."

Cedar's eyes gleamed as she nodded in agreement. "We will have many first strikes. They will know what true fear is if it's the last thing I do."

Moth narrowed his eyes, raising his tail.

"Yes, Moth?" Heather growled.

"If Shadow does become your mate, do we still strike?" He blinked up at them innocently, "I mean, if she has kits before then. They could become great and strong fighters for our group after all."

"Kits or no kits," Cedar answered, "this war will happen. I have trust the she-cats will like the practice of kit-raising while the toms, Heather, and I avenge our broken loyalties."

Lion stood up defiantly. "Us She-cats outnumber the toms, can't a few of us go along to sharpen our claws on those clan-cats?" She could feel Dusk staring at her in horror, but she couldn't sway her loyalty to a newcomer of the group. I'm sorry Dusk, but I have to show loyalty to FearClan above friendship.

"Of course, Heather, Shadow, and I still have to pick who would go." Cedar replied smoothly, "Just wait it out a bit longer. I know ripping their throats out will be as satisfying as juicy as fresh-kill."

Lion sat down, her tail flicking. "Well, now we know how that part of the plan will go."

"My sister is with those clan-cats." Dusk fretted.

"Stop your whining." Lion hissed. "Just hope you aren't chosen to test your loyalties."

Moth glanced to them, twitching his ears. "Knowing Cedar, that would be easier said then done."

The cold chill of dread trickled through Lion, knowing that it was the truth. There was nothing they could do now. Dusk was trapped in the middle of a war with a chance of having to fight her own sister to the death. Looking back to Cedar, she could already tell that whatever she had in mind was as set as the thunderpath that the Twoleg's created for their monsters.

Author Note:

A lot of this is written ahead of time and to check my spelling, it takes another one to two days to write.
This is because I rewrite it in another document to really catch them since I write at like 1 am to 6 am.
I don't need sleep, I need to write answers for myself. - Nightsky