Chapter 12: Dark Before Dawn
Jaggedshadow's POV
Author's Note: I have decided that I will rewrite the prologue in a few days. Additionally, from now until further notice, chapters will be posted once every two weeks on Saturdays or Sundays at either 9 AM or 1:30 PM Mountain Standard Time.
Jaggedshadow stepped out of the guardians cave. It was a beautiful day. His pelt was warmed by the sun, birdsong filled the air, and for the first time since he was Stoneclaw's apprentice, he felt happy. He lifted his head and grinned.
Jaggedshadow's gaze met Cedartail's and his grin faded. A hatred, older than Jaggedshadow himself, took over him, causing his fur to spike. His breaths became ragged, and his eyes narrowed. As Jaggedshadow bared his teeth and unsheathed his claws, his ears folded against his head.
After a few moments, he opened his eyes. His fur flattened. Jaggedshadow looked around himself. Several cats were staring at him. Jaggedshadow sighed. His pelt felt hot. He had embarrassed himself once again, but this time the whole clan had been watching.
Jaggedshadow ran out of camp. Once he left the entrance tunnel behind him, he sat in the shade of a misshapen oak tree. Jaggedshadow stood as a border patrol marched into view.
As they came closer, he turned away and ran. He did not want to talk to any cat.
Once Jaggedshadow reached the watchers tree, he turned and ran. He was running eastward. Jaggedshadow stopped moments before he would have crashed into a sturdy oak. He was hungry, so he decided to hunt.
Dropping into a hunting crouch, Jaggedshadow stalked forward. He stopped. There was a pheasant ten paces from his position. Jaggedshadow continued to stalk toward it.
The pheasant took off into the air, squawking in fright. It had seen Jaggedshadow. Leaping after it, Jaggedshadow stretched his forelegs toward the pheasant, unsheathing his claws to catch it. He had grossly miscalculated his leap, and he fell from the apogee of his leap. Jaggedshadow landed on his paws. Behind him, Moondusk approached, with raised hackles and bared teeth.
"If it wasn't for your clumsy hunting, I would have caught that hare," Moondusk growled at Jaggedshadow.
"What hare?"
"The one that I was trying to catch, you gigantic oaf," Moondusk hissed. "Silvermist needed that hare, and now I will have to catch another for her."
"So?" Jaggedshadow meowed, "some other cat could bring her prey."
Moondusk stepped back. A look of disbelief and shock appeared on his face. "Surely you have some sense of loyalty to your kin?"
Moondusk's comment stung, but Jaggedshadow only glared at him. There was no turning back, especially since his rival stood before him. Most of his family were either dead or banished. Jaggedshadow had not carried a meaningful conversation with those who remained in Nightclan.
Jaggedshadow stepped toward Moondusk. "Moondusk," he hissed, "I challenge you to a duel. Victory will be declared at first blood drawn. The defeated one will go into exile for three days." We'll see who is the clumsy oaf! Jaggedshadow thought.
"Where and when, Jaggedshadow?" Moondusk growled.
"I'm glad that you accept my challenge," Jaggedshadow meowed coolly. "Our duel will take place at the old training hill, after I fetch Nightsong to officiate."
"So be it."
It didn't take long for Jaggedshadow to reach camp. Once in, he went to Nightsong's den to ask him to officiate the duel. In Nightclan, when a cat challenged a fellow warrior to a duel, they would fetch either a medicine cat, a leader, or a deputy to officiate. This was done to discourage lying and to prevent unnecessary death, as the vast majority of duels were to the first blood. A duel could have a maximum of five participants, including the officiators, of which there could be two at most.
"Yes, Jaggedshadow?" Nightsong asked.
"Will you officiate a duel between Moondusk and I? And could you skip the speech about how Othtor and Caelum watch over us?"
"What are the terms?"
"The duel will be to the first blood. the loser will go into exile for three days."
"Yes, I will officiate your duel," Nightsong replied after a moment. "But I will not omit the section about Othtor's guidance and watchfulness. That section is integral to the opening speech of a duel. Just because you cannot see Caelum doesn't mean that they are not watching over and guiding you."
"Whatever."
"I wasn't finished. Take for example the spirit blind. They cannot always see spirits, yet they believe in the power of their ancestors."
"Well forgive my skepticism," Jaggedshadow spat, "but I once believed. Look how that has worked out for me."
"Nevertheless," Nightsong meowed. "Haven't we a duel to attend? Pineheart asked me to greet you for him by the way. He goes by Æri now."
Jaggedshadow ran to the training hill with Nightsong at his side. Pineheart 's alive? He thought. When he and Nighsong arrived on the hill , Moondusk was sitting beside a mossy, termite-filled log.
Moondusk stood. "Took you long enough."
"True." Nightsong sat.
"'Right, then." Jaggedshadow took his place at one end of the hilltop. Moondusk walked toward Jaggedshadow, stopping when there was a fox-length between him and Jaggedshadow.
"Are you both sure you want to proceed?" Nightsong asked, startling Jaggedshadow. "Because if there is any doubt, then you must settle whatever quarrel you have without violence."
"We are," Jaggedshadow said.
Nightsong stood. "I say these words before Caelum, that they will hear and approve this duel and its outcome, whatever it may be. These warriors quarrel and have resorted to the age-old custom of a duel to the first blood. They require your wisdom, O Caelum, and Othtor's guidance, for without it we are no better than renegades or rouges. Guide them as they make amends after the defeated one's exile."
Jaggedshadow yawned. He wasn't trying to disrespect his brother by interrupting him, but Nightsong's speeches always seemed to be longer than necessary. Moons before the battle at hawk ridge, Jaggedshadow had received medicine cat training alongside Nightsong, as part of his guardian training. He had once even officiated a duel.
That duel had been fought by two senior warriors who, had long been arguing about each other's hunting techniques, both of which were quite effective. One of them, who's name was White Ear, died from their wounds not long after the duel. Jaggedshadow had sworn that he would never take part in a duel over something so trivial, yet there he was.
"." Nightsong turned toward Jaggedshadow. "Do you, Jaggedshadow, swear before Caelum to stop fighting once the blood drawing blow is struck?"
"Yes I do," Jaggedshadow said hastily. He was eager to begin the duel. He would show Moondusk just how bitter defeat could taste.
Nightsong turned toward Moondusk. "And do you, Moondusk, swear before Caelum to stop fighting once the blood drawing blow is struck?"
"I do."
Nightsong stepped back. "Then you may begin."
Jaggedshadow unsheathed his claws. He was going to have fun showing Moondusk how much more skilled he was. Jaggedshadow and Moondusk circled each other. Since it was a duel to the first blood, it was crucial they avoided striking until they were sure that their strikes would connect. Tigershadow's ears flattened.
Moondusk leaped at Jaggedshadow. Jaggedshadow dodged his strike, turning to face him. Moondusk leaped at Jaggedshadow once again. This time, Jaggedshadow leaped into the air moments before Moondusk would have reached him, performing a nigh-perfect back-flip in the process. Moondusk changed his method of attack, rushing at Jaggedshadow.
Jaggedshadow simply responded by stepping to the left. Moondusk seemed to wise up to his strategy, raking his claws along his opponent's side. Jagggedshadow sprang back, rolling away. He gave his side a few swift lisks. He breathed a sigh of relief. Moondusk's claws had not pierced his skin. He had not lost.
Moondusk rushed him again. Jaggedshadow leaped over his rivals head, landing a fox-length behind him. Moon dusk spun to face Jaggedshadow. Jaggedshadow stepped toward the smaller warrior, bringing his forelegs down on Moondusk's shoulder. This would stun Moondusk for a few moments and paralyze his shoulders for a similar amount of time. Moondusk stumbled backward.
Jaggedshadow leaped at Moondusk, landing in front of Moondusk, who continued backing away. Before Moondusk could react, he raked his claws down his shoulder. Moondusk flinched. The strike had not drawn blood. Jaggedshadow followed it with a strike to the chin. blood trickled from the new wound.
