Jaggedshadow stood. Today was the day he would make an end to Cedartail and his despotic ways.
A few days had passed since Jaggedshadow, Nightsong, Stormwind, Pond Song and Stoneclaw had returned to NightClan. Jaggedshadow had waited that long to insure that his vengeance would go unpunished. His vengeance would be undone if someone were to punish him for his act of regicide. And it would be as much undone if Jaggedshadow could not make Cedartail see how he had wronged Jaggedshadow, and NightClan as a whole.
What happened? Jaggedshadow looked around. Beside him stood Flamesong and Nightsong. Around the three of them stood what must have been half of NightClan. Jaggedshadow winced. His shoulder stung and his head throbbed. Drying blood clung to Flamesong's side.
Jaggedshadow glanced at his vessel. Drying blood clung to major swaths of fur. Phoenix was nowhere to be found.
Jaggedshadow looked around, mouth open to taste the air. It was sometime after sunhigh and he was in NightClan's camp. A hunting patrol had recently returned by the scents of prey in the air.
Jaggedshadow marched through the crowd. He bumped into several cats on his way out. But he didn't care; Cedartail was out there somewhere. Jaggedshadow just needed to find him and bring an end to him.
Cedartail prowled through the forest on the slope of the mountain. His eyes were fixed on the brush ahead of him, his ears were pricked, and his mouth was partially open. He was hunting.
So was Jaggedshadow. However, Jaggedshadow was doing a more dangerous sort of hunt. His prey was not a meek mouse, a quick-footed hare, a flighty pigeon, or even a bold hawk, but a seasoned and brutal warrior.
Jaggedshadow prowled toward Cedartail. Jaggedshadow had done, and was doing everything he could to keep himself silent and hidden. His soaked fur dripped with icy water from the river that flowed through his place of solace. He kept his breathing relaxed.
Jaggedshadow set his paw beside a stone. He needed to be careful. Any misstep could alert his prey to his whereabouts.
"Ah," said Cedartail. "I did not expect to find you here. How are you?"
Cedartail had noticed him. Jaggedshadow forced his fur to lie flat. Time was drawing short. "Greetings, Cedartail," he answered coolly. The greetings used by The Tribe of Rushing Thunder were much, much better than those used by NightClan. None of the meaningless inquiries about one another's states of being.
"Where is that stone cat?"
Jaggedshadow stifled a growl. That tone. That Caelum-accursed possessive tone. It seemed like Cedartail thought that everyone in NightClan belonged to him. "Among the rocks of the mountain, I expect."
Jaggedshadow unsheathed his claws. His tail bristled. His back arched, his hackles raised, and his ears flattened against his head in preparation for his assault. Jaggedshadow narrowed his eyes. He spat.
Before Cedartail could react, Jaggedshadow reared up on his hind legs. He brought his paws down on Cedartail's shoulders.
Cedartail was immobilized. Jaggedshadow moved in for the kill. He struck Cedartail's throat. Cedartail hardly flinched. Jaggedshadow hissed. Pain set his face alight as blood began to drip into his eye. Jaggedshadow struck back.
A puff of smoke hit him in the face. A wave of heat followed it. Jaggedshadow needed to get away. He rolled onto his paws and ran.
Flames leaped at Jaggedshadow. Jaggedshadow ducked behind a berm. He needed to act quickly. Cedartail was respectful of Caelum to the point of subservience. Jaggedshadow made his fur look like Leopardfall's.
Jaggedshadow hurled himself into a tree. Climbing to a higher branch, he leaped. Jaggedshadow landed near Cedartail. He rolled to absorb the impact.
Cedartail's eyes widened. "Leopardfall?" He stepped closer to Jaggedshadow, who, I remind you, was pretending to be Leopardfall.
Jaggedshadow nodded.
"You must assist me. One of my warriors has gone mad."
"On the contrary. I come to serve justice. You have led NightClan into darkness." Jaggedshadow told Cedartail.
"What-"
Cedartail didn't finish his question. Jaggedshadow raked his claws across Cedartail's throat. Not leaving anything up to chance, Jaggedshadow rushed toward Cedartail. He sank his teeth into his enemy's flesh.
Jaggedshadow shrieked. He leaped as far away as he could. Cedartail's flames had burnt him.
The air was thick with the stench of singed fur, and the coppery scent of blood. Jaggedshadow rolled toward Cedartail, dodging a stream of flame. As he rolled he changed his appearance. Now he resembled Darkleaf.
"You hath sinned." Jaggedshadow snarled. It was only a matter of time before Cedartail realized what Jaggedshadow was doing. Best to inflict as much damage as he could.
"Whatever do you speak of, Darkleaf?" Cedartail made a small retreat. "I have followed Othtor's commands."
Hearing this enraged Jaggedshadow. "Liar!" He shouted, as his claws tore into Cedartail's face "Hypocrite!" he slashed up at Cedartail's neck and chin. "Murderer!" Jaggedshadow screamed. A blow hit him on the neck. Jaggedshadow struck rapidly at Cedartail's face and neck with both paws.
A burst of flame hit Jaggedshadow in the chest as Cedartail yelled strange and powerful curses. Jaggedshadow retreated, tripping into a hole.
Jaggedshadow walked the tunnel. In the tunnel was an odd-smelling stagnant pool. With a sigh he immersed himself in the pool. As he stepped out, he made his fur look like Whitestone's.
Jaggedshadow leaped out of the tunnel. He landed near Cedartail. Jaggedshadow winced. He must have sprained a leg when he fell into the tunnel.
Jaggedshadow whirled, clawing Cedartail. He let his false guise fall away. He would wage an honest fight.
Cedartail lunged. Jaggedshadow dodged, swiping at Cedartail's side. As Cedartail struck, Jaggedshadow leaped sideways out of his vessel. Silent as a breeze, he slammed Cedartail against a rock. Jaggedshadow leaped back into his vessel. Cedartail would know who destroyed him.
Cedartail shook his head. He stumbled toward Jaggedshadow and his vessel, fury frothing from his mouth. Jaggedshadow charged Cedartail.
Jaggedshadow shrieked furiously as he slammed onto the stony ground. Cedartail had pounced on him. Jaggedshadow thrashed, slashing at Cedartail's side with his two free legs.
Before long, Cedartail subdued Jaggedshadow.
Cedartail leaned to speak into Jaggedshadow's ear. "Your treachery ends here and now." Jaggedshadow shuddered at Cedartail's soft but steely tone. Was this the end? Was this the end of him—or more likely his vessel? Was he really going to die?
Jaggedshadow strained, trying to free himself. Cedartail was too close. His teeth glinted in the dwindling light of the day. Jaggedshadow gagged. Cedartail's breath smelt of death and decay.
"At last." Cedartail lifted his head, a thunderous cackle coming from his open jaws "At last I fulfill my destiny. My charge is finnished. You, Jaggedshadow, are the sole remaining cliff dweller, and your life ends here."
Jaggedshadow wiggled. Could he leap out of his vessel and through Cedartail? He usually did not have enough presence in the realm of the living to interact with much of anything—that is, he could do nought but talk, observe, and walk. Thus, he could usually perform such a feat. Now, however, he seemed to have a much stronger presence. Jaggedshadow gritted his teeth. He had to try.
Jaggedshadow pulled on the invisible tether that tethered him to his vessel via his Guardian's mark. A little trick he had learned from Phoenix. This trick would slingshot him out of his vessel and (hopefully) through Cedartail.
Jaggedshadow closed his eyes. Traveling through objects was often interesting, but he never liked traveling through creatures. He released.
Jaggedshadow was flung through his vessel, Cedartail, a tree, and roughly five feet of air. He landed, rolling as he appeared beside Cedartail
"Destiny." Jaggedshadow laughed. "Such a lie of cowards."
Cedartail turned his head. Jaggedshadow slashed Cedartail's leaped into his vessel. He rolled, subduing Cedartail.
Cedartail swept Jaggedshadow's foreleg. He must have known that the balance of the fight was quickly turning in his opponent's favor. Jaggedshadow slashed Cedartails belly.
Jaggedshadow had no time to gloat. He sank his teeth into Cedartail's throat. Jaggedshadow had long awaited this moment. He would savor it.
Cedartail stopped struggling. Jaggedshadow sank his claws deeper into him. Cedartail was not dead yet. Jaggedshadow thrashed his head. Cedartail would die very soon. And soon there would be nothing left of him to join Caelum.
Jaggedshadow drew his fangs out of Cedartail's throat. His enemy was dead. Jaggedshadow had felt the pulse of Cedartail's cruel, twisted old heart stop. Jaggedshadow stood. There was one thing left for him to do.
Jaggedshadow circled Cedartail's corpse, calling out an incantation at every quarter turn. Cedartail would not have left his body yet. Spirits rarely made haste to leave their bodies. Nonetheless, Jaggedshadow needed to act quickly if he wanted to complete his goal.
After Jaggedshadow completed a few rotations, Cedartail stood. His body lay lifeless on the ground. He gazed around, dazed. His countenance was twisted by shock and horror.
Jaggedshadow pounced. There would be no fight now, only an execution. He sank his teeth into Cedartail's throat, tearing him apart with his hind legs.
Cedartail seemed to melt. His wounds widened and lengthened. They became large holes that quickly expanded.
Soon the last of Cedartail faded away. Jaggedshadow was left standing in awe, and covered in blood.
A stone fell, clattering across the socky mountainside. Jaggedshadow froze. Someone was near.
