Chapter 15, gone
No sound came from the cats of StarClan.
The body of Moonhowl lay limp on the great rock at Fourtrees. The black cat did not move, nor make a sound.
"She has to go back!" The voice of Spottedleaf broke the terrible silence.
"Yes!" yowled a bunch of other cats "Put her back!"
Bluestar twitched her tail for silence. "What do you think?" she asked Silverstream.
"She should go back, it is important that she stay, or both Ravenshadow and Demonshadow will die." A shadow flickered in her eyes.
"Yes! She is the medicine cat of ThunderClan!" Yowled Spottedleaf.
Bluestar looked around. "Should she go back?"
"Yes!" the cats yowled.
Bluestar turned to face Moonhowl. "It is decided. You will go back to earth."
OoOoO
Spottedleaf faded before Demonshadow's eyes.
She whirled around, when she heard an alarm call.
It was Ravenshadow. He was being pinned down by Stonestream. The grey warrior was slowly sinking his claws into Ravenshadow's neck.
"Leave him alone."
A beautiful voice rung through the air. All the cats looked up.
At the entrance of the cave stood Moonhowl. She was shimmering slightly, and stars danced on her fur. She stood up with her chin raised, and her green eyes were filled with moonshine.
She looked like the moon.
"Moonhowl!" Ravenshadow yowled. He raced foreword, purring. He pressed his muzzle against hers.
"What are we standing around for?" Moonhowl yowled. She stepped down and launched herself at the nearest cat.
Then Demonshadow noticed something. Here was Moonhowl, alive and well, but her body was still lying in a shadowy corner. Is she a new cat? Demonshadow wondered.
A brown tom leapt at her. Demonshadow whirled around and bit his ear. With a squeal of pain he clawed at her haunches. Demonshadow sunk her teeth into his tail, and he raked his claws down her flanks.
He bit her shoulder and she flipped over on her back, pounding his underbelly. He attacked her chest, with teeth and claws, and Demonshadow struggled to a standing position. She bit his hindleg, and he scratched her face. Blood rushed into her eyes. She stood up and whacked him aside with a strong paw.
Two cats came up to her. Demonshadow sunk her teeth into the back of ones neck, and the other bit her foreleg and worried her tail. Demonshadow bit his shoulder and he screeched and went leaping out of the cave.
The other cat scratched her chest and bit her hindleg. Demonshadow raked her claws down his flanks and he squealed.
Demonshadow walked aside for a second, and licked her wounds, watching the battle through narrowed eyes.
OoOoO
Moonhowl spat at the cat nearest her and scratched its face. It bit her ear and she broke free and sprinted across the cave.
She watched Ravenshadow bite Stonestream on the neck. He collapsed, but another cat leapt at Ravenshadow. It was Thornclaw. Ravenshadow was pushed to the edge of the cave and suddenly Thornclaw…
Blood flashed through her sight. Moonhowl dashed over as a squeal echoed around the cave.
Only to see a black shape plummeting into the water.
"Ravenshadow!" she yowled the name, panic fluttering in her chest like a trapped bird.
A splash told her that he had fallen.
"No," she rasped.
Suddenly a lithe shape slipped past her. It was a silvery tom with dark paws tail and face. He dove into the water.
A moment later he reappeared, with Ravenshadow grasped in his jaws.
Ravenshadow lay on the cold stone floor, hardly breathing.
"Ravenshadow," she whispered, "Wake up. Please."
The tom did not move, water ran off his sleek pelt and sent puddles around Moonhowl's feet.
Then, slowly, Ravenshadow opened his eyes.
"Ravenshadow," she rasped, "You're going to be okay. I'll get you an herb, and then you'll be fine."
Ravenshadow coughed. "Moonhowl…your alive…good…"
"Yes, Ravenshadow, please live!"
"No," he croaked, "I…cannot…breath. I go to StarClan now…"
"I love you," Moonhowl whispered. The sounds of the battle seemed to fade, and all her attention was focused on the dying black cat in front of her.
"I love you," Ravenshadow whispered back. "Goodbye…"
"Goodbye," Moonhowl whispered, and began licking his pelt. She licked for a long time, even though Ravenshadow was gone.
OoOoO
Demonshadow raked her claws down Stonestream's flank. He screeched and bit her shoulder. Demonshadow toke a huge leap and buried her teeth into his neck. Soon he was still.
There was a yowl of triumph. Demonshadow whirled around. Thornclaw was standing over the body of Ravenshadow.
"I have won!" he yowled. Silence fell around the cave. Thornclaw's words echoed around.
"Not yet," Demonshadow told him, her voice cold.
"Come and fight me," Thornclaw meowed.
Demonshadow ran up to him. She scratched his flanks and he whirled around, pinning her to the ground.
"Leave her alone!" Moonhowl yowled. "I will never be your mate, Thornclaw, so even if you kill her, you will gain nothing."
"Ahh," Thornclaw whispered. "Ravenshadow is dead. You are weakened, Moonhowl."
Thornclaw turned his attention back to Demonshadow. He started to sink his claws into her neck.
Suddenly out of the entrance came, Smokestar, Sunwhisker, Spiderleg, Squirrelflight…and a few more un-crazy warriors. They leapt on the RiverClan warriors with snarls of rage.
Demonshadow sat up, as Thornclaw turned to flee. She sprinted after him, as he dove into the water and began to swim in the direction of the island.
Demonshadow plunged into the icy water, ignoring the fact that Thornclaw was much faster then her. Demonshadow paddled strongly, and Thornclaw pulled himself onto the shore.
He saw Demonshadow and gave a screech. He put two paws on a dead tree and began to push. The tree began to tip. With a terrified howl, Demonshadow fled, but several of the sharp branches cut into her skin.
"You…You fleabag!" Demonshadow spat, trying to get free. There was nothing she could do. She was trapped.
"Come and get me, Thornclaw!" she yowled, "I'm waiting!"
Dun, Dun…Dunnnnn! Review please!
