After crossing the bridge, we knew that our time of the war was drawing to a close. We were gaining ground almost as fast as the summer months before us. Shadowclan had nothing left and all we needed to do now was track Tigerstar down.
April 28th, 1945, Rosenheim, Germany: 14:54
"We've been tracking Riverclan down for the past couple of days ever since they went missing, well let's hope we find them alive. This is the camp Smallear told us they were located in. This looks more like a labor camp. Come on." Firestar began. He walked up to the camp and opened the gate's main entrance, they cautiously moved through the camp, trying to find the Riverclan cats. Small fires burn in one or two spots.
"I get the feeling it's deserted." Cloudtail told Firestar. Bramblepaw turned over a dead Thunderclan cat and felt like he was going to throw up from the awful scent. Brackenfur looked at the uniforms that were in striped pajamas.
"This must've been an extermination camp from what I can gather. I feel very uneasy about this." Brackenfur told Firestar. Firestar continued to look through the camp as Fernpaw picked up a file, it must've been burning as the papers and photos were still partially visible.
"It's still burning. They must have just left." Fernpaw told the others about where Shadowclan ran off to. "Very recently too."
"I guess this is why all of their stuff is being burned." Brightheart told Fernpaw. Ashpaw looked over at a building to see where the cats were going to be housed.
"There's a barracks over there." Ashpaw told the others. Firestar looked at the building as he was ready to get cats to begin exploring their surroundings.
"Cloudtail, you, Ashpaw and Fernpaw check it out. Brightheart, with me." Firestar told her. Fernpaw nods somberly and drops the document. The three cats approach the barracks ahead, discussing what could have happened.
"They wanted to hide whatever happened here." Fernpaw told the others. Fernpaw got to the door, gulped and opened it. Ashpaw covered his mouth with his paw from the stench before entering. They began to search through the cots. Cloudtail was horrified to see what he had stumbled across.
"These were our cats and Riverclan's too." Cloudtail began. These cats were wearing the same striped uniforms with the stars on them, like what Brackenfur had discovered when they first came to the camp. Cloudtail turned to Fernpaw. "Fernpaw, take out your camera. The world's gotta know." Cloudtail told the apprentice. Fernpaw got out her camera and started taking pictures. Cloudtail was still feeling a deep sadness engulfing his heart.
"They had them living worse than animals. From the looks of it, they were beaten, starved, and worked to the bone." Cloudtail described to the others what he observed from these cats they had found. They continued to walk through the barracks with their heads down and ears flattened. They then stepped outside to see a burning building to their side. Cloudtail knew that his feelings were still uneasy. He didn't know what to think of next.
"Over here!" Graystripe called out, The three cats walked to him as Firestar, Brightheart and Bramblepaw were standing by their friend. They were looking at the corpses of the Thunderclan cats tied to wooden posts.
"Shadowclan had murdered our clan cats in cold blood. And, no fire in the Dark Forest could burn away the stain." Cloudtail began to tear up. Fernpaw slowly took a few photos from this as Cloudtail needed some support. Brightheart came to him as she held Cloudtail up as this was too much for the fluffy white tom.
"I'm guessing they made an example out of them." Ashpaw told Graystripe. Firestar continued to walk with the others over to the nearby gallows with the hangman's noose over it. Fernpaw took more pictures of what happened.
"They'd slaughtered the weakest. Anyone that was slowing them down." Cloudtail mewed as he tried to keep his composure together so he didn't have a melt down. Firestar paused to see one of the cats with their throats bounded together with the thick rope, their eyes lifeless and their bodies limp. Firestar didn't know what to say next.
"Stonefur?" Firestar stuttered. Stonefur was one of the cats that had been hung in this camp, his body beaten and his head marked with a bullet. Someone must've shot him.
"Hello?" A voice called out. Firestar turned to see Mistyfoot, Stormpaw and Featherpaw come out of their shelter, beaten and half starved. "Firestar, we're thankful that it's you." Mistyfoot told Firestar that she was thankful for him coming.
"I know. What happened?" Firestar asked. He wanted to get to the bottom of this and figure out what had exactly happened.
"We were captured days before and brought to this camp. We found out that you were coming and so Tigerstar decided to murder Stonefur. Blackfoot was told to do it but he refused, he then let Darkstripe kill him which he was more than grateful. Blackfoot then left the camp without saying a word. He never returned to any of us. It was too much for Shadowclan's deputy. Now Tigerstar has the rest of the prisoners escorted to Itter in Austria. Me, Stormpaw and Featherpaw hid away under the building, waiting for help to come."
"I'm grateful that you're still alive. You're more than welcome to stay with us." Firestar offered. Mistyfoot hugged him as she was thankful to have him by his side.
"I knew you had a spine. Leopardstar wanted to do something but she was helpless and threatened with death too so she obeyed the monster." Mistyfoot told Firestar. Whitestorm came over and began talking with Firestar.
"Firestar, over here." Whitestorm told him. Firestar walked over to see Whitestorm pointing to a pile of corpses, paw prints leading away from them. "Firestar, you gotta see this. The tracks lead to the fields. That's where they must've marched them." Whitestorm told Firestar. Firestar nodded
"Then, that's where we're going." Firestar told Whitestorm. Whitestorm looked at Firestar as he didn't have high hopes.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up, Firestar." Whitestorm mewed. They prepared to head out onto the field to find the rest of the Shadowclan cats.
"I made a promise to Mistyfoot." Firestar told Whitestorm. Whitestorm began walking out of the camp's exit.
"We'll find them. I just can't guarantee we'll find them alive." Whitestorm told Firestar. They began to move out onto the field.
After we left the camp, we marched up a couple miles up the road. We encountered Tallstar's group. They were heading to Austria as well. They must've been unrecognizable from what we gathered. Firestar saw Tallstar with his group as they were huddled around the body of one of their own.
"Tallstar, something seems to be the matter." Firestar began. Tallstar looked at him. Deadfoot was holding Ashfoot and Onewhisker was weeping.
"Why did they have to do that to you?" Onewhisker wept.
"Yeah, take a look at this. You're sadly too late." Tallstar mewed. He stepped to the side to reveal Gorsepaw's dead body as it was riddled with bullets. "Tigerstar made an example out of him."
"He's heading for Austria with those Riverclan cats. I think we should try chasing after him so we could get what he might have. Gorsepaw… I'm sorry about him." Firestar told Tallstar what was going on. Now they needed to find Tigerstar. Tallstar nodded as they began their march southward. They were going to look for Tigerstar now.
Tigerstar wasn't that far away as he had his group of himself, Darkstripe and several cats with teeth in their collars. He turned to spot Firestar walking up to them.
"Well if it isn't the kitty-pet and his misfits. You must've known we were there. Are you going to try to stop us kittypet?" Tigerstar sneered. Darkstripe just laughed.
"It's all over Tigerstar. Now tell us where the rest of the Riverclan cats are or we're going to shoot all of you." Firestar told Tigerstar that he could do this the easy way or the hard way.
"You're not going to do anything." A voice called out. Firestar turned his head to his right to see the leader of the cats come forth. He was small with one white paw. Whitestorm couldn't help but laugh.
"That tiny thing? I think we could get him finished off in a heartbeat." Whitestorm laughed. Firestar covered the deputy's mouth as he wanted to figure out who this newcomer was.
"Who are you?" Firestar asked. The small cat smiled as he began to introduce himself.
"I am Scourge, leader of Bloodclan's SS led by Kitler himself. I reckoned my father Jake was sleeping with another She-cat instead of supporting me and my family." Scourge finally introduced himself.
"Jake is my father but he wasn't sleeping with anyone when I was a kit." Firestar told Scourge that his father wouldn't cheat on anyone. Scourge smiled deviously as Tigerstar gave Bramblepaw his pistol.
"You have a choice, rot away with the kitty-pet or kill him and join up with me son." Tigerstar offered. Bramblepaw was placed in a precarious position, whether he supported the cat he looked up to or his father. Bramblepaw clutched the pistol in his paws before he turned the pistol against Tigerstar.
"You're not my real dad." Brambepaw began. "You've beaten my mother up when she was on her morphine addiction and you didn't bat even an eye when she was locked up in that mental asylum. I could have been taken away by kit protective services if this neglect was kept up." Bramblepaw was angry at Tigerstar for all the neglect he had to put up with during his childhood. Tigerstar knew his son had gone against him and he wanted him out of the way.
"Scourge, attack and kill these lackeys." Tigerstar commanded. Scourged looked at him as he didn't want to.
"I am not obeying a corrupted mess like you. I believe in Kitler's supremacy but not yours." Scourge told Tigerstar that he wasn't going to listen to him.
"Fine then, I'll kill you if I have to." Tigerstar threatened. He reached for his pistol but he forgot to realize that he handed it to Bramblepaw. Scourge could read Tigerstar's confusion thinking where he placed his handgun.
"I thought so." Scourge snickered. Scourge got out his Walther P38 and shot Tigerstar in the throat. Tigerstar's throat gushed with blood as he fell over onto the ground, coughing violently as he drowned in his own blood. Within a minute, Tigerstar's body was still, limp and lifeless as he was now laying in a pool of it. Firestar observed the scarlet blood gathering around Tigerstar's dead body.
"Now Firestar, you have only one choice, you come to where I want the fight to happen or the rest of Riverclan will die. You have one week to decide." Scourge told Firestar. Scourge then shot Tigerstar in the chest to make sure he was truly dead. Firestar gulped as he had only one option, fight Scourge. He knew he needed help.
"What do we do?" Firestar asked as Scourge and his group walked away. "We can't take them all at once, even though we can but we need help." Firestar told Tallstar that Scourge was going to fight with everything he had and they were going to quickly overwhelm them.
"I don't know about it but we can try freeing and arming the prisoners." Tallstar suggested that was all they were going to do. Firestar began to think.
"Hey I have an idea. I remembered something from Mistyfoot when she told us about the Camp. Blackfoot has deserted Shadowclan for good and it was just Tigerstar and Darkstripe that were with them. We can ask Blackfoot and see if he wants to help out."
"That can be a bit risky but it will be worth it. I can try my best to locate him." For now, get as many friends that you know together to help them free those Riverclan cats." Tallstar told Firestar to gather all of the Shadowclan cats together as well as their friends to fight Scourge. Firestar nodded as Tallstar began to walk away, now they needed to find Blackfoot and he had a week to prepare the fight against Scourge.
A few days would pass as Firestar and his group had made their way into Austria. They spotted Blackfoot with what seemed to be the rest of Shadowclan. Firestar approached him.
"Blackfoot, can I speak to you?" Firestar began. Blackfoot turned his head to Firestar who wanted to see him.
"I hope you don't plan on shooting, Shadowclan is done fighting for Kitler. Kitler shot himself inside of his bunker. I have made it clear days in advance." Blackfoot warned Firestar that he didn't want any more war.
"We come in peace but we need you for something." Firestar mewed. Blackfoot turned his head to Thunderclan's leader.
"What is it?" Blackfoot asked. He and the others held their fire as he was willing to let Firestar speak.
"I got confirmation from Mistyfoot that you left Shadowclan. Is this true?" Firestar asked. Blackfoot looked up to Thunderclan's leader.
"We all left Shadowclan. Tigerstar over the past few months became more and more corrupted with power as he wants to continue fighting until the last cat is dead. I knew the war was lost when you guys landed on the beach but Tigerstar threw everything we had into the meat grinder including poor Nightstar and Ashfur. I couldn't take it anymore so we all left. I just want the old Shadowclan back, not the extermination of entire races." Blackfoot told Firestar that it was proving too much and he most likely suffered a mental breakdown especially to the end. "Kitler could burn in the Dark Forest after we found out he killed himself. He took the coward's way out."
"So the question is, are you willing to join us if it means we can get Shadowclan back to the way it was. Like Thunderclan and Windclan?" Firestar asked Blackfoot. He would want his help if he was going to help him out back. Blackfoot thought about it for a moment and then he stood up and turned to Firestar.
"Okay I'll do it on two conditions, I get promoted to Shadowclan's next leader and we get Littlecloud back to Shadowclan." Blackfoot made the conditions clear to Firestar that they wanted their apprentice back after the many months he disappeared.
"Okay that's a deal." Firestar mewed. Blackfoot nodded before he began speaking again.
"I know where the prisoners are being held. We got the news from Barley who wishes to fight alongside us." Blackfoot added on.
"Wait, you know Barley and Ravenpaw?" Firestar asked. He wanted to make sure this was true.
"Yeah I'm not kidding, they're at the castle." Blackfoot told Firestar. "Follow me." Blackfoot offered. Firestar and the group nodded, Blackfoot was willing to lend his assistance to the Thunderclan and Windclan cats. They followed Blackfoot though Firestar still believed this was a trap. It took some marching through and across the border, they arrived at the castle that Riverclan was being held in.
"Oh would you look at that, Blackfoot was telling the truth." Firestar mewed.
"Yeah we got three tanks over there so we need to get reinforcements here so we can free those Riverclan cats." Whitestorm told Firestar. Then he paused and realized something. "Scourge is on his way here. We need to plan our defenses accordingly. Reinforcements are going to have to wait."
"We do have one tank though." Russetfur told them.
"Don't know how useful it would be but at least it's better than nothing." Firestar told them. They decided to place the tank at the main entrance as they were going to be defending the walls. Mistyfoot went in to free the Riverclan prisoners and arm them up for the fight. Their last battle was coming.
Scourge and his Bloodclan legion of about a couple hundred strong arrived at the castle where they expected to kill the Riverclan prisoners. When they were going to enter, Firestar's head popped out.
"Well you managed to beat us here. Don't think you will be using the castle to your defense. We want those Riverclan cats." Scourge told them. "Please surrender."
"NUTS!" Firestar shouted. Scourge and the group didn't know what to make of this as they were shouted on. Scourge gathered the courage up as Firestar got out his carbine. He aimed it and shot a Bloodclan cat in the head, killing it. Scourge looked on as Firestar had decided to stay and fight.
"Attack now!" Scourge shouted. An 88mm anti-tank gun opened up, destroying part of the castle. The final battle was beginning.
May 5th, 1945, Castle Itter, Austria: 06:30
The Anti-tank gun blew up some of the castle as they were mounting a fight to take back the Riverclan prisoners. Firestar and the others fired away as these Bloodclan cats were coming in large numbers. The tank that Ravenpaw was operating began firing with the machine guns as it was just Bloodclan cats that were coming at them. Two cats were shot down before the anti-tank gun was pointed at them. Ravenpaw and Barley got out of the tank as the gun fired, knocking the tank out immediately. With the tank out of the way, the Bloodclan cats surged forward.
Firestar was firing away with Cloudtail firing at the loopholes from the castle as these Bloodclan cats were attacking. Firestar killed another Bloodclan cat before Darkstripe tackled him to the ground.
"You think that a kittypet like you is going to win the war? You die like a frog." Darkstripe prepared to stab Firestar before Graystripe tackled Darkstripe and plunged his knife into him, killing Darkstripe instantly. Firestar got up to see Graystripe had saved him.
"Thanks Graystripe." Firestar told his friend.
"One less traitor to deal with." Graystripe mewed. The Anti-tank gun fired again as it took out more of the castle. Blackfoot was fighting hard and helping Firestar command the field of battle. Bone got out a scoped Gewehr 43 and prepared to shoot Blackfoot.
"I have you in my sights." Bone sneered. Whitestorm turned as he saw Blackfoot was in trouble.
"Blackfoot watch out!" Whitestorm told him. He ran to Blackfoot as Bone fired his rifle. Whitestorm jumped in front of Blackfoot as the bullet entered his head. Whitestorm fell to the ground as he was completely lifeless from the shot. Ashpaw turned to see Bone had given himself away. He and Fernpaw fired their guns and killed Bone right back.
Bramblepaw was fighting Jaggedtooth as he wrenched the machine gun out of him. Jaggedtooth was on top of the apprentice as Bramblepaw was trying to wrestle him off. Tawnypaw turned the corner and fired her M1 Garand at Jaggedtooth. Jaggedtooth was pushed off and ran away. Tawnypaw emptied the entire magazine out as she offered a paw to Bramblepaw. Bramblepaw took it and he got up.
"Thanks Tawnypaw." Bramblepaw mewed.
"No problem." Tawnypaw responded. Bramblepaw took out his Thompson and sprayed away to drive Jaggedtooth away from their position.
The fighting was dragging on and on as both sides were just firing their ammunition away, trying to get one side over the other. Onewhisker was firing his Bren gun away and he needed more ammunition to keep the fighting going. Firestar and Cloudtail came to his side.
"We need help, we need to get more reinforcements if we're going to survive." Firestar began. Scourge was fighting everyone in his path and winning, he wasn't exhausted but Firestar knew that they needed to defeat Scourge before more of their cats were going to be slaughtered.
"Let's see if I can run over there and get help." Onewhisker mewed. Firestar nodded as Onewhisker raced over and vaulted over the rubble of the castle walls. He dashed off to find help. Firestar turned to Scourge who was done beating up Fernpaw.
"Over here. Jake isn't one to sleep with She-cats." Firestar taunted Scourge. Scourge got angry as he charged Firestar. Firestar grabbed Scourge and tackled him to the ground. Scourge got out his knife as Firestar did the same. Scourge tried to stab him but Firestar blocked him with the knife. Scourge growled as Firestar attempted to push him off. He finally shoved Scourge off as Scourge began speaking again.
"You think you're enough to take me down, even with just a knife? I bet you have made the biggest mistake of your life." Scourge told Firestar. Scourge leaped at Firestar and tackled him. Firestar attempted to get Scourge in the eyes but Scourge slashed the knife across Firestar's chest. Warm blood welled from the spot as Firestar went limp, the cut wasn't deep but it was more than enough to cause him to faint. Cloudtail looked at Scourge as he looked at him next. Cloudtail pulled out his knife in return.
"How dare you!" Cloudtail shouted. Scourge ran at Cloudtail but Cloudtail was quick on his paws. He slashed the knife across Scourge's cheek leaving a deep slash. Scourge tried to take his anger out on Cloudtail as the white tom cat stepped out of Scourge's way and grabbed him by the collar. "You think you can be so cool with a collar like this? I bet you would be nothing without it." Cloudtail hissed. He took the knife and stuck it between Scourge's collar and his throat. Scourge screamed as Cloudtail slashed the collar off. He finally dropped down as blood was leaking out of the back of his neck.
Cloudtail leaped at Scourge, slashing the small tom across the body with the collar he sliced off. Scourge was now helpless as the teeth on his collar slashed into his body as Cloudtail whipped him. Cinderpelt was bandaging Firestar up who was beginning to regain consciousness.
"Look at Cloudtail fight." Cinderpelt told Firestar. Firestar looked at Cloudtail slashed Scourge with the collar as he was using it as a whip.
"I think Cloudtail needs some help." Firestar told Cinderpelt. Firestar pulled out his pistol and he was going to aim for a lucky shot on Scourge. Cloudtail punched Scourge away and threw his knife, the knife stabbed Scourge in the mid section. Scourge stumbled back as blood was cascading from his wounds.
"You think you can beat me with my own collar, I think you have one last thing coming for you!" Scourge spat. He pulled the knife out, whining as he did so. The knife finally came out as he was beginning to feel light from blood loss. He charged Cloudtail again in his rage to kill him but. Bang! Scourge felt something slap him on the back of the head. He turned to see Firestar holding his pistol at him. Feeling light headed, Scourge dropped the knives and fell backwards, crumbling down like a building who's frame has been blown up many times. He landed with a dud, his body limp and eyes white, he looked pale as blood had been spilling out of him for sometime. Firestar then got up as he inspected Scourge's lifeless body.
"I hope you're happy with what you wanted because this is the only thing we're going to give you." Firestar told Scourge. The rest of the Bloodclan cats began to flee as Onewhisker had shown up with reinforcements for the castle.
"I made it back, let's take a tally of the dead." Onewhisker told them. The group nodded as the cats were dragging Whitestorm away.
"Whitestorm's gone. But I respect him for trying to save me." Blackfoot mewed. He was about to tear up as he had his life spared only for someone else to give it up for him.
"We might have to appoint a new sergeant then?" Firestar asked. Blackfoot nodded and bowed his head.
"At least the nightmare is over. What remains of Shadowclan is bound to give up and be defeated." Blackfoot mewed. He turned away as the bodies of Scourge, Darkstripe, Bone and many others were carried away from the scene. Many had perished in this day and now Thunderclan had a reason to celebrate.
"Graystripe come here." Firestar mewed. Graystripe came forth to figure out what his friend wanted.
"What is it?" Graystripe asked.
"Whitestorm was killed in this battle so I must ask, want to be the new sergeant?" Firestar offered Graystripe. He began to think about what the promotion could mean for him.
"We've been through everything since day one so I'm going to take the offer." Graystripe replied. Ravenpaw came over next as he placed his paws on his friends.
"We. You're forgetting about me?" Ravenpaw asked. Firestar and Graystripe laughed. Barley came over next as he began speaking.
"So Ravenpaw, want to go buy a ranch in Thunderclan, I can teach you how to farm wheat." Barley offered.
"Sure thing. You've helped me all that time so I might as well pay the favor back." Ravenpaw replied.
"When can we visit?" Graystripe asked. He waved his paws around with excitement.
"Any time you wish, just make sure all shotguns come onto our property." Barley mewed. They laughed once again.
Shadowclan announced they were giving up four days after the last battle with Thunderclan. We were more than excited for the news as this called for celebration among all of us. It lasted into the night and into the next day as this was something we were all proud of.
The war was finally over.
[A/N]: Woo we have the last chapter down and the one after that is just a wrap up and the characters finally going home. Let's just hope that society is more than welcoming to them as victory has been finally achieved.