Chapter 18


FearClan/Lion

Fiery orange sunlight bathed the tall stony nests around her. Amber eyes glancing around as they crossed a thunderpath with bounding strides. Her tail fluffing up as she pelted to the other side. Moth's bright ginger pelt flashed beside her as they traveled in step of one another. Grief glittered in his emerald green eyes as he focused on the path ahead of them. The adviser, Jasmine, padding confidently into the strange trapped oasis of a forest.

It was like a forest and a Twoleg garden put together. The grass clipped short by unknown teeth and trees standing tall and their branches clattered as the sun continued to set slowly, strange skinny trees stood tall along the gray Twoleg path. Unnerved, Lion crept closer into the small group and followed Jasmine into the thick of some bushes where a small clearing opened on the other side. The cream and white tabby slowed his pace, halting completely in the middle with a twitch of his ears.

"This is the heart of all the current BloodClan Fragments. Welcome to the Giant Garden Fragment." Jasmine introduced them.

As though called upon, a large dusky brown tom stepped into the open. Dark shadowy stripes appearing like a mist among his fur with yellow-green eyes that flashed cautiously. His broad shoulders peeking over his large skull as his ears flattened out with distrust. With a growl, he padded out from under a bush, his pelt criss-crossed with scars from countless battles. "Jasmine, who are these runts?" he snarled.

"This is Lion and Moth, they were once part of the fragments before their group splintered into the lost forest." the tom explained coolly, his gaze hooded. "There was a third, but she gave up her life against a dog and the reddish-brown she-cat attacked on our behalf."

"Is that so?" the tom began to raise his head.

Jasmine dipped his head. "They have come to help with the coyotes and make them leave for this cold season. They also wish for us to aid them in a battle."

"A battle?"

Moth nodded, "If I may speak, I can explain."

"Proceed."

"Our fragment now goes by FearClan, it had been split into two. The other half began to act like Clan-cats for at least three cycles of seasons. Our late leader, Cedar, had wanted to put an end to the traitors who turned their back on BloodClan, by mocking them and through battle. However, our numbers have shrunk while the traitors numbers have grown. With your help we can remove the threat of Clan-cats."

"And how would this benefit us?" the large tom scowled.

"It is in return for helping us with the coyotes." Jasmine informed him, "They will only help if we agree to help them after."

Lion waited patiently, glancing around at the cats that slowly began to gather around them. Their pelts, too, were covered in scars, pale skin seeming to glow in the setting sun. The wind picked up, buffeting their fur with it's gale, piercing her thick fur as a cold determination filled her. Those yellow-green eyes glittering with untold malice and contempt. She felt her shoulder fur bristle as they locked onto hers, his gaze seeming hungry to her.

"She-cat, state your name." he commanded with a swipe of his tongue over his lips as though he just ate some juicy fresh-kill.

"Lion." she growled, her tone betraying her uncertainty and disgust.

"If you can prove your worth in making those coyote flea-bags leave, we will help." his gaze glimmered as she sat rigid. "And, if you agree to become my sole mate."

"She will agree." Moth quickly spoke, earning a glare from the Giant Garden leader.

"Unless her tongue was ripped out, she is the one to answer." he snapped, before turning his expectant gaze upon her.

Emerald green eyes gazed at her, hope sparkling within those eyes for her to agree. Her stomach churned with disgusted horror. If she agreed, they could head home after this mission, but if she refused they could be slaughtered or remain as prisoners for mating purposes only. Her fur itched with indecision, so much so she took a moment to scratch behind her ear, thinking hard on her choices. I'm doomed if I do and doomed if I don't. She realized, raising her amber gaze to the fragment leader.

"As much as your offer stands, there is no outcome that will settle for me." she finally replied, her tone ice cold as his gaze hardened. "If I don't agree, we cannot return home under the orders of our new leader. Which hardly seems fair for Moth, which means Berry died for nothing in the end."

"But?" Quail offered, his mew taut with undisclosed fury.

She stood up. "And if I agree, I'm considered your mate for the good of FearClan, where I am shunned as I walked in with my mother who was slaughtered before my eyes. Therefore, I'm not doing anything for myself. The question isn't what's in it for you and the fragments, it's what is in it for me. I didn't lend a paw to be your mate. I lent a paw because we are fellow cats."

Quail blinked, any fury deep within him became a perplexed expression. "Then why are you here?"

"For Moth." she replied, taking a step towards him. "Because Heather told me to come find you. I have no reason to return to FearClan, everything there will only lead to me being alone or eventually left to die. I only trusted one cat and Moth isn't even that cat. I lived by the river when I was a kit, before your fragment stole it from my mother who marked it as her territory. We were so outnumbered, we left peacefully. Then BushClan came along, to not cross a thunderpath into the swamps, we went back to the river. My mother groveled to have us stay and be loyal. Only to be murdered by those I thought I could trust."

"Tell me, who would dare?" His gaze hardened, Quail was suddenly more interested in what she wanted.

"Cedar ordered Pounce, a cat who I thought of as my own father, to kill her in a show of loyalty. Do BloodClan Fragments do that?"

"No." he stated firmly.

"Heather has harmed the firstborn kit of the late Cedar, is that allowed?"

"That is a direct offense!" he snapped, his claws extended. "How lawless have this 'fragment' become?"

"Lawless enough to send me, Berry, and Moth on a mission to find you before the cold season ends. By then we cannot return at all and will be seen as an enemy." she lashed her tail. "So, tell me, tom, what is in this for me that I can agree on and even consider your original proposal?"

His yellow-green eyes stared at her thoughtfully, his emotions placed under check before he nodded. "I will help you find justice. As the heir of the original BloodClan before it had fragmented, I will prove my own loyalty to you."

"Very well, I will deeply consider your proposal. Prove yourself to me and I will decide if I should dedicate my life to BloodClan and it's fragments at all. Fail to bring me justice for what I have witnessed and I will show you exactly how I was able to deal with the coyotes. Is that understood?"

"Clear as water." Quail vowed.

Lion nodded, stepping down. "Very well, my first priority is to help you with the coyotes and then getting you and your cats to FearClan so Moth can be home. After that, you show me how loyal you truly are and to express my gratitude I will defend each one of your cats with my life as though I was birthed along side them."

"As I would only ever ask for." he replied, looking to the cream and white tom. "Jasmine, is there more you wish to tell me? I can see it in those eyes, so speak up or hold your tongue."

"When I visited the Twolegplace by the swampy pine forest, I met a few cats there who are in need of help. It involves the foxes that attacked Rat and Stone's den and their kits. I was hoping to lead Rat, Stone, and Maggot back over there to help get rid of these foxes so we have less to worry about."

"That would be meddlesome to have them attack along with the coyotes. Go on, take them with you. It will leave us with enough cats to help the River Fragment and the coyotes."

"Thank you, Quail. I will inform Shatter of who I am taking and to report to you while I gather them." Jasmine dipped his head before padding off.

Quail nodded as he looked back to Moth and Lion. "Although, why is Moth so inclined to agree in your place?"

"I must admit, even I know I'm not the easiest cat to get along with. Moth often forces me to hold my tongue as I prefer to speak my mind and let my temper get the best of me. Of course when that happens-well, I'm sure you can see the scars I've earned for it." she gestured with her tail to the scars along her flank.

"I will be sure to set everything better for you." he vowed, "You're loyal to cats, regardless of kin and status. That is what BloodClan is now. We are loyal to one another as cats. Status is just to keep some order, but some cats let it get to their heads. So I will set this, Heather, straight."

Lion nodded, looking to Moth who was silent and wide-eyed. "What's the matter, thought I was going to not even try? You fail to recall, I am not loyal to FearClan, I'm loyal to Hawk above all else. She is the only cat that matters to me. I can't abandon her where she can be murdered the second Willow is old enough to lead." Determination burned hard in her belly, her claws scraping the grassy earth beneath her feet. "I will not stand by like you made me do for Finch." she hissed.

Moth flinched, backing away with actual fear glittering in his eyes. Contempt filled her, as a justice long sought after was close, so very close. Soon, Heather would have to answer to Quail just like how Cedar has to answer to Finch among the dead. Her tail was raised high as she looked to the setting sun, knowing that soon they would patrol into the night to find the coyotes and teach them a lesson they will never forget. Even if it meant that she would die in the process.

.

Night began to fall by the time she met Shatter, the white she-cat had dark blue eyes and walked as though she held all the power. Lion knew full well that wasn't true, but she didn't mind. Her amber eyes were trained on the second-in-command cat whose pelt was striped with pale gray markings as she padded between the rows of cats. At last, she stopped at the head of it beside Quail.

"Alright, we're going to where the coyotes live. Keep quiet and stay with the cat you are beside at all times. Any cat who gets lost stick together and follow your scent back home. We have to work quickly to get rid of these brutes." Shatter yowled.

Lightning nodded her bright ginger head. "Of course."

"Ridge and Flick know where the coyotes are hiding, so they will lead the way." Quail meowed aloud, nodding to the tom and she-cat.

Ridge straightened up. "We will fight alongside you. Our brother has settled with one of your other fragments so we will do our best to be helpful."

"Lion and Moth will walk beside us." Flick added in, glancing to them.

Lion nodded, "Of course, Dog Chaser is the fastest, so he will lure them out."

"And then the rest will pounce." Dog Chaser finished, looking up the line of cats. "Since I'm alone, I will bring up the rear."

"Very well," Quail decided, rising to his paws. "Ridge, Flick, lead the way. We must strike before dawn. Now, are you sure it is only two of them?"

The dark brown and gray she-cat nodded, "Of course. They're both tom-coyotes. So no kits to worry about."

"Good, now lead."

Flick and Ridge began to move at an even pace, their strides were swift as they paced through the alleys. Lion keeping in step with Flick, whose pale blue eyes were focused on the passage ahead. Close ahead of them was Ridge and Moth matching their strides and speed, their head pointed ahead as they traveled. As the moon rose slowly, the thunderpaths become quieter and quieter. Leaving them with only a rumble now and then. They peered into the night, the fake-suns illuminating the thunderpaths as they crossed in pairs. Their paw-steps echoing around them as they scuffed through loose stones and grit.

A scent of rotting meat soon reached their noses, making Lion curl her lip in disgust. With a snort, she followed Flick up onto a wall made of red stones while Ridge and Moth went up on the opposite side. Claws scrabbled for purchase as they leaped up onto the stone walls. Their paws delicately padding down the narrow space to peer into the darkness. In the shadows and faint light two bristly shapes began to pad out, their noses twitching with suspicion. Their yellow eyes glinting in the faint light.

"There they are." Flick murmured, her eyes wide as the dog-like creatures stepped out into the stronger faint lights. Their colors couldn't be made out, but Lion wasn't bothered with that. She narrowed her amber eyes in challenge.

As though on cue, Dog Chaser limped into view of the dog-like beings. His small body seeming even smaller as the coyotes growled lowly and rushed forward. Sharp fangs covered in slaver as their long legs carried them. Dog Chaser bolted, bringing them closer and closer as he pelted faster than Lion had ever seen any cat go. With a commanding yowl, Shatter gave the order. "Now!"

With a screaming yowl Lion leaped onto the nearest coyote. It's yellow eyes so wide she could see the whites as she landed by those snapping jaws. She dug her claws into their thick fur. The stench of crow-food had filled her mouth and nose. Blood began to fill her mouth as she clung on for dear life. The beast shook its bristly pelt and let out snarling barks and yelps as it tried to shake them off.

A wail of pain sounded as Lion slashed at the coyote, her jaws and claws aching. Something crunched by her as the coyote flung a lifeless body aside with reckless abandon. Another yowl was cut off as she let go to fling herself at an ear. Her muscles were screaming at her to stop, but the snarling and yowling filled her head. A primal rage filled her. She was not going to let Willow experience what she had. With renewed vigor she sank her teeth into a rounded-tip ear. The squeal of pain beneath her echoed loudly.

Lights flashed on from Twoleg dens. The coyote shook her off with a satisfying tear of their ear. She crashed into silver rubbish bins, knocking them over with many of the other cats. Lion spat out the piece of ear that was in her mouth, blood dripping from her jaws as the coyotes bolted, their tails between their legs. The light of battle was filling her as she gave a commanding yowl, thick spittle leaving her lips.

"After them! We can't let them think they've lost us!"

"Hail, stay here and check for who was thrown off, the rest who can still run follow us!" Quail called, racing forward with a wild light in his eyes.

Lion pelted, letting Dog Chaser take the lead to nip at their heels. No matter where the beasts went, they were close behind, chests burning with the effort. Soon, they slowed to a halt, the excitement of their victory petering out for the time being. Gasping for air, they all shared one look and felt confident that they coyotes had left for now. With a nod, they turned back and padded back the way they came. Quail soon joined her side, his yellow-green eyes bright.

"You did well." he breathed.

She simply nodded, still panting as she looked to him. For a brief moment she actually considered being the tom's mate. However, darkness clouded her mind. How could she try to fall in love with a tom she didn't know much on while her heart was loyal to a cat she only ever saw as a friend. Her issues with trust began to resurface, making her look away abruptly. She didn't miss the confusion in those eyes.

Did he see how much she had been hurt for the past three circles of the seasons? How could a tom she didn't know for a single day notice something no other cat had before now? Something that only Hawk was able to for a while. Slowly she padded on, feeling like ice as she remembered her words. Words she wished she could follow up on in the future. If only, to give the tom a chance.

Sadly, she was starting to feel confident that it would never come to be. Shaking out her fur, she followed the panting cats back through the paths they followed. Hail waiting alone with Moth, their eyes downcast and heads lowered. Quail picked up speed, his fur spiking up in horror.

"What happened?" he demanded. "Who did we loose?"

"Ridge and Flick." Hail mewed softly, his ice-blue eyes looking up at their leader. "They gave up their lives."

"Someone will have to tell their brother and mother." Moth added in.

Shatter stepped up, her eyes rounded with sympathy. "They fought for us when they didn't have to. I will personally send Breeze and Blizzard to find their mother and brother, Quail."

"Go ahead," he answered, "she deserves to know the kind of heroes they were."

Lion listened, looking to Moth who glanced to her sheepishly. He wasn't wounded, but he had stayed behind. She approached him, her tail tip twitching as she crept up on him. "You stayed behind, why?"

"I wanted to help Hail." he murmured.

"If those brutes turned and killed me, would you still turn back to FearClan?" she asked, her mew breaking.

Moth didn't answer and she knew why. He would give anything for the kin he lost already in the countless battles. Something she could never give. Nodding, she turned away feeling wretched that she was loyal to Moth's position among FearClan. A loyalty she didn't have for herself. Jealousy burned under her pelt, boiling under her skin as she gritted her teeth. She envied Moth's ability to see past her own hardships and still be desperate enough to do anything. She wished she could relate, nothing she did was truly what she believed in.

I suppose, I can only try and see if Quail will be the one. Lion decided as she sat to rest and began to clean her pelt.


Author Note:

After some time, I finally finished this chapter. I started it, knowing where I wanted to go, but when I stopped where I wanted to, It was at least for hundred words too short. So I wrote even more and splurged on it. At three thousand words, this is another long chapter I can reach when I feel up for it.

Have a nice day/night! - NightSky