Chapter Thirty-Two
Shadowheart nervously paced the edge of camp, waiting for Foxstar to lead their battle patrol to the gorge. Every cat was on edge, no one knowing what the outcome of tonight's battle would be. Shadowheart stared up at the full moon, glowing ominously in the dark sky. Tonight should have been a Gathering, instead we're fighting. Tugging fitfully at the grass under his claws, he wondered if StarClan would be angry at the Clans.
"Shadowheart!" a tiny squeak snapped him back out of his worries.
Twitching an ear, he looked down as Minkkit and Daykit tottered over to him. "What are you two doing up this late?"
Daykit stared at him with her wide silver eyes, so much like her father's. "Is it true that you're going to fight the bad cats?"
"I bet he'll shred them!" Minkkit purred, crouching down to pounce.
Shadowheart leaned down and gently brushed his muzzle across theirs. He breathed in their soft kit scent, and closed his eye momentarily. It's possible this will be the last time I ever see them, he realized, knowing how dangerous the battle ahead was.
"Shadowheart?" Daykit tilted her head curiously. "Are you okay? You look…sad."
"I guess I'm just nervous," he answered gently, lifting his head back up. "When you become warriors, you'll understand just how dangerous battles can be."
Minkkit lifted his chin, eyes gleaming. "But you'll win! Right?"
Precious little ones, Shadowheart met Minkkit's gaze, hoping he didn't look as scared as he felt. "I'll keep you safe. I promise."
"Minkkit! Daykit!" Sandpool called from the nursery entrance, her eyes shining with annoyance. "Didn't I tell you both not to bother the warriors?"
"But it's just Shadowheart!" Minkkit complained, huffing at his mother. "We wanted to see him before he left!"
Sandpool padded over, her expression troubled. "You'll be able to see him when he gets back," she murmured, sweeping them both with her tail. "Right, Shadowheart?"
Meeting the queen's gaze, he knew what she meant. She wants me to promise I'll come home safe, he frowned. The kits need me since Blackflame is gone. Comfortingly touching his nose to her shoulder, he gently brushed past her. "I'll come back."
At that moment, Foxstar's yowl to summon could be heard from the camp entrance. The cats not chosen to go were watching anxiously from the edges of camp, and Shadowheart felt a stare bore into his back. Turning, he saw Firelight watching him from the entrance to the warriors' den. Giving a tiny nod to her, he quickly followed the patrol out of camp.
Foxstar was silent as she led the patrol, her neck fur bristled and her movements quick. Silverleaf fell into step beside him, and Shadowheart was grateful for his former apprentice's presence. Lionclaw was close by the LeafClan leader, quietly muttering something in her ear as they walked. Tigerfrost paced beside Shadowheart's other side, glancing sideways at him.
"Should she really be doing this?" she whispered to him. "She's still nursing kits! You're her kin, right? Couldn't you have talked her out of it?"
Shadowheart sighed. "She wouldn't have listened either way. Foxstar has a one-track mind like that. All we can do is try and make sure she's safe during the battle."
"She's our leader," muttered Silverleaf. "Her not being present at the battle would show signs of weakness within our Clan. She had no choice."
Following Foxstar, Shadowheart couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind. Did she worry about not coming back to her young kits? Even though leaders had nine lives, Foxstar still had a lot to lose if the battle went wrong. Thinking of his Clanmates back in camp, Shadowheart felt more nervous than ever. We have to win this battle!
Coming into range of the ravine that held the Great Oak, Shadowheart picked up the mingled scents of PineClan and ReedClan. Waiting for the LeafClan cats, Blackstar and Icestar stood with their own warriors. Blackstar stepped forward, the first to speak when the cats all gathered around.
"Skystar will meet us on the moor," she informed them. "From there we will figure out where Hawk and his rogues have taken up camp."
Foxstar lifted her head. "One of my warriors knows the territory well," she admitted, Shadowheart tensing when he realized she meant him. "He will be the one to lead us directly to their camp."
"Why would one of your warriors know about the rogue territory?" Icestar demanded, his tone heavy with suspicion.
Shadowheart stepped forward, struggling to keep his legs from trembling. "I...I was raised there," he confessed, hearing some gasps from the other cats. "When my mother ran from the Clans, Hawk stole my littermates and I from her. I spent moons in the gorge living without any knowledge that I was stolen; Hawk had me believe I was his father. It was until moons ago, when I was just apprentice aged, that I was taken in by LeafClan after being found unconscious along the river."
"So that explains how you came to the Clans, after missing for so many moons," Icestar replied, twitching an ear thoughtfully.
"Yes," Shadowheart dipped his head. "I've been loyal to LeafClan ever since. So of you may doubt me because of my past, but I want peace as much as any cat. Hawk took my mother from me, and my littermates. I want to finally put an end to this."
Blackstar's eyes shone with respect. "Well spoken, Shadowheart. We will let you lead us to Hawk."
Was that pride in the PineClan leader's mew? Shadowheart blinked as he gazed at her. Foxstar started to walk forward, her tail lashing.
"If we're done here, let's move on," she meowed briskly. "We're wasting time talking. We must meet with Skystar and be done with this."
Icestar gave a contemptuous snort. "Leave it to LeafClan to be bossy as ever," he remarked dryly. "Foxstar has a point though. We must keep moving."
Everyone agreeing, the three united Clans moved on through the forest. As they broke through the last of the trees, Skystar was waiting not far off with his warriors. The lean silver tabby tom's fur glowed in the moonlight, his eyes narrowed as the other Clans approached.
"I was worried you wouldn't come," Skystar growled. "My warriors have been ready for ages now."
Blackstar flicked her ears pointedly. "Keep your fur on, Skystar," she grunted. "Every Clan had their own arrangements to make."
"Shadowheart," Icestar rumbled, turning his piercing red gaze on him. "Lead us."
Skystar narrowed his eyes, stepping forward. "What? A young warrior leading us to the battle? What's the meaning of this?"
Foxstar flattened her ears. "My warriors are capable of leading anyone, Skystar."
Snarling, Skystar unsheathed his claws. "I will not be led by a rival warrior!"
Blackstar pushed between the quarreling leaders, her eyes blazing. "Enough!" she hissed. "Skystar, this warrior knows the way to Hawk's camp. I would explain the reasons why, but we're running out of time. Either you accept it, or your Clan can turn back now."
Growling, Skystar glared at Shadowheart. After a few tense moments, he sheathed his claws with a lash of his tail. "Very well," he conceded. "We will follow for now, but in the end my warriors follow my orders, and my orders alone!"
Huffing in exasperation, Blackstar turned back to her Clanmates. "Toms!"
"Well?" Skystar's sharp mew made Shadowheart jump. "Go on then!"
Shadowheart twitched an ear nervously. "R-Right…" he shot a resentful glance at Foxstar. She could have warned me that she would do this!
Taking a deep breath, he followed the all to familiar path back to the gorge. Taking long strides along the edge of the moor, he breathed in the sharp scents of rabbit and heather. After a while, the thunderpath began to stretch ahead of them. Carefully, he led them across and towards the tunnel he had taken before with Cinder. The ominous dark hole seemed even smaller than Shadowheart remembered, and he realized with a start at how much he had grown since then.
"Is this it?" Icestar asked, his white fur glowing in the darkness.
Nodding, Shadowheart padded up to the hole. "It's the safest way past the thunderpath tunnel," he explained. "It's not the most comfortable squeeze, but we should be able to get through to the other side."
Staring into the darkness for a few moments, Shadowheart closed his eyes and plunged through the hole. He crawled along the mucky ground, grimacing at the grime that clung to his belly fur and nails. He could hear grunts and hisses of complaint behind him, and briefly wondered if this was the best idea. No, this was the only way. Shadowheart pushed forward, and eventually emerged out on the other side. To the right of him, he saw the gradual sloping land that led up towards the gorge. Patiently, he waited for every cat to join him, and bounded up the incline.
Rocks clattered under his paws, and Shadowheart could feel the ground giving way. Hesitant to stop, he kept on until they reached the top. Gazing around, he took a moment to gain his senses. If he were correct, the gorge wouldn't be that far away. Gulping at the looming presence of darkness and danger, he pressed onward. Fur bristling he kept his ears alert for any noises. The familiar scent of the forest here made Shadowheart feel nostalgic, and for a moment he was flooded with memories of growing up in the gorge. This was once my home, he shook his head. LeafClan is my home now. This is now enemy territory.
Coming to a halt, he recognized the familiar path that led back to the gorge. Creeping forward, he noticed that two rogues were guarding the entrance to the ramp that led down into the hollow. Signaling with his tail that they were finally here, the leaders all exchanged glances before yowling out the command to attack.
The rogues let out yowls of surprise as they were overtaken quickly, and Shadowheart raced down the rocky slope into the rogue camp. Filing out behind him, the other warriors began to launch themselves into battle with any rogue they saw. Cats were emerging from the rock dens, dazed and confused, only to be met in swiftly in battle. Gazing around, chaos was ensuing everywhere in the gorge as the mingled scent of all the Clans mixed with rogue. Shadowheart pelted forward, racing towards Hawk's den.
Shadowheart glared around the dark stone den, ready to battle. To his surprise, Hawk wasn't there. But where…? The shuffling of paws behind him caused him to spin around. Standing in the entrance of the den, yellow eyes shining with malice, was Hawk.
"Hello, Shadowheart," the rogue leader greeted coolly. "How nice of you to visit after so long."
Shadowheart snarled, flattening his ears. "Like I would visit this disgusting place!"
Hawk let out a vicious laugh. "Have you and your Clanmates learned anything? You can't beat us. You can't beat me!" he waved his tail to the cats outsides fighting. "Even with your pathetic alliance, my rogues outnumber your so called warriors."
"We have the advantage this time," argued Shadowheart, who was ready to pounce. "Even you couldn't have saw this attack coming!"
Unsheathing his claws, the massive tom lowered his scarred muzzle. "Oh? Is that what you think? How naive, Shadowheart. I thought the death of your beloved brother would have taught you better!"
Screeching in fury at the mention of his brother, Shadowheart flung himself at Hawk. He barreled the rogue leader out of the den, and rolled across the sandy ground outside. Hawk shoved Shadowheart off, sinking his teeth in his scruff as he threw to the side. Shadowheart tumbled across the ground, hissing as he got back to his paws. He reared up and slashed his claws at Hawk, but the tabby tom simply dodged and landed a heavy blow to Shadowheart's head.
Stunned he staggered to the ground, struggling to get back up. Hawk loomed over him, pressing a paw on his neck. "Such a shame," Hawk sneered mockingly. "I taught you to fight better than that, son. What a disappointment you turned out to be."
Breathing heavily, Shadowheart could feel himself come back to his senses. Going limp, he waited for Hawk to think he won. However, Hawk just pressed tighter on his neck.
"You think I'd fall for the oldest trick in the book?" he growled, eyes glowing with mockery. "I'll show you how a real cat fights!"
Rearing up his over paw, he sliced Shadowheart across the face. Screeching in pain and fury, he staggered to his paws, over to be bowled over again by Hawk's massive weight. Pinning Shadowheart down, he gazed up through blood at Hawk's leering gaze. Leaning close to his muzzle, Hawk sneered.
"You've always been a pathetic fool," he hissed. "Too eager to please. Just like your pathetic mother, Silversky. Oh, but don't worry! I'll be sending you to her soon enough!"
Hissing through pain, Shadowheart returned his glare with seething hatred. "You'll never win. The Clans will stop you, even if I don't!"
Whispering in his ear, Hawk dug his claws into Shadowheart's shoulders. "Oh, how wrong you are."
Shadowheart yowled in agony as Hawk sunk his teeth into his shoulder. Struggling under his claws, he tried his best to break free, but could feel the strength draining from his body as blood began to flood out of his wound. Darkness edger his vision, and Shadowheart could feel his spirit begin to leave his body.
No...I can't die. I promised I'd come back home! StarClan...please...don't leave them alone, he stopped struggling, and his vision faded to black.