Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors or many characters featured in this story. The only things I own are the storyline and the original characters featured in this story.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MANGLE
With a furious snarl, Mangle tore a Clan cat off some other skinny brown she-cat and ripped into him. Some of the tom's comrades leaped forward to defend him, slashing at his face. Mangle jerked his head back to avoid being sliced in the eyes, leaving the cat lying on the ground.
He roared his outrage. Who did these Clan cats think they were anyway? They should just give this up! They fought for the forest; they lost! Simple as that. First they settled near those mountains; now they were trying to strike out on BloodClan's land?
Oh, Mangle was going to draw vicious satisfaction in savaging these garbage-brained cats.
His jaws snapped closed on the back of some short-legged tom's neck. In a powerful show of might, Mangle lifted the tom straight up off the ground and shook him. The tom yowled and thrashed in furious and shocked protest. After several good shakes, however, the tom fell silent and stopped moving; Mangle let the body drop carelessly and bounded forward to where Makio was fighting desperately. A she-cat harried at his defenses, clearly superior in every way.
He curled his lip in derision as he dragged the she-cat off the younger tom. If he couldn't handle a single Clan cat, then he had no future in BloodClan. Mangle expected better of the son of one of the inner group; then again, his father was Slink, and Slink was known more for swift stealth attacks than brute force. And as someone barely out of kithood, it wasn't like Makio was much good at either.
"Thank you!" Makio exclaimed, staring up at the huge fighter gratefully as he tossed the she-cat aside.
Mangle snorted disdainfully and turned away. "Kill or be killed in battle. Fight better or die."
And with that nugget of wisdom, he launched himself claws first back into the fray.
As the battle progressed, the BloodClan cats began to falter. They hadn't been expecting an attack, and there were only five cats against over a dozen. Even Mangle felt bogged down by the amount that were attacking him, despite knocking several from the fight. Slowly, the BloodClan cats gave ground, fury kindling in Mangle's chest at the necessity.
"Not so fun when the numbers are reversed, huh?" one of the Clan cats smirked. The others seemed to rally around him — it was clear who was heading this raiding party. And who Mangle was going to attack next.
Mangle turned on the dark brown cat and lashed out, spitting. The tom sprang back, but his claws still caught him on the cheek. Blood dropped down from the new wound, and Mangle let a dark sneer cross his face.
How do you like that, forest filth?
The cat's eyes burned, and he gave a short, authoritative growl. The enemy spanned out in a semi-circle around them, prowling forward. The cats around Mangle shifted nervously, and he himself eyed the surrounding cats warily. Forest filth or not, this wouldn't be an easy fight. His ears pinned back, he loosed a deep, menacing growl, baring viciously sharp teeth. Some of the enemy edged away from him uneasily, and satisfaction surged through him.
The leader, undaunted, returned the favor without hesitation, and his allies regained their composure. Behind Mangle, he could hear the BloodClan cats hissing and spitting, but the Clan cats simply snarled back, bolstered by their leader's confidence.
"You really think you can win, mange-pelts?" the brown cat sneered with a lash of his tail. "We outnumber you fish-hearts by far. You can't win, so just give up now before we — "
Mangle didn't find out just what they would do, and he didn't particularly care either. What he did care about, however, was the challenging yowl that cut through the air from behind. The other cat's head snapped up, and his eyes widened. Mangle twisted around, and a triumphant look flashed across his face. Cats streamed into view, at least a dozen strong, and at the head were the twins Snake and Ice.
"Kill them all!" Ice howled.
"No mercy!" echoed Snake.
"Come together, now!" the brown Clan cat barked. The rest obeyed, forming a wedge that faced the oncoming forces. "Don't let them get through!"
"There's too many!" one of his cats yelped, fur bristling in terror.
There was fear in their eyes now, Mangle noted with satisfaction.
"Stay focused!" the brown tom snapped to his allies as Snake, Ice, and their backup came closer. "We can still win this!"
"Reinforcements!" Makio crowed, standing as tall as he could for a kit of his size.
"We're saved!" cried another cat.
"You're done now!" a third exclaimed gleefully.
"Shut up and fight, garbage-brains," Mangle snarled, throwing himself past them.
The others followed his lead. They crashed into the opposing line of cats, and then everything dissolved into chaos. Brawls exploded around him, blood and fur flying. One pair tumbled into his path; he tossed them aside without a second glance.
Mangle's eyes locked onto the brown cat, fighting with some vaguely familiar she-cat. Take the leader down, and the rest would go running. That's how Scourge beat that ridiculous "TigerClan." Mangle shoved his way through the battle.
The brown cat sent the she-cat packing just as a little brown tabby leaped at him. Makio. Brave kit, I suppose, Mangle huffed to himself, but he doesn't know how to pick his battles, clearly. Besides, this one's mine!
Mangle charged forward, sloughing through any cats who tried to challenge him. Ahead of him, the brown tom knocked Makio away and towered over him, in full battle-mode — and then hesitated, one paw raised, unsheathed claws gleaming in the light.
Makio bushed out his fur and glared at the enemy. The tom lowered his paw and stepped forward, seeming to try to speak to the kit. In response, Makio launched himself at the bigger cat. In moments, the brown cat had him pinned; but he did so carefully, almost gently. Makio squirmed, paws flailing, but couldn't break loose.
" — no place for a kit — " the tom was saying.
Mangle crashed into him.
The tom went sprawling. He scrambled to his paws and glared, falling into a battle stance.
"Thanks!" Makio chirped from behind. "Almost had me — "
"This one's mine!" he snarled lowly. "Find your own!"
"Right! Get him, Mangle!" Makio cheered, apparently not listening. Mangle growled and shut him out.
The two fighters lunged.
Mangle, the bigger of the two, bowled the brown cat over, but he slipped out of his grasp, slippery as a fish. Mangle hissed as a claw sliced at his ear. He surging forward to meet the next blow and latching his jaws around the tom's paw. Pain burst to life as claws dug into his mouth, but he ignored it and bit down hard.
The tom roared in pained surprise and hastily retracted his paw, tucking it close. Blood dripped down, splashing on the ground. Mangle's mouth stung like fire, and he spat a globule of blood off to the side, working his jaw to try to ease the pain.
"You'll regret that," the brown cat hissed.
Mangle narrowed his eyes, a strange and unpleasant taste compounded the pain in his mouth. Fish. His tail lashed furiously, claws churning the ground beneath. This cat is from the water Clan. Which means...
He cut that thought process off as the tom lunged again. Mangle darted to the side and watched the tom stumble as he landed, the injured paw providing less support than the other. Taking immediate advantage, he slashed his claws down the enemy's shoulder. Then he ducked the retaliating attack and slammed his own shoulder into the tom's chest.
The dark-furred cat staggered, almost falling. His eyes stared claws at him, his lip peeling back in a snarl, but Mangle could see the furious resignation in his eyes. He was beat.
"Clans!" he bellowed. "Retreat! RiverClan, to me!"
That confirmed it. He was from the water Clan.
All around Mangle, fights broke off as the Clan cats struggled free. The tom glared at the big ginger fighter, but he turned and fled as Mangle lunged for his throat, seeking to kill him before he could get away.
Too slow. Mangle fell short. Snake and Ice came up beside him as they watched the Clan cats beat a hasty retreat. They were crowing over BloodClan's victory, grinning and nudging each other. Mangle snapped at them when Ice turned to him, and they immediately backed off, sudden fear flashing in their eyes.
He snorted. The two brothers were smooth-talkers and skilled bluffers — it was how they got so far in BloodClan, by convincing others to do their work — but when it came to the brutal, bloody battles, they were nothing more than cowards. And Mangle had no time for cowards.
As cats broke off to trudge back home or return to their duties, Mangle turned the new information over in his head. The scent of fish still hung heavy in his nose. The water Clan led this attack. Seems I'll need to have a talk with Flash about this.
Apparently the "talk" would have to wait.
Mangle surveyed the camp, eyes narrowed. Snake and Ice stood beside him, staring at the heaps of cats lying haphazardly about. More than a few were crumpled lifelessly, and at least thrice as many were nursing fresh injuries. And hanging heavy in the air, overpowering even the strong smell of blood, was stench of dog.
"Wow!" Makio peered around the older cats' legs, his nose wrinkling as he got a whiff of dog. "What happened? What is that horrible smell?"
"Is that a dog?" Ice exclaimed, staring at a large pile of brown and tan fur in the middle of camp.
Mangle growled and shoved forward. Sparr and his daughter, Glist, were crouching over a white she-cat: his mate and her mother, Crystal. She had a bloody gash down her flank but looked up at the ginger tom's approach, gaze still sharp and clear.
"What happened here?" Mangle asked.
Sparr's lip curled. "Dogs," he spat. "Three of them."
Crystal pushed herself upright and gestured to the lump of fur. "We killed one. The others got away."
"Where did they come from? There's no dogs in the forest." Mangle eyed the trees suspiciously, like a whole pack would burst in at any moment.
Sparr shrugged carelessly. "Don't know. Don't care. Not my job to deal with these sorts of things. I just fight whoever Scourge tells me to."
Speaking of Scourge... Mangle searched camp for the undersized tom and his studded collar. Scourge was sitting beside Snipe; the bigger cat was barking orders at cats. Even as Mangle watched, Scourge languidly licked his claws clean of what was undoubtedly blood. Though his second-in-command had a few new scratches, the black tom looked no worse for the wear.
Mangle took a second look around. Cats who got off easier were scurrying about, pulling dead cats out of camp or simply heaving them into the river. Others were pushing the more heavily wounded to a secluded corner of the camp, well out of the way. A select few were stalking around and finishing off the fatally injured, silencing their moans and cries.
They had this well in paw, the large tom decided. Besides, Mangle had business with his sister to attend to. He began to leave, ignoring the working cats around him.
"Mangle!"
Mangle's ear twitched at the sound of Snipe's voice, and he growled softly. He stopped short from where he was just about to leave camp and instead turned and strode across the clearing, the cats that could move scattering as he came through. He just plowed through those that couldn't.
"What is it?" he grunted impatiently.
Snipe padded forward and met him halfway; his eyes glinted with amusement. Mangle had to bite back an open snarl — he didn't like the look that bordered on derisiveness in the deputy's gaze. The fact that anger was already simmering beneath the surface didn't help. "Take Slink, Freod, and any other cat you think you'll need, and find where the dog came through. When you do, block it. Keep anymore mangy dogs out of our forest." Behind the dark amusement was a menace that, while not scaring Mangle in the slightest — he could take Snipe one-on-one any day — promised retribution for any argument against his order.
Mangle growled lowly, jaw tightening in anger. The implication that he was weak burned in his veins, and the thought of being forced to work with one of his least favorite cats turned that burn into an inferno. Not to mention Snipe's smug attitude of superiority.
"On it, Snipe." The words were curt and dark. The fur along Mangle's spine bristled, but he turned and stalked away before he struck out at the deputy.
Mangle found Freod clearing the camp of bodies. She came with him wordlessly, merely blinking and nodding in response to her orders. Freod led him to Slink, where the black cat was speaking in low tones with his son. As they approached, Slink shooed Makio away, and the kit scurried off.
"Slink."
Slink straightened and turned to Mangle calmly. The ginger tom glared at Slink, but to his surprise, when Slink stared back, there was no open hostility in his gaze, only a stony exterior hiding all of his true emotions. The black tom rose softly to his paws, not looking away from his old enemy's eyes.
"What is it Snipe wants us to do now?" he asked, his tone cool and clear of inflection.
Bemused, Mangle took a step forward and thrust his muzzle into his face to see if he could provoke some of that familiar hatred. Sure enough, Slink's eyes flashed with anger, narrowing dangerously as he began to sink into a low battle crouch — but then he stopped himself, and the mask swept back up. Mangle backed off in puzzlement, eyeing the tom with distrust.
What in the name of Scourge is up with Slink?
Mangle gave himself the lightest of shakes and refocused. Whatever. If Slink wanted to do... this, then that was no concern of his. Less annoyance for him, at the very least. Still, he would make sure he was the dominant presence in this patrol.
"I'll lead," he declared challengingly. Mangle leaned in closer, his bulk overshadowing Slink's leaner frame, the beginnings of a growl rumbling in his chest.
Slink's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but then he shrugged. "Fine."
Mangle eyed Slink suspiciously for a moment more, then turned to Freod. Her cool gaze gave nothing away, but she nodded, acceding command to him.
"Let's go."
Mangle stalked around the small clearing, rage burning in his veins. Dusky rays of light shot through the sky as the sun began its descent below the horizon. With the dog hole blocked up, Snipe had had no further duties for him, so Mangle had taken the chance to leave. It was finally time to confront a traitor.
Mangle raked the earth with his claws impatiently, tail lashing with vexation. Turning, he bellowed into the trees once more:
"Flash!"
Silence. And then —
Mangle snarled and pounced.
Flash yelped as he drove her to the ground, weight pinning her down. She struggled, but he didn't move even an inch.
"Get off me!" his sister spat, thrashing in his grasp.
Mangle bared his teeth. His claws hooked into her skin, and he could see a palpable wince as blood rolled down her shoulders. The dark brown she-cat scratched his legs and chest in her bid to escape. He didn't waver; any pain was washed away in his fury.
"I said, get off, Mangle!" Flash jerked her head away as Mangle leaned in close.
"You betrayed us." The words were dark and laden with menace. Mangle could see her eyes widen momentarily in fear, but then they hardened resolutely to stone.
"I don't know what you're talking about, fish-brain!"
His lip curled at the distinctly RiverClan insult. Traitor. "I know you do, Flash. There was a raid on BloodClan today. Led by the water Clan."
"I... I don't..."
"You can't fool me, Sister. I know you knew about it. You want to try to explain this one?"
"Mangle — "
"Or maybe I should bring you straight to Scourge and Snipe. I'm sure they can make you tell."
Flash stared up at him silently, unmoving.
"Well?" Mangle snarled.
She twisted suddenly, startling him. Given enough leeway, his sister managed to slip out from under his paws. Flash backed away, fur bristling.
"I don't have to explain anything to you! You're just a killer, Mangle!"
Mangle rose to his full, immense height, outrage oozing from every hair in his pelt. He glared down at Flash intimidatingly, his suspicion confirmed without a doubt now. Her reaction told him everything.
"You're a traitor to BloodClan."
"Yeah. I am." Flash lifted her head, defiant. "I'm RiverClan now."
Mangle shook his head, eyes narrowing dangerously. "That's a death wish, Flash."
"I don't care." A growl rumbled in her throat. "I won't serve BloodClan any longer."
"Garbage-brain. I told you. I warned you. No one turns their back on BloodClan and gets away with it."
"The Clans are still alive, aren't they? Still surviving, still fighting."
"Not for much longer. Scourge will kill them all soon enough... you included."
"And you'll help him, I suppose?" Flash scoffed.
"Of course I will. Unlike you, I am loyal to BloodClan. To what keeps me alive."
"It's like I said, just a killer. A servant to those stronger. A fish-hearted — "
"I'd rather kill than be killed," he spat. "And it's not forever. When this garbage-brained war is over and the Clans submit — "
"We won't! We will never give in to cats like you!"
"They're flouting what has kept BloodClan alive and strong! They will submit, in the end! They will accept that BloodClan owns the forest now, or they will die!"
"BloodClan took their home from them! From us!" Flash hissed. "We're are only doing what it takes to get it back!"
"Kill or be killed!" Mangle reminded her fiercely. "We fought over it, and they lost! So it's time for them to clear out!"
"So it's time for me to clear out too, then?" she snarled. Mangle started to respond; but before he could, she shook her head and huffed out a angry laugh. "The Clans aren't leaving." She stared him in the eyes determinedly. "And neither am I."
"So that's it?" His heart burned with a sense of finality. "You're choosing them over us?"
"Us? Ha! There was never an 'us,' Brother." The word fell from her tongue like it was acid. "Maybe you like fighting every day under the paw of a tyrant, like taking the homes of cats and defiling them, but I don't. I'm not BloodClan. I never was." Flash's eyes shone with a sudden light, a pride, a defiance. "I'm not Flash anymore. I am Sunflash, warrior of RiverClan, and that's how I'll live for the rest of my life."
Silence. Then —
"Fine."
Flash stared at him, startled into speechlessness. Her mouth opened, but before she spoke, he finished, cold and dark and every bit of the BloodClan's third-in-command that he was.
"Then that's how you can die."
Mangle lunged.
In an instant, Flash had darted backward. Her lean muscles tensed, eyes that had sharpened over the moons watching him warily. Compared to what she had been like when she first joined, Mangle begrudgingly admitted it was impressive.
But it wouldn't be enough.
They were both silent now. No more words were left to be said. The only sounds in the clearing were the low growls rumbling in their throats and the quiet thumps of their paws as they circled each other. Both sides paused; Mangle narrowed his eyes and readied himself.
And with a yowl, Flash launched herself across the clearing at him. Mangle dug his claws in and met her attack head-on. The force of the collision was surprisingly strong, and he staggered back a few steps. An angry hiss escaped him when he felt her claws rake down his shoulder.
Mangle twisted out of her reach, and she stumbled when her attack met only air. Before she recovered, he had thrust himself toward her, paws stamping down and propelling himself forward with more power than was otherwise possible. He crashed into his sister, sending them both rolling end-over-end, clawing and biting the whole way.
For a minute, they were a chaotic ball of claws and fur, their furious cries piercing the night. Somehow Flash ended up on top — but only for a moment. Before she could take advantage of her superior position, Mangle kicked her off, scrambling to his paws. His ear was nicked, and blood rolled down his neck and flank from lucky strikes. Flash was breathing heavily, and there was a gash on her front leg. She grimaced as she tried to put weight on it, and Mangle saw dread flash in her gaze.
She can't hold out much longer. And she knows it.
"Is anyone there? I need help!" she called out, desperately.
Almost idly, Mangle wondered if any of her new Clanmates would hear her calls and come. He wasn't especially worried; they were a ways away from the border. In any case, Mangle was certain he could handle any cat who came to her aid in addition to his sister herself.
Despite her shouts, no help appeared; Flash was alone in this battle. Anguish flickered across her face as she came to the same realization, and for a moment she looked utterly forlorn; then her expression hardened to determination.
Mangle recognized that look. He'd seen it in cats before. She would fight to the end. Flash was already putting up a good fight, much better than ever before. It was almost surprising how good she had become.
But in the end, it was really no contest. Flash had grown stronger with the Clans, no doubt about that; she was quicker and fiercer, her strikes harder and more precise. But ultimately, she couldn't hope to match her older brother in sheer power or fighting strength.
After long minutes of brawling, Mangle found the opportunity to finally seize her neck in his jaws and slam her to the ground. His paws pressed down on her head, grinding her muzzle into the dirt. Her furious snarls of rage were muffled by the earth. Flash tried to twist out of his grasp, but this time, she had no such luck.
He had her trapped, fully and completely. She couldn't escape this time. He could see one of her eyes, glaring up at him. Intransigent to the end.
There was nothing left to say.
So Mangle finished it.
A final cry split the air.
He stepped off her body and stared down stonily. Flash looked small, even smaller than she had in life. Blood, both his and hers, splattered her coat. Her fur, initially clean, was streaked with dirt and dust. Her tail snaked out behind her, as limp and lifeless as she was.
Something flickered in his chest, twisting and slimy and unwelcome. A worm of emotion. Mangle shoved it aside, killed it.
Kill or be killed. Flash chose her side. She went against BloodClan. She went against me. I did what I had to. She was with the garbage-brained Clans. It's kill or be killed... so I killed. For BloodClan.
Mangle shook his pelt out and vanished into the dark, leaving behind a bloodstained clearing and single, broken body.