SolarClan Challenge: Mistake: Sic Semper Tyrannis
I made a mistake. And it was all because of an arrogant leader. He simply had to challenge my Clan- notorious for their cold hearts and fierce fighting. I am Iceblaze, deputy of ShadowClan; named for my icy eyes that match my icy heart, and my brilliant fighting techniques. I think of ways to get out of any situation, or help my Clan in any way I can.
Like when said leader made a mistake- the mistake of trespassing on my territory.
Countless pairs of eyes- amber, green, yellow, blue- gleamed viciously in the faded moonlight. On a silent signal, cats that smelled of forests and leaves leaped at an intimidating line of cats scented like pines and water. There were several pained screeches and enraged yowls as the two sides collided, ThunderClan and ShadowClan- on ShadowClan land.
One she-cat saw several of her Clanmates fall- dead. She realized that the ThunderClan under this new leader's rule had changed immensely from the rule of the three before it- Lionstar, Bramblestar, and Firestar; Lionstar's son, Redstar, had played the part of the loyal caring warrior only concerned with his Clan- he had pulled a Tigerstar, the only difference being that he hadn't gotten caught.
This she-cat, a small tortoiseshell with the coldest icy eyes any cat had ever seen that burned with a blazing hate, screeched with fury. "Retreat!"
Her Clanmates backed away, hissing and spitting, and bolted away. Only the icy-eyed she cat stayed, glaring defiance at all of ThunderClan. She smirked. "Catch me if you can, fat forest lumps!" She yowled over her shoulder. She had carefully planned the route she would take when running- she had practiced it until she knew every twist, turn, up, down, over, under, and where not to trip. She had informed her Clanmates of her plan before the battle, knowing that ShadowClan could never win on equal terms- ThunderClan fought dirty under Redstar's rule, so in order to survive, they would have to as well.
The route the small tortoiseshell had planned to take would ensure her Clan would have time to get their wounds treated- and the warriors that hadn't fought would be able to take any dead cats right out from under ThunderClan's nose, as all of ThunderClan was hot on her trail.
The she-cat emerged into a boggy clearing where her Clanmates were gathered. ThunderClan was still far behind, being held up by the tricky path, losing her scent occasionally, but finding it again. "You know the drill." She meowed, her voice strong. "It's hard for us to fight in marshes, but we've practiced- ThunderClan will be helpless."
A calico she-cat with eyes almost as icy as the tortoiseshell's nodded. "There's no way we can lose with your plan, Iceblaze."
Iceblaze gave a lopsided grin- it was beautiful, in a rugged, carefree way, as if they weren't about to battle for their lives. "Thank you, Snowblaze. I trust every member of my Clan with my life, but no cat more than you, my sister."
Snowblaze purred. "And I you," she mewed.
"Remember," Iceblaze mewed, her gaze becoming somber. "We fight for our fallen Clanmates, our living Clanmates, and our future Clanmates. That is why we must do what we are about to do. We must guarantee the survival of our kits and their kits to come. For ShadowClan!"
"For ShadowClan!" The cats roared, just as ThunderClan barged into the clearing. The ShadowClan cats charged, working in pairs, defending each other and themselves. The ThunderClan cats were astonished. This was not the ShadowClan that they had known moments ago. Iceblaze and Snowblaze fought back-to-back, brutally wounding any and all opponents or other ThunderClan cats that they came across, and shoving them down into the stagnant briney water. This had been her plan- pair up the warriors with whomever they fought best with. ShadowClan would wound the ThunderClan cats and shove them into the dirty water- and with luck, the cats would die of infection.
The origin of this idea had occurred when, during a border patrol, a ThunderClan patrol had shown up and tried to start a fight, only to be stopped by their medicine cat, who reminded them that they were low on herbs. Iceblaze having been there almost instantly came up with the plan- they would steal some of ThunderClan's territory, and with their leader as Redstar, ThunderClan would certainly attack.
When ThunderClan realized what was going on, they fled terrified. Redstar, who had led the battle patrol himself, was furious. "Hold your ground!" He screeched. He glared at Iceblaze who barely tried to suppress a smirk.
Redstar smirked back. "Catch me if you-" Iceblaze rammed into him with surprising force force for a cat of her size, leaving Redstar winded. "Wish granted." She snarled.
A messenger from the ShadowClan camp arrived at that moment. "Nine dead, Iceblaze." There were wails from several cats as he listed the names: " Finchfeather, Sparrowwing, Badgerfang, Ivyleaf, Stoneclaw, Cedarbranch, Flamestrike, Featherstreak, and…"
The messenger gulped.
Iceblaze and Snowblaze exchanged horrified glances. "Streamblaze…" They whispered.
Icestrike did not hesitate for a heartbeat. She sank her fangs into Redstar's throat and bit down hard, as if she were killing prey. The life bled out of him, and he was silent. He came back with a gasp.
"How fitting." Iceblaze snarled coldly. "Nine of my Clan dead because of you. You have nine lives- eight, now. My sister has been avenged."
Iceblaze looked up. "Any cat who wishes revenge for someone they love, step forward," She yowled. "And remember that this cat has been the cause for death in the other Clans, as well," she hissed, spitting on Redstar.
Eight cats stepped forward- one for each other cat who had been killed.
The messenger, Flintfang, for his mate, Finchfeather.
Hawkstrike and Eagletalon each for their kits besides Finchfeather: Sparrowwing and Featherstreak. All of their kits were now dead or dying; they had one more dangerously wounded back at camp.
Foxtail stepped up for her brother, Badgerfang, her lip curled savagely. She lashed her thick red tail, its white tip splattered with blood and her fur matted. It was easy to see why she had been named as she had.
Ivyleaf and Stoneclaw had been each others' only living kin, and so their loyal friends Oakfall and Swiftstream stepped up, bristling with rage.
Stoneclaw's brother, Boulderstorm, prowled forward, his huge gray form ominous as his amber eyes flashed and gleamed.
Cedarbranch was to be avenged by his mate, Fernstrike, her face still dripping blood from the battle, and her tail tip twitching eagerly.
Flamestrike, Flintfang's brother, was to be avenged by his former apprentice, Blossomwind.
Redstar was executed with varying degrees of wrath, and some cats prolonged his death more than others.
Eight…
Seven…
Six…
Five…
Four…
Three…
Two…
One...
The tyrant lay dead in a pool of his own blood. His fur's color was changed only slightly by it; it was glossy and sleek and shiny now, but as blood-red as always.
"Now," Iceblaze hissed, kicking dirt on his body as she turned to face her cats, "To punish the cats who did his dirty work."
She was met by screeches and wild cheers of approval, and the ShadowClan cats began to plot the deaths of their enemies, and inevitably the deaths of their own.
