AN: We hit 100 reviews! :D You have no idea how happy it made me to look at the review number and see the number 105! Well, enough of me ranting. Enjoy.

Chapter 20: The Truth

"We have summoned this council due to drastic..happenings occurring in the living world. As we speak a cat that has no remorse is tormenting the Clans, dragging innocent cats out into the forest to slaughter them." Iceshard's cold green gaze did not waver as she met and held the eye of every gathered council cat in the High Star's clearing. She sat on her intricately designed throne with the body of a small reddish brown tom at her paws, his blood pooling around his body and spilling down the steps. Eternity sat to her right whilst Settingsun watched the cats from Iceshard's left. Death, however, was sitting in the middle of the circle, his paws chained to the ground by Settingsun's vicious thorn covered vines. Yet he did not even blink as his blood oozed over the vines. It was as if he did not even care that his life was on the line.

"You still have not told us what is happening in the living world," a rough voice called out. The voice belonged to a faded brown tabby, his yellow eyes glaring at the three High Stars.

Iceshard regarded him with obvious disgust, her eyes lingering on the vicious looking scar that spiralled down from his left eye to his shoulder, the wound that killed him. "We did not want to spread panic throughout the Dark Forest. But now we are ready to tell you what is happening and why Death is on trial. A few days ago Death came to us with horrifying news. His recent creation, a demon she-cat that was supposed to look over StarClan for us, refused to take her position and vanished without a trace. She then appeared in the real world a day later, killed RogueClan's leader, tricked a RisingClan cat and a rogue to take a Blood Oath and built an army of mindless cats with dull brown pelts and lifeless yellow eyes. Now she and Fallenshadow are on their way to a war that will end with devastating consequences. Oh, and did I mention that she let one of her Blood Oath takers kill RisingClan's deputy?" Iceshard spat.

The entire council fell silent. Each was thinking the same thing. Why had the High Stars not slaughtered the she-cat before she could wreak havoc? But none were brave enough to ask. They all knew the rage that would surely follow if they questioned the strength of the High Stars. "Why has she not been killed already!?" the same tom shouted.

It was clear to the other members of the council that that tom was wearing Iceshard's patience thin. "We did not know she even existed until Death was attacked by her. If you have anything you wish to say to Death, please, say it now!"

The sounds of angry yowls and screeches filled the clearing, each aimed at the forlorn figure of Death with his paws anchored to the forest floor. He lowered his blind eyes and allowed the sounds of anger rush over his ears. He knew he deserved it; he'd been waiting for the day Iceshard bound him in vines and thrust him before the council for something he had been accused of doing. The creation of his she-cat, the one that now called herself Crimson, only served to be his undoing. Death cringed when he heard Iceshard call his name. "Yes?" he responded icily.

"We will now bring forth our witness to your treachery, Death." Iceshard gave a small smile before she flicked her tail at Eternity. The midnight black tom let out a loud yowl, silencing the cries of anger that still ricocheted around the clearing. From the shadows of the trees that ringed the clearing a pair of haunting blue eyes appeared, growing closer as the sound of breathing reached the ears of the council. A light black tabby strode into the centre of the circle, his blue eyes narrowed with rage.

"Who is that?" another member of the council asked.

The tom continued his walk until he stood in front of Death. "I am Hiddenshade, the previous deputy of RisingClan, murdered in cold blood by Crimson's follower. I am here to say my part and put the blame of my death onto the shoulders of Death, I want to watch him exiled from the Dark Forest and forced to wander the living world as nothing but a lost spirit."

"Your death was none of my fault. Jinx would have found you and killed you regardless of whether she sided with Crimson. Karma has a funny way of paying back those that murder," Death retorted. "Jinx's family wishes to speak with you once you are done here. You will find them beyond the fringes of the Dark Forest; just follow the Path of Lies."

Hiddenshade curled his lip, his claws sinking into the ground. "My death was entirely your fault! How dare you tell me a stupid tale about karma in the hopes that the council will decide against your sentence!"

"Order!" Eternity yowled. "Council, please take a few moments to make your verdict." He waved his tail and the council padded away. Their voices drifted over to the High Stars and Settingsun beamed when she heard their verdict. With a purr she bounced off her throne and shoved her muzzle inches away from Death's.

"You were never one of us," she snarled, "always slinking off to your patch of poisoned roses. I will enjoy watching you wander the living world for the rest of eternity."

Death narrowed his eyes and a spark of anger lit them up like a flame. "That is no way to talk to your father," he spat.

Once again silence descended upon the council. There had never been a secret this large for seasons. Nor had there ever been a secret that concerned three of the four High Stars. Especially one this big. "F-father!?" Settingsun laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. My father was the last Highest Star, the one before mother!"

All eyes turned to Iceshard. The pretty silver tabby stared down at Death with enraged eyes. "How dare you?" she whispered. "After all I have done for you!"

"So it is true!?" the tom yowled. "The High Stars are corrupt! They are rotting from the inside!"

Chaos erupted in the clearing only to be quietened down by Eternity's monstrous roar. "Enough!" He turned to look at Iceshard. "The truth. Speak it now."

Iceshard looked like she was about to explode. Her fur was rippling, her eyes flashing, her claws gouging into her throne. "You want the truth!?" she shrieked. "Death forced himself onto me. I fell pregnant and gave birth to Sinkingsun. I was the one that blinded Death. I was the one that allowed him to become a High Star in bargain that he would not speak of our kit. In return he gained the power of Death and was allowed his corner of the Dark Forest. In time we grew to hate each other. I have planned since the day I birthed Sinkingsun to cast Death from the Dark Forest. And now that time has come. If the council will not exile Death then I will, but he will never get to wander the living world."

She leapt from her post, knocked Hiddenshade away from Death and shoved Settingsun to the side. "I hope you are happy, Nightshiver. I should never have let you leave that clearing alive!"

Death shivered at the sound of his old name. "I have always loved you, Silverstrike. And I always will, no matter what evil you do to me."

A single crystal tear rolled down Iceshard's cheek. "With time hurts heal-"

"And scars disappear," Death whispered. Iceshard's eyes returned to their normal cold gaze. She gritted her teeth, raised her unsheathed paw and pressed it against Death's neck.

"By decree of the High Stars I hereby exile you to life beyond the boundaries of death. Whatever awaits us beyond this life now summons you. No longer are you Death, a High Star. Instead you are now Nightshiver, a long dead warrior of ShadowClan." Then, with a single powerful swipe, Iceshard tore Nightshiver's throat out of his body and allowed blood to gush onto the floor.

The ghostly black tom collapsed onto the ground, his blind blue eyes going wide with fear at what was beyond the life he had lived for so long. But as the light died from his eyes they became peaceful. It was as if what he saw was beautiful, so beautiful that for the last few seconds of his life, Nightshiver was granted his sight back.

And then he died. He died in front of every council cat, in front of his daughter and in front of the cat he had loved for seasons upon seasons.

Every eye turned once again to Iceshard. And what they saw frightened them all. Iceshard was no longer the cold cat she was. Instead she was a shell of who she used to be. A cat full of rage, anger, hurt and betrayal. There were so many cats she wanted to kill. And no one would get in her way.

-000-

Crimson stared down at the battle field with hungry eyes. The rush she got whilst watching her minions tear her enemies apart was like nothing she'd ever felt before. Of course, she still enjoyed putting her enemies down herself, but for now her followers would deal with the more annoying RisingClan cats. A loud shriek awoke Crimson from her thoughts and she looked down to see Jinx sinking her fangs into the neck of a silver tabby. The screech – however – came from Tornheart. "No! She is mine!" Tornheart shrieked before looking Crimson in the eyes for approval. Crimson nodded and then watched as the ex-RisingClan cat leapt off the rock and landed neatly beside Jinx. The two shared a tense look before Jinx backed off and leaped back into the fray of fighting cats. It was obvious to Crimson that Jinx was searching for any of Hiddenshade's kin.

Her blood red eyes once again strayed to Tornheart and the silver tabby. Tornheart had the tabby on the ground by the throat and from Crimson's high position on top of the rock she could see the fear shining in the tabby's eyes. Cowards, all of them! She grinned when Tornheart drove her claws deep into the tabby's stomach and withdrew them moments later, claws gleaming red in the moonlight. What did not catch the attention of Crimson was the blue blur that shot out of the heaving battle field of cats and threw itself at Tornheart.

Fire danced in Crimson's eyes as she stared at the war she had started by simply murdering the Clan's deputy. She let out an evil cackle as the smell of blood and death blew over her nose. This was what she lived to do. Creating wars, murdering innocents, tearing Clans apart, nothing fazed her. A loud yowl rocked the clearing and the fighting came to an abrupt stop. Crimson leaned forward to stare at the now silent clearing, her eyes searching for the cause of the yowl. Bleeding cats stumbled away as Fallenshadow shoved his way to stand in front of the rock. Dangling from his jaws was the limp – but alive – body of Jinx. The cream she-cat had her lip curled in anger and her eyes focused on the ground out of shame.

"Are you planning on slaughtering her before my eyes?" Crimson snarled. Her tail was lashing and her eyes were narrowed. Inside she was a raging mess. Did Fallenshadow really have the nerve to slaughter Jinx?

Fallenshadow dropped Jinx but pressed his paw against her throat in order to stop her from escaping. "No. But I will if you refuse my challenge."

"Challenge?" Crimson repeated. "And what would that be?"

The RisingClan leader unsheathed his claws and dug them into Jinx's throat, chasing a snarl filled with rage from the she-cats chest. "Face me in battle. Just us, no input from your followers or my Clan. The winner will be the one that is still breathing at the end."

Crimson perked her ears up, a crazy grin spreading across her face. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. But before I make any move I must ask you to let my follower up."

"How do I know you won't order your followers to kill me as soon as I let Jinx up?" Fallenshadow snapped his voice harsh with distrust.

"You have my word," Crimson replied. Fallenshadow grunted but lifted his paw and allowed Jinx to shoot out and scurry away. She stopped a few steps away so that she could turn and spit a few choice insults at the tom. "See," Crimson purred, "I did not order your death." She winked at Fallenshadow and then leapt off the rock, her leap bringing her to rest only a few paw steps away from Fallenshadow. "Now, let's duel."

Fallenshadow dropped into a crouch, the muscles in his hind legs bulging. The other cats drew apart and created a circle around the two leaders. Crimson however, remained standing still. She did not fear the stupid tom that was giving her a glare that could kill. Death was no longer something Crimson needed to fear. She could kill Fallenshadow with her eyes closed, but where would the fun be in that? A cruel smile pricked at the corners of her muzzle. "Come fire, come burn, set alight those that deserve, in night time squalors and day time blues; come forth the mighty power that burns"

Her words sent shivers down the spines of every RisingClan cat and set even Tornheart's fur on end. But it was the mighty boom of thunder and the vicious bolt of lightning that allowed Fallenshadow to see who he was truly dealing with. A she-cat with the powers of that the High Stars did not even possess. A demon in the form of a beautiful cat. One more white flash of lightning released a nightmare in the form of fiery red flames. They sprung up in front of the circle, burning the paws of cats that were too close ad singing off fur. Shrieks of fear rose into the night but were soon smothered by the crackling sound of fire and the cackling sound of Crimson's crazed laughter.

She met Fallenshadow's shocked eyes with her own calm gaze. "You wanted a challenge." The black cat took a menacing step forwards. "Now you've got one."