AN: I told you chapter would be out less often. School is a pain. For now may I introduce a semi important character. And a whole new take on the Dark Forest. Enjoy.
Chapter 22: End Them All
Iceshard padded blindly up the sweeping path that curled its way around the only mountain in all of the Dark Forest. She payed no attention to the signs of danger that riddled the sides of the small path. The mangled bodies of cats, blood stained rocks, deep claws marks gouged in the trunks of rotten tree trunks, she ignored them all. Her mind was focused on the memories that had resurfaced when she had stained her claws red with the blood of De-Nightshiver. She shuddered slightly and then shouldered on, refusing to be worn down by the dark memories.
A sudden sharp breath of wind blew back her fur and the empty shells that were once trees came to an abrupt end. The steep rocks that bordered either side of the mountain path opened up and revealed the tip of the mountain. But the thing that Iceshard's eyes were drawn to was the bright pulsing orb of purplish-white light that hung suspended above what appeared to be a shrine made of bone. Iceshard sucked in a deep breath and took a shaky step onto the pure black grass that was dotted with tiny white lights. The she-cat refused to believe they were stars. Stars were cursed to never shine here. Or at least stay hidden until the day sun light invaded the Dark Forest and ended the darkness forever. A dull vibrating sound began to thrum in Iceshard's ears as she stalked closer to the shrine of bone and the pulsing orb of purplish-white light. Another sound soon joined the vibrating sound and Iceshard swore it was the whispers of every cat that had died under the Dark Forest's paws.
Her paws bumped against the edge of the bone shrine but before she could even place her silver paw on it a voice suddenly spoke above her. "Who dares disturb my sacred home?" it boomed. Its voice was like that of thunder mixed with the shattering sound of ice cracking.
"It is I, Iceshard," she replied shakily. This was one thing she had never looked forward to, but things were starting to crumble down in the Dark Forest. Cats were beginning to believe that the High Stars weren't strong enough to remain ruling over them. An uprising was brewing and if anybody could stop it then it was the voice that echoed from the pulsing orb.
"Iceshard? Why are you here? I have not summoned you and nor have I given you permission to enter my home. Your reason had better be one of dire importance."
The she-cat swallowed loudly and shifted her eyes to stare up at the pulsing orb. "Things are beginning to crumble down in the Dark Forest. I can feel an uprising brewing. Some don't believe that the High Stars are strong enough to keep StarClan in check and destroy this Crimson cat at the same time. What am I to do, Lord?"
A disapproving murmur rumbled against Iceshard's chest and she ducked her head in shame. The sound of sizzling fire and cracking bones made the she-cat jump and she looked up to see the huge figure of a cat - glowing with the same purplish light as the orb behind it - staring down at her from the top of the bone shrine. "Perhaps your strength is failing. Perhaps the time for High Stars to rule has ended." As the voice thundered over Iceshard she watched at the strange cat's mouth moved in time with the words.
Her shock echoed into her voice as she spoke. "What are you saying? How do you have a body?"
"I lived once. Do you not remember? I could not have impregnated your mother with you unless I had a living body." Iceshard cringed at her father's mocking tone. It was like he was talking to a kit. "Maybe the time has come for the Dark Forest to know about me. All they know is that I have left to answer a higher calling. Shouldn't they know that there is a higher power that rules over the Dark Forest?"
Iceshard shook her head and sighed. "No. That would only drive them further away, father. Finding out about Nightshiver and I only served to prove how shaky our rule is."
"Our rule?" the voice laughed in disbelief. "You rule over them whilst I rule over all. Do not drag me into your pitiful problems. You have come to me for help. Do you want it or not?"
The silver tabby bowed her head in submission, "Of course. What do you propose I do, father?"
Iceshard's father – or at least the purplish-white figure of him – grinned a cruel smile. His apparition wavered slightly as it took a step away from the pulsing orb. "You say StarClan is your biggest problem right now?" Iceshard was tempted to reprimand her father and tell him that Crimson was, but she decided not to. She needed her father to believe she was strong enough to remain as the Highest Star and not drag her to the world he lived in. "Then end them. End them all."
His solution nearly made her trip over in shock. "Destroy StarClan?" she repeated. "Then who would we use as slaves!?"
"Slaves? The Dark Forest does not need slaves. Surely you are strong enough to do things for yourself?"
"Yes. Of course, father. The Dark Forest shall destroy StarClan once and for all. Is there anything else you propose we do?" Iceshard asked meekly.
The purplish figure drew back towards the pulsing light and vanished entirely. "Your time in this world is coming to an end. There are cats calling to you from this world. Mainly your mother. Use your last moons wisely, daughter. Fix what you have broken and end what needs to be ended. Remember who you are, Iceshard. Do not forget the things I taught you; do not forget who you really are."
"I won't, father," Iceshard murmured as her father's voice slowly grew quieter until it vanished entirely. The pulsing orb grew just a tiny bit fainter and Iceshard realised that she was no longer welcome here. With heavy paws she retreated back towards the sweeping mountain path, fur ruffled by the sharp wind. In her mind she was already drawing up battle plans to be used on the unsuspecting cats of StarClan.
-000-
"Father! No!" Shatteredlight's cry split the battle in two as she dashed over to the clone of her father's body. She payed no attention to the bloody, barely moving body of Shadari that laid on the ground a few paw steps away. She did, however, pay attention to Crimson. Her eyes blaze with grief as she moved away from the body of her father and unsheathed her claws. "How dare you murder my father!" she shrieked.
Crimson shook her head, eyes narrowed tauntingly. "I know it's such a shame. But he had to die. And if you try to kill me then you will also die!" Her voice was too happy for that of a murderer and it sent shivers of anger up and down Shatteredlight's spine.
"I'd like to see you try," Shatteredlight growled. Her eyes widened as Tornheart and Jinx appeared beside Crimson from the smoke, each with blood stained muzzles and paws. Crimson smiled cruelly at Shatteredlight and waited for the she-cat to attack her.
"Decided against it have we?'" Crimson purred. "Coward."
Shatteredlight shook her head and went to pounce forwards when Risingwhisper knocked her over. "No! Don't! I cannot lose you as well!" the healer cried. "Please. RisingClan needs you, Shatteredlight. It needs you more than ever.
"B-but," Shatteredlight stammered, eyes flashing between Crimson and her mother. "She killed father!"
Risingwhisper nodded sadly. "I know. She has won this battle, daughter. We must honour that and leave her be. RisingClan will fight again, but not today. Come now. We must leave and gather the dead." Shatteredlight broke away from her mother, grabbed the scruff of her father and began tugging him away from the fire that still blazed in places.
Thunder suddenly cracked above them and dark clouds loosened their load, releasing icy cold rain down on the bloody battle field. The fire sizzled and died out, leaving Crimson and her followers alone in the dark, watching the shattered RisingClan pick up the dead and haul them away. "Are you proud of what you have done?" Tornheart rasped.
"What? Of course I am. The plan went perfectly. Fallenshadow was killed and I gained a new follower. I'm certain most of RisingClan perished in the battle as well," Crimson answered, eyeing Tornheart carefully. "Why? Are you not proud?"
Tornheart's eyes flashed two shades of green before she answered, like two sides of her were fighting for control. "I am proud," she answered finally.
"Good," Crimson growled before she turned her head to look at Jinx. "Take the remaining soldiers for another training session. I had you study the fighting techniques of CedarClan, teach them that. Tornheart, go and make sure there aren't any RisingClan warriors still lurking around. If you find any bodies then dispose of them however you want. I am going to take Shadari for a battle lesson."
Jinx tipped her head to the side, the nasty scar that crossed over her eye covered with blood. "Who is Shadari?" Her question earned a smile from Crimson and she yowled loudly. Paw steps sounded nearby and the black cat with the face of bone padded up to them. Tornheart skipped back a few steps whilst Jinx simply stared at the cat with awe in her eyes. "How did you?"
"To be a monster you first have to create them," Crimson replied and then trotted off with Shadari following her. Jinx shrugged at Tornheart before she too padded away, the soldiers hurrying after her.
Tornheart fluffed her fur up against the freezing sleet like rain and bounded over to the forest. In almost an instant she tripped over what seemed to be a rock. She hissed in irritation and turned only to find that the rock was actually the body of a RisingClan cat. Upon closer inspection she recognised the golden fur of Huntinglion. With a scowl she kicked snow over him and continued stalking through the forest. She would deal with him later.
The sun was just beginning to show over the horizon when Tornheart finally completed her rounds. She'd found the body of Dashingfox – much to her glee – as well as the bodies of Slidingice and Morningdew. She's been surprised to find the elderly she-cats body hung over a fallen log, obviously she had followed her Clan to attend the fight and been caught by one of Crimson's patrollers. Tornheart scrunched up her nose at the thought of the repulsing yellowish-brown cats that were always slinking around the edges of SnowClan territory, looking out for any signs of Clan cats.
With a sigh Tornheart set about digging a shallow grave for Morningdew's body and after the elderly she-cats body fell into it she covered it up and went about continuing back to the meadow. As she walked, Tornheart began to really think about how many cats she had murdered during the battle with RisingClan. Leapingspider, Circlingbreeze, Screechingbird and Fallingfeather. A shiver ran up Tornheart's spine as she recalled the way she had torn Fallingfeather to pieces under Crimson's rock, laying all her rage into each swipe and bite. All that had been left of the once pretty she-cat was a mangled corpse with blood staining the snow around it like a sickly halo.
She grinned slightly and padded into a small clearing, filled with sweet smelling flowers. But beneath the sweet smell of flowers Tornheart could smell another scent, one that was so out of place amongst the flowers. Death. It smelt like death. Her eyes searched the grass for any sign of blood or a body. She found none. Not until she padded further in and spotted a blue leg sticking out from beneath a rose bush. Curious to see who it was Tornheart padded closer until she could see specks of blood mixed into the green grass and white spots covering the blue leg.
It was Cloudingsky.
AN: There's a link to my Deviantart account on my profile. I have a few pictures of the characters in a folder labeled 'Game of Blood'. Go check 'em out.
Now to answer some questions;
NoReaSoN2Car3: Yes. She probably would have. But did Fallenshadow think of that? No he did not. And as you found out he died anyway.
I am Sky daughter of Zeus: The Clans are all gathered on High Star Island, away from their territories. So they wouldn't have known. It's also where Crimson has decided to set up camp for her and her minions.
If you have questions don't be afraid to ask them. I'll answer them, althought it might take me a few chapters to remember I have to answer them :$