AN: Another update? Aren't you guys just lucky! Enjoy.

Chapter 26: Fading and Dying

Hawkfrost snarled threateningly at the red pelted body of Redflame whose claws dug into Sinkingsun's yellow fur. "Let. Her. Go!" he screeched, stalking closer. One part of Hawkfrost told him to leap at Redflame and tear his throat out, but another part told him that Sinkingsun might get injured if he did. Regardless of his two choices, Hawkfrost had each of his muscles poised, ready to lash out and flay the overseer of StarClan.

"I'd rather not," Redflame purred back. "You see, all the she-cats in StarClan are too good, too perfect. All they want to do is follow the rules. I've missed the rough streak all cats in the Dark Forest have. I've missed how little it takes for a cat from the Dark Forest to snap and kill something. So until Iceshard sends me some bad cats to toy with, I'll be keeping this," he shook Sinkingsun, "she-cat with me as prisoner."

Sinkingsun hissed up at Redflame with burning eyes. "You will not!" she snarled. "Because if you do I vow that I will escape your prison and personally hurl you from the highest point in StarClan and watch as your fragile body smashes into tiny pieces!"

Silence cascaded over the three cats as both toms stared at the enraged she-cat with wide, impressed eyes. They hadn't expected to find such a murderous streak in such a pretty she-cat. Redflame was the first to say anything, a wide smile splitting his muzzle. "My, my. You are a wild cat, aren't you? Maybe I'll just keep you instead? You wouldn't be able to carry your little threat out seeing as the prison is located underneath my home in the caverns of an underground network of tunnels. Not to mention the many vicious monsters that lurk within the twisting tunnels, ready to strike out and kill whatever crosses their paths. I think I can live with your threat."

With Redflame's attention lapsing, Hawkfrost saw his perfect moment to strike. He launched himself forwards, barrelling into the red tom's side and throwing him off of Sinkingsun. Enraged, Hawkfrost sunk his claws into Redflame's pelt and tore into it, making sure that each wound bled profusely. There would be no escaping the punishment this tom had earned. Crossing the border into StarClan itself was punishable by death, and Hawkfrost was about to serve this tom his punishment. Redflame writhed under Hawkfrost's grasp, his claws grazing through the dark tabby pelt, but Hawkfrost didn't even blink. His fangs dangled mere inches from Redflame's neck and he was about to snap into the soft flesh when a strong blow to his side knocked him off his paws and sent him skidding across the ground.

"What the heck!?" Hawkfrost snarled as he picked himself up off the ground and shook dirt from his pelt. "Why'd you do that, Sinkingsun!?"

Fur brushed against his pelt and he twisted his head to look down at Sinkingsun's yellow pelt. Confused he looked back up to see a huge black tabby tom pressing Redflame to the ground with an accusing look on his face. Hawkfrost felt an icy claw grab his spine. This tom was not from here. "I certainly did not expect to enter the territory of the Place of No Stars and find two toms about ready to kill each other." Even the tom's voice held power and made Hawkfrost nearly cower close to the ground.

"He broke the law by crossing the border from which he was exiled from, a law which is punishable by death. Not to mention the fact that he was about to kidnap this innocent she-cat," Hawkfrost explained coldly, stretching himself up to his full height, not that it made any difference. The strange tom still stood a fair few inches taller. "A law which you also have broken. You best have a good reason for crossing the border, stranger."

The tom blinked his dark green eyes before he answered, "I have come to speak with Iceshard about this war of hers."

"So have many cats, all of which have been sent fleeing back to the border from which they came," Hawkfrost snapped back. "Give me your name and where you are from, only then I may take you to see her."

"My name is Hiddenstorm and I am from the Southern Lands. I govern over them as their overseer and from what I last heard, we overseers are allowed to cross into Place of No Stars to speak with Iceshard if we have a valid reason," Hiddenstorm replied. He glanced down at the bleeding body of Redflame. "I take it the overseer of StarClan did not come with a valid reason."

Sinkingsun winced. "No. He did not."

"You have a valid reason to enter out lands, it seems," Hawkfrost conceded, dipping his head to the overseer of the Southern Lands. "Iceshard will be most glad to speak with you. She has not summoned you, has she?"

Hiddenstorm nodded, "She summoned all the overseers from what my messenger told me."

"I was not summoned," Redflame spat, wriggling under Hiddenstorm's clawed paw.

"Then it would be wise if you returned to your own land," the overseer snarled, letting Redflame up. "Do not return unless you have a valid reason."

Redflame took one last raged look at Hawkfrost before his slipped into the undergrowth and vanished over the border. Sinkingsun visibly relaxed. "I'm glad he is gone," she murmured before looking at Hiddenstorm. "Would you mind telling me what the Southern Lands are like whilst we walk?"

"I would be honoured to," Hiddenstorm responded, smiling as the ex-contestant joined him.

Hawkfrost bit his tongue to refrain from saying something as he slipped in front of the talking cats. He tried to take little notice of the awe in Sinkingsun's voice as she was described how the Southern Lands looked. He had to admit that Hiddenstorm certainly lead his Lands well. The Place of Wanderers had been known to house rather volatile cats from time to time, but according to the black tabby they had all been dealt with and now caused little trouble.

As the three cats walked, Hawkfrost began to feel a sense of trouble wash over him. Sinkingsun hadn't said a word to him since Redflame attacked. Instead all of her attention had been focused on Hiddenstorm and hearing the many tales he had to tell about life as an overseer. It's just curiosity; he told himself, you'd be curious too if some strange cat from another land showed up. But a small voice in the back of his head told him that Sinkingsun was curious. Surely he hadn't lost the only cat he had ever loved because of a stupid mistake? He couldn't help but feel that he had.

The time to mull over his sad thoughts came to an abrupt end when Eclipse's midnight coloured pelt appeared before them, his yellow eyes immediately drawn to Hiddenstorm's rather large build. It was obvious that the High Star knew who the strange tom was. "Overseer of the Southern Lands, it is an honour to finally meet. Iceshard is waiting along with the overseer of the Northern Lands."

"I am expecting an explanation to why Redflame did not receive an invitation to this meeting," Hiddenstorm rumbled before he looked down at Sinkingsun. "You will find me later? I am very intrigued to hear about RisingClan."

The yellow she-cat nodded with a small smile. "Of course I will."

"Hawkfrost," Eclipse began. "Iceshard wishes you to bring Sinkingsun to the meeting. You might as well attend too."

Sinkingsun stared at Eclipse with round eyes, "Why would Iceshard want me to attend the meeting?"

The black tom shrugged and pushed through a large patch of ferns to reveal a large grassy clearing. Cats fought viciously within the clearing, their ears pinned back and mouths drawn into vicious snarls. Blood stained the grass but Hawkfrost assumed that they were merely training with the ferocity of all Dark Forest cats. Nothing held back. He spotted Iceshard sitting with another tom at the far side of the clearing. Settingsun also sat there, her eyes trained on the fighting cats before they moved to meet Hawkfrost's icy gaze. He groaned inwardly. Settingsun was the last cat he wanted to speak to, especially today. "Hawkfrost!" she purred once the dark tabby was within earshot. "How nice it is to see you!"

Iceshard glared at her daughter before she greeted Hiddenstorm and Sinkingsun. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss." Hiddenstorm remained standing though, his green eyes focused on the small black tom that sat beside Settingsun.

"It has been many moons since I last saw the overseer of the Northern Lands, but this is not the same cat. He is a tom. Vixenpelt was a she-cat. Who is this?" he spat.

The black tom dipped his head in greeting. "Vixenpelt fell prey to a rather insane she-cat. I have taken her place."

"Your name?"

"Scourge."

Hawkfrost's ears flattened. He'd heard tales of Scourge. This small tom had been the cat that had murdered Tigerstar in cold blood. No wonder this tom had been sent to the Place of Everlasting Night. "Congratulations, Scourge. Good luck as leader of the Northern Lands."

"Thank you, Hiddenstorm," Scourge replied icily as he looked at Iceshard. "Please tell us why you have called such an odd meeting. Aren't you busy enough killing off your contestants?"

Iceshard narrowed her eyes. "Tigerstar is in cha-" An angry snarl from Scourge cut her off.

"Tigerstar!? You brought me into the same territory as Tigerstar and didn't tell me!? I knew it! You want me dead so that you can take over the Northern Lands!" Scourge pinned his ears back. "You've made a very bad decision trying to kill me, Iceshard! You better watch your back, Highest Star." The small tom whipped around and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the gathered cats watching with wide eyes.

"Well," Eclipse muttered. "I suppose we'll be counting the Northern Lands out of this."

Iceshard grunted and turned her attention back to Hiddenstorm, "Redflame is not attending this meeting because we are launching an attack on StarClan tomorrow. It is high time we wiped them out."

"You want me to gather my cats and join you in this attack, don't you?" Hiddenstorm guessed.

The Highest Star nodded, eyes glinting. "We will make it worth your while if you join us. If we do defeat StarClan, which we will, I will give you their lands to do what you want with them."

"I will have to discuss this with my cats. If I return tomorrow then I shall be joining you. If I do not then I shan't be attacking StarClan with you," Hiddenstorm rumbled. "I will return to my Lands now, if that is okay?"

Eclipse nodded but Sinkingsun's mouth fell open. "What happened to me telling you about RisingClan?" she protested. Hawkfrost dropped his gaze, hurt spiking at his heart.

"You can walk with me," Hiddenstorm smiled.

Sinkingsun beamed and padded off with the big tom, tail waving as she spoke. Hawkfrost had to hide the pain in his eyes as he looked back up at the High Stars. He couldn't believe that Sinkingsun could just forget him like that and move on to another tom. A feeling of anger crossed over him. He'd nearly killed Darkstripe for her! He'd betrayed the secret that Dark Forest cats could change into animals for her! Only for her to drop him like a rock because he told her of StarClan's existence. His anger was that high that when another pelt brushed against his he nearly ripped into it. He glanced sideways to see a dark tabby that looked strangely like Sinkingsun talking to Iceshard. "I see my daughter has lost the Games already." The scorn in the tom's voice only enraged Hawkfrost further.

"She took down one other contestant and was about to take down another," Iceshard snorted. "But she was bitten by a snake, how unfortunate."

Hawkfrost lost it. He swept one paw up and slashed at Iceshard's eyes and then knocked into the tom, sending him smashing into the ground. "How dare you speak about your own daughter in that way," he snarled. "She's twice as brave as you will ever be!"

The dark tabby let out a bark of laughter. "Sinkingsun was never taught to survive in the Games. When she was chosen the whole Clan knew she would die. Even her sister was secretly overjoyed. And I'll have you know that I am three times as brave as her. You're speaking to the previous deputy of RisingClan!"

"Obviously you were three times as brave," Hawkfrost sneered, "because you're dead and about to fade." He pressed his paw against the tom's throat and flexed his claws out, ready to slash his throat.

"Hawkfrost!" Iceshard yowled. "Stop right now! If you kill him then you will be executed in front of all of the Dark Forest, including Sinkingsun."

Eclipse sidled up beside Hawkfrost and pushed him away from Sinkingsun's father. "What do I care what you do!?" Hawkfrost spat back. "You'll kill me whenever you want because you can! The leaders of the Dark Forest are corrupt and about to lay slaughter to hundreds of innocent cats just because some strange and probably non-existent cat with super powers told you to!"

His outburst brought all fighting to a stop and all eyes turned to look at the five cats. "My father exists," Iceshard muttered quietly, her voice so cold that it sent shivers down Hawkfrost's spine. "How dare you say my father doesn't exist!"

"Father? I-I didn't mean it like that," Hawkfrost stammered as Iceshard stalked towards him, claws unsheathed and eyes full of rage. One swipe sent him stumbling to the ground with a fresh wound marring his face. He snarled in warning as Iceshard swiped at him again, spilling more of his blood.

"You're right," the Highest Star hissed. "I could kill you whenever I want, but I haven't. I've let you live, become a Caller and ignored the commotion when your scent was found over the dead body of a welcomer. But you have gone too far this time, Hawkfrost. Your father isn't around to save you either."

Hawkfrost shivered and attempted to flee but Iceshard pounced on him, her claws digging into his shoulders. "No," a feminie voice snarled. "But I am." A silver pelt flashed past Hawkfrost, knocking Iceshard off of him and pinning her to the ground. Hawkfrost scrambled to his paws and gasped in surprise at the vision of Ivypool tussling with Iceshard.

"You did well to irritate Iceshard," Tigerstar growled from behind him. Hawkfrost whirled around to see the rest of the Callers pulling themselves from the undergrowth. Darkstripe still looked a little wary and refused to meet his gaze but Brokenstar flashed him a curved smile. "But we wouldn't want you getting killed." The dark tabby looked around, confused slightly. "I don't see your mate around anywhere. Where is she?"

Anger darkened Hawkfrost's gaze and he looked away. "Pining after Hiddenstorm no doubt."

Tigerstar tilted his head, "I thought you said she loved you."

"She did," Hawkfrost spat. "Until I showed her StarClan." His father rolled his eyes and jumped to Ivypool's aid, pulling Iceshard up off the smaller warrior. Tigerstar dropped the Highest Star and growled something at her. Whatever he said made the she-cat flinch and then the battle was over. Iceshard retreated back to the other High Stars. Thistleclaw approached the still body of RisingClan's previous deputy and tapped it with a claw before he withdrew it with a hiss of disgust.

"He's dead," the mottled warrior muttered. "His neck's been snapped."

Hawkfrost narrowed his eyes at Eclipse. "You killed him you murderer!"

"I did nothing of the short," Eclipse replied, smoothing down the fur on his chest. "If I recall correctly it was you with your claws fastened around his neck. It was you that killed him, not me."

Hawkfrost was about to snap something back when a distraught cry rang out across the clearing. He turned his head to see Sinkingsun making her way over to them, her eyes fixed on the motionless body of her father with astonished eyes. Already the tom's body was beginning to fade into the ground and Hawkfrost could see grass growing through it. "What happened!?" Sinkingsun cried, collapsing beside her father. "How did he die!?"

"His first death came at the claws of a rogue by the name of Jinx. His second death was caused by Hawkfrost and his short temper," Settingsun explained sadly. "We're very sorry for your loss but there is nothing we can do. Your father is fading from existence."

Sinkingsun turned on Hawkfrost with a savage snarl. "You killed my father! What kind of a cat are you!? First you keep StarClan secret from me and then you murder my father in cold blood!? You aren't the cat I thought you were!"

"Please, Sinkingsun!" Hawkfrost pleaded. "Let me explain!"

But the yellow she-cat raked her claws across his face, "No. There is nothing left for you to explain. Don't bother coming to look for me. Hiddenstorm's bound to take me in. I don't want to be a part of this place anymore and I don't want anything to do with you!" Then she turned tail and ran, disappearing into the bushes without another word, leaving Hawkfrost standing deathly still, grinding his teeth together in an effort to stop himself from snapping and killing someone.

He felt his father laid his tail across his shoulders but no one could comfort him now. His love had left him all because of a lie. A lie spun by the High Stars. He looked up at Iceshard with cold eyes. "I hope you're happy," was all he said before he too vanished into the shadows with one clear goal in mind. There was one cat that he could get to that hated the High Stars just as much as him.

It was just a small bump that that cat also hated Tigerstar.

-000-

"Who are you, little cat? Another hero here to save the day?" Skull scoffed, claws still pressing Screech to the ground. Screech writhed under the creatures hold, desperate to free himself and flee.

"My name doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm here to kill you and save my friend," Thorntail spat, leaping on top of Skull with a screech. Skull hissed his raspy hiss and let Screech go so that he could fend off the stronger attack from Thorntail. Screech groaned as every muscle in his body protested against him getting up but he had to. He couldn't let Thorntail die. With a snarl he pulled himself to his paws and streaked towards Skull, his eyes firmly set on the neck of the thin creature. Before he got there Skull moved and Screech crashed into his shoulder. He shrugged and set about clawing and biting at any piece of Skull he could reach. Whatever he was doing it was obviously working. Skull was shrieking in pain as blood oozed from numerous cuts and bites he had now received from the two focused cats.

"Two against one isn't a very fair fight!"

Screech laughed and ripped through Skull's thin skin. "You against me wasn't a fair fight either!" He ducked under a wild swipe from Skull and sunk his teeth into the creature's underbelly, chasing an agonised shriek from him. Thorntail clawed wildly at Skull's beady amber eyes and succeeded in blinding Skull in one of them.

For the first time since Screech had first fallen into Skulls nest it looked like he was actually going to win! He grinned wildly and clawed viciously into the thin brown skin. But he had spoken to soon.

Thorntail was clinging to Skull's bone face mask, swiping angrily at his eyes and ears. Skull narrowed his eyes and then tossed his head, throwing Thorntail off. He kicked out at Screech and sent the apprentice tumbling away from him. Screech could only watch in horror as Skull plucked Thorntail from the air in his jaws, the warrior's throat now gripped dangerously in Skull's bone jaws.

"Watch closely, little cat. This is what happens when you pick an unfair fight with me." Skull shook Thorntail like a piece of prey and a dull snap rang out. Thorntail became limp and lifeless, his neck hanging at an odd angle. That was when Screech saw his chance. Skull was parading around a tree, Thorntail's limp body still dangling from his jaw. With an angry hiss, Screech rushed towards Skull and leapt forwards, jaws opened wide. He sunk his teeth deep into Skull's throat and bit down, severing the bone creature's air flow.

Skull dropped Thorntail's body and shook Screech off, his eyes wide. His breaths came in ragged gasps and blood bubble from his mouth. The struggle for life only lasted mere moments and then the big creature collapsed to the ground and died.

A hum overcame the clearing and blue light rushed out from Skull's body and flowed into Screech's. He gasped as the feeling of being dropped in icy water rushed over him. A voice reached his ears, one that was all too familiar. "You have beaten me, Screech, and now I must give up my power so that you may use it. Use it well, little warrior. You have earned it."

"Thank you, Skull," Screech breathed and then bent down to touch his nose into Thorntail's fur. "You didn't have to save me, but you did and I am so grateful for it. I hope that wherever you're going treats you like the hero you are. Thank you so much, Thorntail."

"Thorntail will be fine. He did a great thing saving you and I'm so glad you managed to kill that thing." Berrypaw's voice was a welcome sound in Screech's mind and he sighed. "Rest. I'll watch over you." A shape shimmered beside Screech and he recognised Berrypaw's sleek figure. He settled down beside Thorntail's body and slipped into an easy sleep.

Berrypaw watched over him with warm eyes, knowing that he would be able to take on anything the High Stars threw at him. "My brave, Screech," she breathed. "I know you'd be able to take on the world."

AN: Scourge! He appeared and then disappeared! He'll be back. I know a bunch of you are going to kill me for what I did to Hawkfrost and Sinkingsun's happy little relationship. Sorry! It had to happen. I'd planned it for a while now.

I would like to clarify one thing. When you see speech in italics it doesn't mean that the cats are hearing them in their heads. Any other cat around can hear it, besides the speech with Crimson. It's just a supernatural voice that sounds different from normal voices. Make sense?

Oh and don't forget that competition! Details are on my profile.