AN: I actually cried whilst writing this chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter 33: Now and Forever

A messenger raced steadily down the winding path, pelt streaked with mud, fur tangled with sticks, ears pinned to his skull, message echoing in his mind. For three days he had travelled across the four territories of the afterlife carrying the same message to the four leaders, Hiddenstorm of the Place of Wanderers and Shadelight of the Place of Stars. Now he bounded across the border with the Dark Forest and the Place of Everlasting Night, carrying his message to Scourge.

As he ran, the messenger was able to go over the events that had occurred over the past three days, the events that he had heard of through the jaws of the cats he had run into during his journey. Rumours were being spun that something atop Skyward Mountain had awoken and dragged the High Stars to their death, placing Crimson on their thrones as the new leader. Others said that a cat who had been wronged by the High Stars and lost the one he loved had returned for revenge, killed the High Stars and then vanished, leaving the throne open for anyone to claim. But the most worrying of all rumours was the one the messenger had heard just as he had stepped foot within the borders of Scourge's land, the rumour of a rebellion. Even he, a simply messenger with a plain background, knew that a rebellion would only lead to more bloodshed during a time when all four territories of deceased cats needed to be banding together to stop Crimson.

But he also knew that no such allegiance would be formed any time soon.

His breath came quickly as his paws began to be sucked down by the thick mud that oozed up between his toes, making him grimace. He hated the Place of Everlasting Night, hated it with a passion. Only his duties as a messenger would ever bring him to step into Scourge's lands. Curses flowed like water from his mouth as he picked his way through the thick mud and pulled himself onto dry land, his pelt now dragged down by mud. It was on that small island that he heard the voices and stiffened, suddenly fearful that he would run into a group of bloodthirsty murderers that would tear him t o shreds.

But the words that reached his ears were not that of rambling insane cats. They were orderly and formal, the words of a leader speaking to his people.

"Come the dawn the living see every morning we will be victorious, ruling over the other three territories as the High Stars and their faithful followers. All we need do is kill the remaining three High Stars, Iceshard, Settingsun and Eternity. They are merely three cats. We number close to a hundred. They may have an entire league of servants at their bidding but we have all killed before and are willing to do it again. My faithful followers today we will do what most of us strived to do so many seasons ago, the missions that lead to our deaths. Today we will successfully take over an entire Clan of cats and rule over them!" Loud cheers clashed in the sky as the cat – whom the messenger assumed was Scourge – drew his speech to a close. His followers called for blood, the blood Scourge would give them when they launched their attack on the Dark Forest.

The messenger felt his breath catch in his throat. So the rumours about a rebellion were true. A part of him wanted to turn around and run but another part wanted him to finish his mission. The want to complete his mission won over and he took a deep breath before he pushed through a patch of dying bracken only to be greeted by the cold stares of many cats. What surprised him the most was the six sets of eyes that he recognised, the eyes of Tigerstar, Brokenstar, Thistleclaw, Ivypool, Breezepelt and Hawkfrost. The Callers had abandoned the Dark Forest to fight with the scum of the afterlife.

"Who are you?" Scourge demanded from his position atop a fallen tree.

"A messenger from the High Stars," the messenger answered, just like he had to the other two leaders. "I come bearing a message that has been relayed to the other two leaders of the four territories. May we talk in private?"

Scourge shook his head, lip curling. "Whatever you have to say can be said in front of my cats." From beside him appeared a sleek yellow she-cat, green eyes flashing in the gloom. The messenger flinched as one of her eyes darkened in colour, turning amber, before returning to its original colour. The cats here really are insane..

"Very well," he muttered. "The High Stars wish to hold a council with the three leaders and their closest advisors tomorrow. This is not an offer but an order. You have no choice."

Murmurs sprung up from the gathered cats but the Callers remained silent, sharing worried glances with each other. Then Scourge smiled and let out a low chuckle that vibrated around the clearing. All eyes focused on him. "Perfect. Tell Iceshard that I will be there, along with my advisors."

The messenger inclined his head, "I shall return to the Dark Forest and alert the High Stars to your arrival. Goodbye."

"We shall see you tomorrow," the sleek yellow she-cat purred silkily with a wink.

The messenger shifted uncomfortably and began to back off. When his rear end touched the dying bracken he spun around and dashed off, tail streaming out behind him.

Palesun smirked as the tom disappeared into the bracken. "I call dibs on killing him."

"If you can find him," Scourge purred back. "I have a hunch that he'll be long gone by tomorrow."

She huffed in annoyance, "Spoil my fun."

"Scourge. Is this meeting dismissed?" came a bored mew from the back of the crowd. Scourge raised his head to meet the narrowed amber eyes of a lean silver tabby. A challenge was buried within the tom's eyes, a challenge that Scourge was about to accept.

"What's your name?" the small black tom asked as the gathered cats fell silent.

The silver tabby rose to his paws and showed off his size. He was huge, easily towering over Tigerstar. Scourge's lips pulled up in a toothy grin. He was going to enjoy putting this tom down. "Razor."

"You're challenging me in front of everyone here? You want to be publically humiliated? Come up here then," Scourge spat as he rose to his paws, claws reinforced with dog claws sliding out from their sheaths. His dog studded collar shifted slightly, rubbing uncomfortably against his neck. He growled under his breath. Even in death he was not rid of the foul collar that stunk of death and decay. It was like a curse, stalking him through the shadows.

Razor shouldered through the gathered cats, a snarl rumbling through his throat as he drew closer to his leader. No words of ceremony were shared. Razor flung himself at Scourge as soon as he got within reach, claws biting into the black tom's skin. Cats jumped out of the way as they rolled around, fangs and teeth clashing in the dull moonlight. Blood spattered onto the wet ground, splashing a few cats that had failed to get out of the way. They responded with angry snarls as they dodged out of the way of the tussling cats.

Scourge clawed Razor across the face and then kicked the tom away with a screech as Razor's claws were ripped from his shoulders. The silver tabby was flung a little way away, blood streaming from his face. But he didn't give up and stumbled to his paws with a throaty growl. Scourge raised a brow in a rare show of appreciation for Razor's strength. "You're strong, Razor. But stupid. A wise cat would had stayed on the ground and accepted his defeat but now I have to kill you." He sounded almost bored.

"I still have a chance," Razor grunted as he began running at Scourge with his ears pinned back.

Scourge unsheathed the claws on his forepaw and waited, sitting deathly still. Silence fell over the gathered cats as they watched their leader with wide eyes. Tigerstar watched particularly closely, eyeing his killer closely. He wanted to see what Scourge was truly made of. All the stories he had heard had painted the small tom as a ruthless killer that was merciless and didn't feel remorse.

As Razor collided with Scourge, the black tom thrust his clawed paw into his chest, chasing a pained howl from Razor's throat. He stopped his attack to stare down at his chest where a paw was now buried in, claws cradling his throbbing heart. Fear and uncertainty flashed in the silver tabby's eyes as blood began to pour out, soaking Scourge's paw. "This is an example of what happens when cats think they can best me," Scourge growled to the gathered cats. "You will die and I will not care." Then he grasped Razor's heart and pierced it with his claws, drinking in Razor's agonised cries of pain before they came to a sudden stop as the tom fell limp. He withdrew his paw and shook some of the blood off before he turned and made his way over to Palesun who stood watching with a bemused expression.

"We might as well start our journey to the Dark Forest. Remember that we're going to have all our cats travelling with us, that's bound to slow us down," Palesun murmured into Scourge's ear once the tom had sat down beside her. He didn't say anything for a few moments, choosing to instead watch Razor's body fade out of existence leaving behind a puddle of crimson blood. Only once the body had vanished did he answer.

"Yes, you have a valid point," he replied, swiftly licked her ear. The show of affection shocked Palesun a little. Usually the tom acted like she was just an advisor around the other cats that dwelled within their territory. "They need to know that you are my queen so that, when the time comes, they will be ready to take orders from you as well," he explained.

The yellow she-cat rolled her eyes, "They will take my orders or they will be punished."

Scourge purred. "You are the most evil she-cat I know."

"And you love me for it," Palesun shot back as she jumped to her paws and made her way down to where the Callers had gathered to discuss the attack.

"You have no idea how much I do," Scourge murmured as he followed behind her.

-000-

Soft grass gently carrassed his dark gray tabby pelt as his eyes picked out the bright coloured flowers that grew up in clumps. His nose drank in the wondrous smell of blooming flowers. Tall trees – with leaves a dark green – erupted from the soft grass and clumps of sickly looking flowers. It was all so perfect but Screech knew that a danger lay hidden amongst the beauty. Every time a branch rubbed against another he jumped. Every time a mouse of squirrel scampered through the grass he jumped. He was on high alert, knowing that whatever lay hidden in this corner of the arena was bound to be strong and lusting for blood.

"Calm down," came Berrypaw's soft voice. It ruffled the fur inside his ear and he sighed.

"We're going to do this. We're going to get you back into your body and then we're going to get out of this stinking arena!" Screech purred as a shape appeared in his peripheral vision. It was very hard to see but he knew it was Berrypaw. Even when she was cast from her body and forced to walk the world as a spirit he could still tell when she was near.

"I know we will."

They fell silent as they continued to make their way through the grass. Long shadows reached out to touch their pelts, telling them that the sun was beginning to make its way down towards the horizon. It was a pleasant time of day, with the sun bleeding into the horizon and the moon starting to peer over the edge of the land. A slight breeze ruffled the grass and toyed with their fur, carrying with it the many smells that inhabited the particular square of pristine forest.

Then they heard it. A chime of laughter trickled through the grass and set Screech's fur bristling. The laughter was haunting, chilling him to his very bones. It sounded almost kit like.

"Who's there?" Screech called, ears swivelling to catch the laughter if it came again. It did and once again Screech felt his blood turn to ice. "Come out!"

"Be careful," Berrypaw murmured, "I can't help you when it comes to fighting. I'm ethereal."

Screech faltered and twisted his head to stare at Berrypaw, "You're what?"

Berrypaw smiled gently, something that Screech could only just see. "I cannot be harmed but I cannot harm others in return. I'm in a state of limbo, not dead but not alive either, so I can't harm others. Make sense?"

"You've gotten a lot smarter since that incident in the mist," Screech smirked.

"Has she now?"

Screech snapped his head forwards to see a small kit sitting in front of him, big, baby blue eyes blinking up at him. He blinked in shock. "Who are you?"

"Kitty."

"That's a, uh, nice name. What are you doing here? How did you get here?" Screech asked again. He was beyond confused at the thought of a kit being cast into the Games.

Kitty tilted her head to one side, floppy cream ears falling towards the ground. He couldn't help but think that the little kit was very cute. "I live here. I've lived here for ages," she squeaked and jumped to her paws, bouncing over to Screech, giggling loudly. "But it's been so long since anyone's come to visit! Are you here to play with me?"

"Um, no, I don't have time to play with you. I'm busy trying to save my friend."

The little she-kit narrowed her baby blue eyes, creamy coloured fur bristling. She lashed her tail and curled her lip angrily, "You don't want to play with me? Why don't you want to play with me?" Her voice had gotten dangerously low and icy; something Screech didn't know could come from the body of a kit. She'd begun to tremble violently as she took a few steps back. Screech realised that something was very wrong with Kitty.

"I can't, okay? My friend needs my help and she needs it quick. If I stay around here for too long then I could die. I'm sorry, Kitty."

"Screech, I think she's one of them!" Berrypaw screeched but it was too late.

Kitty let out an ear-splitting shriek and threw her head back. Her body began to morph, fur darkening from cream to black. Her paws grew larger, muzzle longer, body thicker, ears pointier, tail longer. And then her two canines shot forwards, growing so long that they were always visible. Kitty no longer looked like sweet, innocent kit anymore. Instead she looked like a large black fox with fangs that overshot her jaw.

Screech flattened his ears and unsheathed his claws, a growl rumbling in his throat. "Oh you silly little cat," Kitty's voice vibrated throughout the forest but her jaws did not move. She was speaking through thoughts. "You've stepped into my forest and refused to play with me, therefore you must pay the price."

"And that price is?" Screech snapped, lashing his tail.

Her haunting laughter once more filled the forest as she lunged forwards, jaws snapping shut on Screech's front leg. "Death!"

Screech howled in pain as the bone in his leg shattered under the pressure and raked his free claws down Kitty's face, grinning a little when the she-fox flinched. He pulled his leg from Kitty's jaw and attempted to place weight on it, only to cry out as pain rocketed up it. A blow to his head sent him crashing into the trunk of a tree, knocking the wind out of him, making him see stars. When he opened his eyes he saw Kitty looming in front of him, claws tearing down his face. Once again pain burned through him as his vision was momentarily blinded by a waterfall of blood. "Berrypaw," he whispered. "Help me, please."

"I..I will do what I can but you will not like it," Berrypaw replied swiftly. Iciness suddenly enveloped Screech and he felt another presence pushing its way into his mind. He recognised the presence as Berrypaw and realised that she had possessed him. But then another thought came to mind. She'd possessed his body meaning that she was feeling all the pain he was feeling, losing all the blood he was losing. She was dying for him.

"No!" he shrieked and attempted to throw Berrypaw from his mind. But his attempt failed. "Berrypaw, no! You can't die for me! We're supposed to get out of this together, remember?" The world was fading around him as Berrypaw forced her way further into his brain, taking control over his body as she possessed more of him, taking away his pain, allowing it to attack her instead.

"Night of Rising Fury is dead, Screech," Berrypaw murmured sadly. "I cannot come back, I am lost to you. But I will not let two of us die here. You need to go on and win the Games, for us!"

Screech writhed violently as he began to fade away into unconsciousness. He knew that if he allowed himself to be washed away by the dark wave then he'd wake up later and Berrypaw would be dead. "But you're ethereal! You can't be harmed!"

"By possessing your body I'm becoming you, therefore I'm not ethereal anymore. I'm sorry, Screech, but it has to be this way. I will not let you die here as well. I love you, never forget that," Berrypaw whispered, voice cracking with sadness.

"No! I'm not giving up on this! I can still win and then we can win the Games together, with you by my side as a spirit!" Screech tried one last time to stop Berrypaw from doing what she was going to do but he knew that it was hopeless. He felt his body going limp and knew that his time with Berrypaw was running dangerously low. "I'll never forget you. For as long as I live you will always be my mate, even if you're..no longer with me. I love you so much, Berrypaw, and I always will." Tears were beginning to fall from Screech's eyes as the world grew black.

The last thing he heard was Kitty's haunting laughter followed by Berrypaw's agonised screech of pure pain, then nothing, but blissful silence broken only by the pained gasp of Berrypaw as she took her last breath. "I love you, now and forever."

AN: Yeah, I write shitty fight and death scenes. But holy smokes I was nearly sobbing whilst writing Berrypaw's death scene. I am really going to miss her. Also I suspect that a few people with be pissed with me seeing as most of the votes on my poll are for Berrypaw to win. But I've always known that she'd die.

I don't usually answer reviews in the chapter but this person was an anon sooo:

IhatetheDF: Yes, I am a Dark Forest supporter. I love all the cats in the Dark Forest because they have such broken pasts that I feel makes them even stronger than all the powerful good cats. Each of them has had to overcome hurdles that cats like Firestar never had to. He never had to get over the death of his kits or his mate. He never had to get over the loss of a sibling. But the cats in the Dark Forest have had to move past these things. Yeah so they ended up becoming evil and killing cats but they all had reasons to. I love the Dark Forest cats. I'm actually a Hawkfrost fangirl.

Yep. Everyone else will get an answer in their PM box.

-Hunter