Chapter 35: A Spirit Reborn

It was dark when his paws scuffed against cold rock, inducing a small shudder as his eyes rose up to stare up at the formidable stone structure. The stone was a strange colour, not quite black but not quite gray, but a mix of the two. Each stone was uneven, jutting out from the sides like outstretching claws. Water could be heard as it crashed against rocks a little way off. He could see from where he stood that the structure before him rose up in many different heights. Four branches of stone stretched towards the sky; almost kissing the stars that shone through clouds.

"How could any cat want to live here? On the very edge of the arena?" Wildstorm scoffed as he glanced around the dark world that surrounded him. The soft rolling hills of green grass and yellow flowers stood solemnly behind him, whilst before him stood the stone structure Death had commanded him to enter and then beyond that was nothing but darkness. Even Wildstorm's keen eyes could not see beyond the wall of darkness. It was like there was nothing to be seen beyond it.

He shuddered and pushed the thoughts from his mind. He needed to focus on the mission he had been given. Infiltrate the stone structure and kill the she-cat that dwelled within. It sounded simple enough but Wildstorm had no idea who he was to kill or how strong she was. Would she simply submit to him and die quietly? Or would she put up a fight?

A splash of rain hit his shoulder, flattening a patch of fur. Wildstorm raised his calico head to stare up at the sky which had been clear moments before, only to find it boiling with angry, gray clouds that were spitting drops of rain down on the land below. A curious thought strayed across Wildstorm's mind. Were the High Stars planning on sending another tornado to wreak havoc for the remaining contestants? Wildstorm shrugged and then leapt onto a stone path that had become slippery with the sudden rainfall, nearly losing his grip on the slippery stones.

Before him there was a large hole in the stone wall that seemed to tower above him like a hungry mouth waiting to claim another item of prey. It made him shiver a little. "I wonder how she made this," he thought aloud.

"The same way she will destroy everything and everyone; with her stolen power." The voice that whispered over the howling wind was patchy and hollow and sounded like it belonged to a cat on the verge of death. But when Wildstorm twisted his head to stare at the place the voice had come from, he found it bare of any life. No cat stood there. The rain continued to pelt the ground as if no being had ever stood there. And it scared Wildstorm more than it should have; to know that a ghost was probably prowling around him.

"Who are you!? Show yourself!" he demanded.

A soft murmur of warm air brushed past his ear inducing another jump of terror from the calico tom. He spun around and that was when his eyes came to rest on the wavering body of a cat. It's body was outlined with blue whilst the inside as nearly clear. Wildstorm could almost see the dark stone wall through the cat's body. However it was the eyes of the strange cat that attracted his gaze. They were like chips of pure white stars, shining brightly in the wavering skull of the cat. "I am surprised you managed to make it this far, Wildstorm."

Wildstorm pinned his ears flat against his skull, "How do you know my name?"

"Ah, of course you do not recognise me. I hardly recognised myself when He let me look into the Pool of Reflections. Wildstorm, it is I, Death, or at least a shadow of my past self."

"You don't look like the Death I knew," Wildstorm hissed bluntly. "In fact, you don't even sound like him."

There was a sighing sound that drifted from the ghost and Wildstorm realised that its mouth did not move when it spoke. "I sent you here to kill a she-cat that I the High Stars had decreed a danger to both the living world and the Dark Forest. But I fear that you are not strong enough to kill her. Crimson is too strong."

The calico tom snorted disbelievingly, lashing his tail angrily. "I have travelled too far to just give up because some ghost cat claiming to be Death tells me that the she-cat I need to kill is too strong. My claws will tear through her fur and my teeth will taste her blood, I promise you that."

"Then you will be walking to your death. Listen to me, Wildstorm. You may have stolen Night of Rising Fury's power but you are but a mouse compared to Crimson. She will crush you just like she has crushed so many others."

"Why are you so certain that she will beat me?" Wildstorm pressed, taking a small step towards the ghost cat. He ignored the cold rain that still beat mercilessly at his pelt.

"Because she is the reason I am standing before you as nothing more than a shadow of who I once was. She is the reason the High Stars no longer walk the skies above you. She is the reason your Clans are lost. And she is the reason that the sun will sink. Forever."

Wildstorm stared at the ghost with wide eyes full of terror. Had all that really happened whilst he had been worrying about his own life? Had the Clans really fallen under the claws of some she-cat? But there was one thing that bugged him. "If this she-cat, Crimson, has really done all those things then how is she here in the Games?"

"That is one question I do not know the answer to. Perhaps you can ask her yourself." Then the ghost cat dissipated leaving behind nothing more than a patch of dry stone. A sound reached Wildstorm's ears through the howling wind and pounding rain, the sound of claws clicking against stone. The fur on Wildstorm's neck bristled, his lip curled and claws slid out from their sheaths. He was ready to fight for his life if he needed to.

But instead of a challenging snarl there came a mocking chuckle full of malice. "You can put your claws away, contestant. I have been ordered not to kill you." From the black hole before Wildstorm stepped out a lithe looking cream coloured she-cat with sky blue eyes.

"You," Wildstorm spat, "I have seen you before, loitering on the edge of PhoenixClan territory. What is a rogue like you doing here? How did a rogue like you get here!?"

The cream coloured she-cat smiled – but the smile did not reach her eyes – and flicked her ears against the pouring rain. "Crimson is a powerful friend to have. She wishes to see you, contestant. Follow me."

"How can I trust you? How do I know that you're not going to slit my throat when I let my guard down?"

She rolled her eyes as she turned around and began walking into the shadows, "You can't, so I suggest you keep your guard up."

Despite the threat that was hidden behind her words, Wildstorm set off after her, keeping his claws unsheathed so that he could hear them clicking against the stone. He wasn't about to let his guard down around a rogue that was an ally of the she-cat Death had wanted him to kill. Crimson, he thought to himself, she certainly sounds like a force to be reckoned with. I truly wonder how she's managed to kill all four High Stars, take over the Clans and somehow find her way into the Games.

The shadows dimmed as Wildstorm followed the cream rogue through twisting tunnels of stone as small fires sprung up, contained by some sort of wall clear ice. He could hear the crackling of the fire as it licked at the wood that fed it through the clear ice and he was curious to know how Crimson had managed to contain the fire. But his question was soon lost to awe as the tunnel opened up, presenting to Wildstorm a large cavern of sorts.

In the middle of the cavern sat a single throne made of pristine white bone. The rest of the cavern was bare save for the sheet of clear ice that sat behind the throne, showing the world behind the throne. All Wildstorm could see was shadow through the clear ice and it unnerved him. His eyes returned to the white throne made of bone and finally noticed the cat sitting on it, staring at him with blood red eyes.

"Crimson." The name slipped through his lips before he could stop it.

The cat's ears pricked at the name and from where he stood Wildstorm could see the cruel grin spread cross her muzzle. "How do you know my name, contestant?"

Wildstorm shifted uncomfortably. "I have been spoken to by a High Star, one of the ones you killed. He goes by Death."

"My creator met his doom by another's claws. I did not kill him. His lover did," Crimson replied smoothly. "But I did kill the other three High Stars." She stepped off of the throne and began making her way over to Wildstorm, long black fur ruffling gently. As she neared the two cats her red eyes switched to the cream rogue. "You can leave us now, Jinx. Go find Tornheart and tell her that our time has come."

The cream she-cat Crimson had addressed as Jinx flicked her tail, a small grin flitting across her muzzle. Wildstorm could see the unmasked joy shining in her blue eyes but it was a kind of joy that appeared to be tainted with evil and bloodlust. He shuddered slightly; suddenly fearful of what these cats were planning, he feared that it was a plan that might doom the Clans he had been born into, the Clans he loved.

"Is it really time?" Jinx sounded like an excited kit. "Are we finally going to do what you told us moons ago!?"

Crimson merely inclined her head but that slight inclination was enough to draw a squeal of excitement from the pretty cream she-cat. "Go now. I'm sure Tornheart will share your excitement." There was a hint of a sneer in Crimson's voice and Wildstorm assumed that Tornheart was not particularly liked by these two cats.

Once Jinx had vanished from sight Crimson turned all her attention to Wildstorm. He was surprise to find that he only stood slightly taller that her. Without the distraction of the other she-cat he was given the chance to inspect Crimson's physique. He eyed her narrowed, scarred, sleek head; her muscled shoulders that he could clearly see through her thick fur; her strong hind legs that promised power and then her blood red eyes that struck fear deep within him. She looked like a force to be reckoned with. And you have to kill her…

"So tell me, Wildstorm of PhoenixClan," Crimson started as she began making her way back over to the throne, gesturing for Wildstorm to follow her, "what brings you to my lair within the arena of the cats who were once my greatest enemies?"

"A request from a lost soul." Wildstorm unsheathed his claws and grinded them lightly into the cold stone beneath him.

Crimson's eyes widened in realisation. "Ah, that type of request. Well, Wildstorm, you certainly are brave to confront one of the strongest cats in this realm right now. But I cannot deny you a chance to kill me."

"I wasn't going to give you the chance to turn me down," Wildstorm spat as his fur bristled along his shoulders. He curled his lip in an attempt to intimidate the she-cat but it failed miserably.

There was a sudden hiss followed by the sound of claws clicking against stone that caught Wildstorm's attention. His head twisted and his blood turned to ice at what he saw. Rows upon rows of lifeless yellow eyes stared unblinkingly at him. It was a frightening sight. "There is no need to fret, Wildstorm. Our little challenge will be one on one. My followers will only be there to make sure no one cheats."

"Good." With a screech Wildstorm threw himself at Crimson with claws unsheathed, knocking the she-cat into the back of the throne with a loud thud. His claws sunk into the flesh on either side of her neck successfully pinning Crimson to the bone throne. A wheezing sort of snarling sound poured from Crimson's throat as she attempted to kick Wildstorm off of her. Her kicks hit their marks but Wildstorm's claws were hooked firmly into her skin and each kick simply pushed them closer to the edge of the throne until both of them tumbled off of it and fell apart.

The stone was harder than it had first felt when Wildstorm crashed into it, knocking the air firmly out if him. But now was not the time for lying around. Not when Crimson could be heard scrambling to her feet mere paw steps away. He groaned as he rose to his paws, only to be knocked back onto the ground as sharp claws bit into the skin on his flanks, ripping painfully through the skin. A sharp hiss sounded in his ear as Crimson's jaws snapped shut on the air beside his ear and her closeness jump–started Wildstorm's instincts. He twisted in Crimson's grip so that he could snap shut his jaws on her fore-leg, chasing an angry shriek from the black she-cat. The familiar tang of blood touched his tongue and he bit down harder, relishing in the pained growl that followed.

"Making me angry isn't a wise thing," Crimson snarled as she wrenched her foot from Wildstorm's jaws and raked her claws across his face. Wildstorm retaliated by kicked up at her, tossing her over his head and onto the ground behind him. He grinned at the painful sound of her body smashing into the stone. What pleased him even more was the sickening snap that echoed throughout the cavern followed by Crimson's pained howl.

Then sharp claws bit into the back of his neck and dragged him across the stone cold floor. He snarled, twisted in Crimson's grip and flipped himself back onto his paws. A sharp stinging pain remained in the back of his neck as he felt a dribble of blood run through his fur. "Death wasn't lying when he said you were strong," he rasped weakly, legs shaking a little.

Crimson's muzzle contorted into a wicked smile, "Death may have been a fool but he had control over so much power, which he then passed onto me."

"I suppose," Wildstorm began carefully as he tried to calm his racing heart, "you could say that you are the daughter of Death."

"You could, if you wanted to lose your head. I am no one's daughter; I am a creation created to destroy and that is what I will do," Crimson snapped. "Enough of this idle chitchat, are we not in the middle of a battle?"

This time it was Wildstorm's turn to smile wickedly. "We are; I was just catching my breath."

Both cats leaped at the same time, crashing into each other in a storm of claws and fangs. Blood splashed onto the stone floor and screeches ricocheted around the cavern as the two cats clawed at each other in an attempt to strike a fatal blow.

Wildstorm's head spun a little from all the blood he was losing as it poured from the many wounds he had received. However by looking at Crimson as he danced around the she-cats flailing claws, he could see that she too looked weakened with splashes of red staining her night black fur. Her blood red eyes flickered with uncertainty as she stared Wildstorm down, uttering strings of curses at the bloody tom.

There was a fleeting second of peace where the rain could be heard attacking the clear ice, as could the howling wind that sung like a wolf. But that moment was over before it had even really begun as Crimson threw herself at Wildstorm with a throaty yowl filled with bloodlust and the urge to prove her worth to her army that watched on.

Her claws ripped into Wildstorm's exposed chest and he shrieked in pain as more blood gushed from yet another wound. In retaliation he swiped up, shot to the left and tugged Crimson's hind legs out from under her, purring to himself as she hit the ground with a loud thud. In a heartbeat he had pounced on top of the black she-cat, pressed her head to the ground and placed his claws on the top of her head. He growled threateningly as he brought his muzzle close to her ear. "I do believe that the hunter has caught his prey."

Crimson attempted to wriggle out from under Wildstorm but his grip was firm, "Perhaps. But you have failed to realise that there are those moments when the prey becomes the predator." Then she surged upwards, knocking Wildstorm to the ground as her claws snaked around to pierce his stomach and create yet another bloody wound.

"Then there are those moments when predator clashes with predator," Wildstorm snarled through gritted teeth as he attempted to stalk around Crimson, only to fail and end up stumbling a little.

"So you're saying that we are both predators hungry for the kill that we can both sense is nearing?" Crimson's eyes flashed as another crazed smile spread across her bloodied muzzle. "I like that. I like that a lot."

And then the lust to battle returned to both cats as they stalked forwards, Wildstorm sliding under Crimson's wild leap. He rolled onto his back, snaked his forelegs around Crimson's midsection and tugged her down to the ground with a grunt; claws digging into her flanks as he dragged her down. The enraged she-cat shrieked with surprise and then turned on Wildstorm with slashing claws. Her wild swipes hit their mark each time, as did Wildstorm's strikes. Both cats were locked together in a rolling mess of flurried claws, bloodied fangs and harsh insults as they rolled around on the cold floor. Their fur colour was hard to distinguish through the mess of blood that stained their pelts.

Wildstorm's neck suddenly snapped back as a howl of pain ripped from his chest, Crimson's claws still driven firmly into his throat. A raw spasm shook his body as blood gushed out from around her claws. He cried out in pain and then fell still as an orange coloured hue enveloped his body.

Crimson fell away from him with a surprised meow as a rumbling roar echoed through the cavern. Her army shuffled nervously as they sensed the waves of surprise mixed with a little fear rolling off of their leader. "Settle," she ordered as she rose shakily to her paws, eyes still focused on Wildstorm's writhing form. "I do not need you lot interfering." They settled.

"Crimson! You dare try to murder my host!?" the roar ripped through the cavern and nearly knocked the black she-cat over. She shuddered at the pure anger that reverberated throughout the roar. But what scared her that most was the fact that she did not know to whom the voice belonged to, nor how they had managed to find their way to her throne room.

"I did not try to murder him," she answered carefully. "He willingly accepted my challenge knowing that death would be the only way the battle would end. I was simply trying to win."

A mocking chuckle rolled out from the shadows, "But you did not know that Wildstorm possessed the last remaining strands of my soul and because you did not know that you thought that killing him would be the easy way out. Well you are wrong yet again, Crimson. Unlucky for you, Wildstorm, made a fatal mistake when he killed me because now I live within him."

"Are you telling me that Wildstorm has power as well? I thought the High Stars were the only cats – beside me – that had power."

"He only has power because he killed me. You do not know what you are dealing with, Crimson. You do not know what I am or who I am. And it scares you."

Crimson whipped her head around, searching for the creature that seemed to be in the cavern beside her. Panic began to steadily build as her breathing quickened. "You do not scare me! Show yourself! If I can kill the High Stars then I can certainly kill some spirit that has attached itself to a tom."

"Allow me to prove you wrong, Crimson." Wildstorm's green eyes suddenly snapped open to reveal orbs of orange light. He screamed in agony as a tendril of orange coloured mist leaked out from his throat. Another roar shook the cavern as the mist warped itself into some sort of creature that looked like an overgrown snake with leathery wings and four legs. A long muzzle came to hover just above Crimson, sharp teeth jutting out. "Do you still think you can beat me?"

Cold fear ran a claw down Crimson's spine as she stared up at the monstrous creature, "Who are you? What are you!?"

The creature stretched open its leathery wings with a small sigh of relief before it returned it's blazing orange gaze to Crimson. "My name is Night of Rising Fury and I was the last dragon before Wildstorm killed me."

"A dragon?" Crimson stared dumfounded at Night of Rising Fury. "How did Wildstorm kill you? You're a monster and he's a cat!"

Night of Rising Fury shrugged his huge shoulders. "I was distracted and he went straight for my throat. But I found my way into his soul and corrupted it, warping it into a place where I would remain until he was on the verge of death."

"So I'm supposed to kill you?" Crimson guessed with a flick of her tail. Every inch of her body stung and ached.

"No. You're supposed to let your guard down whilst you stare at me with awe so that you fail to notice my tail hovering just above the back of your head."

Crimson snapped her head around just in time to see Night of Rising Fury's tail come crashing down, sending her hurtling across the cavern. Darkness encroached on her vision as she came to stop at the bottom of her throne. She could feel blood dribbling from a crack in her head that throbbed painfully. And then a shadow fell across her impaired vision; a shadow that she vaguely recognised as Night of Rising Fury.

A sharp claw pressed itself against her chest; in the place where her heart beat rapidly. A soft rumble sounded near her ear as hot breath rushed across her cheek. "The great Crimson, the cat thought to be invincible, killed by the mere spirit of an old dragon. The world will get to know just how weak you really were when Wildstorm returns as the winner of the Games with the tale of him destroying you."

The claw pressed harder and broke through the skin causing Crimson to writhe under Night of Rising Fury's grip. "Go ahead," she rasped wincing as his claw dug deeper. "Kill me. I dare you."

"You don't need to dare me." Then Night of Rising Fury thrust his claw further into Crimson's chest until it pierced her heart. The moment it pierced her heart her army shrieked and fell to the ground. But Crimson did not scream. She did not even move. Instead her muzzle contorted into a crazed smirk.

"You have underestimated me." Her voice was nothing more than a mere whisper as blood gushed out from around Night of Rising Fury's claw. "You haven't killed me…just damaged the real me."

Her body convulsed once and then burst into dust. Her army did the same.

A sharp roar of anger burst forth from Night of Rising Fury's muzzle as his body also began to fade away into nothing. He twisted his head to stare over at Wildstorm's still body and in that moment he knew that the tom had taken his final breath. He could not see the tom's flanks stirring anymore. "The world of the Clans really is doomed." Then he faded away entirely and the cavern was plunged into darkness, only broken by the ragged flashes of white lightning shown through the sheet of clear ice that illuminated the many piles of dust and the single body of a calico tom; his white fur stained red with blood.

AN: ERMAGAHD WE HIT 200 REVIEWS :D (probably due to CandyBunnies spamming me with reviews ;) ) Thank you guys so much! I never expected to EVER get so many reviews!

This chapter has been sitting in my word document for a couple of weeks now and I finally got round to finishing it off today. Bye-bye Wildstorm :( You will be missed. There will either be one or two more chapters after this, I'm not sure.

-Hunter