And we're back on a new chapter! Not much to say but as I said in chapter 3, Shade and Oak will make some appearances.
Skybreeze of Stormclan: Thank you again for reviewing! I will try not to use that much cliff-hangers, it leaves me stuck for ideas.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4
The moment those words fell out of Honey's mouth, silence flooded the lot.
Stunned expressions were stuck on everyone's face.
Creek was the first to break the silence.
"What? Did I hear right or did you just say Foxtrot was attacking us?"
Mouse's brown ears flattened as Creek spat the name of the hated group.
"Let's show them what we've got! We should attack them now!" Mouse growled
Shade padded in between all the cats. His spine fur was bristling and a low growl was stuck in his throat.
"Lilac! Take Burnt, Mouse, Creek and Fog! Hit them fast and hard! Kill them if you have to."
The word 'kill' caught my attention. We only kill when the fight is that brutal.
I folded back my gray ears and unsheathed my claws.
"If that's what you want. What about you, Shade?" I asked the black tom
He paused for a moment.
"I'll catch up." And like that, he jumped upon crates until he was at the top of a fence. He leaped over with a flick of his tail.
I turned to the cats.
"You heard him! Move out!" I nodded to a bright white she-cat sitting in the shadows
"River! Bring Honey to the back." I followed the rest of the cats to the entrance.
We all broke into a run, eyes on the north border. In mere moments, we all caught sight of the dreadful battle. A screech caught my attention. I looked to where the sound had come from. One word came to mind, Reed.
Reed was caught in a badger-grip with a tabby. The tabby bit down viciously on Reed's shoulder as Reed struggled to free herself.
I leaped into battle and collided with the tabby. We rolled on the rough ground and I raked my claws into her belly fur. She shrieked and ran back to her side of the border.
Reed panted as she slowly got up. Her shoulder and flank we're caked in blood.
"Your late." She gave a weak smile at me
"Well its not my fault. Anyways, Shade wants us to kill if necessary."
Reed's eyes widened.
"It's that serious?" Her voice was full of shock
"Just do it." As I gave her a flick of my tail, I ran over to help Tigerlily force back a she-cat onto their side of the border
The she-cat's claws caught my muzzle and I flinched. I raised a paw and slammed down on her head. She continued to slash at my flank. Tigerlily dived at her hind leg and bit down until blood welled onto her muzzle. The she-cat yowled and ran back into the giant mass of fighting cats.
A loud yowl made me look up. Shade had entered the battle ground. He immediately leaped onto a brown tom with white paws. Shade landed on his back and dug in his claws as he bit the tom's shoulder. The tom turned his head. His eyes became even more enraged and flipped onto his back. Shade fell to the ground and the tom slashed his belly.
"Shade! You pitiful leader! You cant even protect a border!" The tom's claws dug deeper into Shade's flesh with each slash
"Well I'm better than you, Oak!" Shade rolled onto his side and countered with a slash to Oak's flank
The two tom's locked gazes and leaped at each other. This was no longer a battle for borders, it was a battle for blood.
I shrieked as jaws clamped onto my tail. I twisted around to find an orange she-cat. I jumped and put my jaws around her neck. She wiggled to free herself but I bit down harder until the taste of blood filled my mouth. I released the she-cat and she ran away towards a dumpster and disappeared behind.
A yowl of triumph caught everyone's attention. We all turned to see Oak lying at Shade's paws. His body twitched slightly meaning he was still alive. I panted as I struggled to stand. I licked my lips, the tang of blood made me shudder.
The Foxtrot cats began to flee back across the border leaving mass trails of blood in their paw steps. A couple of cats fell and began dragging themselves home.
Everyone began casting up yowls of victory. I joined in but stopped after a few moments. The injuries would leave me stiff in the battle tonight and I might lose, but I must fight anyways. I cannot let down my friends.
We began to head home, walking in puddles of our own blood.
Shade was at the back of the group.
Shade's Point of view
That battle should not have happened.
It nearly killed all of my strongest cats and I cannot allow injuries now. Not when someone might die in the near future.
I pant as I drag myself after my friends.
The wounds that Oak made will leave scars but it still does not matter.
As we enter our alleyway, cats sit down heavily and begin to lick their wounds. The only cat that left a pool of blood was Fog. Her smoky grey pelt was splashed with blood and her flank was nearly ripped open. Another cat that is now unable to represent Ravensoul tonight.
I struggle to climb a mound of crates. Each step weighs down on my heart that what I have to tell them now will make them sad.
I cast out a weak yowl, signaling I want everyone's attention. Head's rise up to look at me and I feel the presence of many eyes looking at me.
"Today was an unexpected battle. But we pulled through. You have gained more experience now and I hope we will win against more battles." My voice rang out in the lot
Cats cheered and put on smiles on their faces. I continued
"I would like to switch up the ranks. Fog and Honey will now be in the fourth tier." Fog lowered her gaze
"Since Rock is now free from his sprained paw, he will replace Fog until she recovers. Also, the cats coming to tonight's game from the first tier shall be Reed, Burnt and Snake. From the second tier shall be Rock, Hound and Creek. Phantom and Thorn shall represent the third tier. Everyone else will tend to their injuries." I look up at the darkening sky
Every battle has to have ten cats from each group or they do not count as a contending group. They are immediately disqualified but are free to stay and watch.
I leap down from the crates as every cat begins muttering and cheering for their friends. I begin to lick my wounds but my dark pelt should be able to hide them. The smell of blood waverers around the air like a poison.
I look up at the over-heading moon. It shines brightly flanked by dozens of stars. I think of the secret weighing my heart down. It feels like an anchor to the ground, not letting me up. My throat feels cold as icicles but my stomach is clouded with fire. Emotions swirl my mind. I steady myself from tipping over. I feel icy, cold claws pulling me into the darkness and I see the shadow of a cat. Every other cat there bows before it and a raven's screech echo's the area. I remember words from my father as the scene disappears. This time it doesn't seem like a phrase he said often anymore, more like words of wisdom.
"A raven is a worthy of a flock but a wolf might catch it and it will disappear forever into a forest of unknown. Remember that son."
"But what does that mean papa?"
"You will find out when the time is right my son."
I shake away the feeling and look back at the moon. It is high above us.
"Ravensoul! It is time." I call to everyone and we file out of the alley silently, into the night
Author's Note:
A battle will start in the next chapter! The last part of this chapter(the part in italics) is kind of a flashback of Shade's childhood. Sounds like a prophecy. :) Stay tuned for more. R&R everyone!
-Duality