Chapter 1
(warning semi mature content in this chapter. nothing direct.)
"Tonight, we take back our Clan! Tonight, we take back our territory! Tonight, we save another Clan from what our Clan has faced for far too many seasons. Now!" A tom yowled amongst a crowd of many cats.
One of the cats in the crowd did not belong to the Clan whose leader was speaking but she was nothing but in support of the leader.
"Deputies, Join your leaders!" This was and Gray blue tabby tom. This was the she-cat's leader Crowstar of SkyClan. The she-cat came up beside her leader to stand proudly next to him. Grimheart, ShadowClan's tabby spotted tom joined his leader Deepstar. Tangleweb of ThunderClan sat next to Silverstar. WindClan's Deputy Raccoontail had stayed back at the camp to protect the queens. Few cats remained by his side.
The only cats amongst WindClan was their Medicine cat Bunnyfur, and their warriors Tornface, Antleap, Birdsong a newly made warrior Swiftvole. The SkyClan Deputy recognized him from the gather as only an apprentice. Only five warriors were amongst WindClan.
From ShadowClan, there was Deepfrost, his medicine cat Cloudjump, His deputy Grimheart, and their warriors, Spiderheart, Deerspot, Stormfire, Blackstorm and two Apprentices Littlepaw and Applepaw, Deepfrost mentored Applepaw, and Blackstorm Littlepaw.
From ThunderClan, Silverstar, her medicine cat Wolfstipe and her apprentice Lightningpaw. Silverstar had her deputy Tangleweb and their many warriors, Pineneedle and his apprentice Mintpaw, Owlscreech, Weedleaf, Grayleaf , Berryheart, and Leafwhisker.
ThunderClan And SkyClan had the most cats so they were the most crucial in this fight.
"WindClan Run across the lake toward RiverClan's side of the Border, when you see ShadowClan and ThunderClan or even hear them attack but do not attack until you can hear or see them. We will follow ThunderClan from the trees, and ShadowClan from the Shadows after all they know their territory best." Crowstar meowed amongst the organizing cats.
Crowstar gave Jumpstar and Silverstar the nod to go ahead. Deepstar had already plunged into the bushes with his warriors. Making their way through their territory with as little trouble as possible.
"SkyClan take to the trees! After ThunderClan! Hurry!" Crowstar called and within a heartbeat his warriors climbed the trees with ease. Sparklebelly kept up with her leaders pace very easily.
The cats reached just a little into ShadowClan territory when Crowstar waved his tail for them to stop. Below cats scrambled in a Fight against Silverstar's patrol. Sweetspirit, Brackenstick, Vulturesong, and Shadepaw fought against the patrol but with failure they retreated toward RiverClan territory.
Crowstar gave a scratch of the Claw from atop the tree notifying Silverstar if she needed back up. The long-legged leader waved her bushy tail to signal the patrol and for Crowstar to follow.
The cats reached the edge of RiverClan territory when Silverstar was stopped by a large group of cats. Of both RiverClan and ShadowClan. Half the RiverClan warriors looked petrified. While others stood tall and hardly dazed by the Patrol. Crowstar jumped down from the tree his clan followed.
"Hello Crowstar" Darkstar purred in a kind greeting. The SkyClan tom padded forward to stand beside the tom.
"greetings Darkstar. I have brought The Kin Members just as you asked." Crowstar meowed. Sparklebelly stood wide eyed as she knew what was going on. Darkstar smiled deviously.
"The Kin?" Silverstar narrowed her eyes. A sinking feeling in her stomach. three cats from ThunderClan, Grayleaf, Tangleweb, and Leafwhisker stepped forward to join Crowstar and Darkstar. Sparklebelly's mouth gaped open. Silverstar was drawn back in awe.
"Cats of The Kin Step forward and make yourself known." Darkstar hissed pleased with his plan panning out well. Beside the four cats joined Shadepaw from RiverClan, Brackenstick from RiverClan, And Timberwave from RiverClan.
Then quickly after some ShadowClan cats from RiverClan's side of the border. Flowerblossom, Sweetspirit and Whiptail.
"We are The Kin, Crowstar has lead you right into my trap, you see, From the very beginning all of the cats you see here standing with us have trained in the dark forest. Our goal is to turn all the Clans into one clan so that no warrior code could possibly be broken, so that every enemy we fight is a common one. So that we are not scuffling over territory because of harsh leaf bares. Some RiverClan has come around to our ways, However others have not." Darkstar hissed shooting glasses at Shimmerwish, and her clan mates.
"Crowstar! You traitor!" Sparklebelly yowled. "There will be a battle against ShadowClan today and whatever these kin,to save RiverClan!" Sparklebelly yowled. Calls of approval rose from behind her. "RiverClan survivors… Shimmerwish… Fight alongside us. We will win this battle." Sparklebelly meowed to the leader. Her golden gaze beamed into the RiverClan leaders, Shimmerwish looked off.
In an instant Sparklebelly now realized her new role. SkyClan cats around her all looked to her questioningly. Did this make her the leader of SkyClan now? Would SkyClan follow her? Or would they follow Crowstar into battle against them.
"Sparklebelly!" Cedarhallow jerked her out of her through process back into the situation.
"Enough talk! Attack!" Darkstar yowled lunging for Sparklebelly.
in an instant ShadowClan warrior came pouring out from undergrowth's, Bramble thickets, Pine trees, and nearby rocks.
Silverstar let out a yowl to notify WindClan the battle had started. She was going to be fighting against three of her clan mates. Could she actually do it? One of them was her deputy! How could Tangleweb ever betray her! He had been ThunderClan's deputy since Silverstar became leader when Burrstar died just a small while after Sparklebelly had been born! Burrstar was the leader before Silverstar and he had also been Tangleweb's father.
Sparklebelly tussled and rolled on the ground with Darkstar claws flaying and jaws bared. Sparklebelly knew it was not honorable to take the life of another cat, especially a leader, but if she didn't he was going to take hers. 'was this cat even a leader anymore? Let alone a Clan cat? Or does he live outside the code now?' Sparklebelly's thoughts whirled around her as the tom continued slicing at her.
Grimheart flung himself at Crowstar. Grimheart was much stronger, younger and sturdier than the old tom. The tabby would without a doubt beat the older tom. The only problem was, no one knew how many lives the leader had left.
Snapped away from her current thought of Grimheart and her former leaders scuffle she continued tussling on the ground with the muscular dark tom. Sparklebelly jumped away towards a near pine tree to gain level against the stronger tom.
"hiding in a tree kittypet blood." Sparklebelly hissed at the name and lunged for the tom. Darkstar jumped away quickly from her. "You've always been the weaker, and smaller of your kin. Your mother, a fine, strong, and beautiful warrior. Yet she chose Sneaky as a mate." Darkstar taunted. Sparklebelly felt confused.
Darkstar grew a large smile along his bleeding muzzle. His fur tinged with the smell of fight and rot.
"You don't know do you?" Darkstar purred. The tom brushed his muzzle close to the she-cat. "Your world is not what you think. Your mother and I used to be mates, before I ever met my mate in ShadowClan that was taken from me again. Have you ever noticed the clumsiness of your father? What a terrible fighter he is? And how mouse brained? Why I gave him the state he's currently in? You have a hate for Kittypets yet you don't even know where it stems from." Darkstar flung his tail over the she-cats muzzle.
"Sneakfoot was a Kittypet named Sneaky. Your foolish mother brought him to the clans just after we lost our first litter of kits only a few moons before we were both made warriors. She was suppose to join ShadowClan. Not become mates with some useless Kittypet! Your disliking for Kittypets was poured into you while you were still inside your mother. Your clan chose to not speak of Sneaky being a Kittypet. Why would they ever wanna risk their best warriors kits ever feeling different?" Darkstar hissed.
Sparklebelly felt infuriated at the lie the tom was telling. She hissed and attacked the tom scratching at his ears almost slicing one entirely off. The tom yowled but continued to hold his grudging smile.
"You have Kittypet blood and you don't even know it. You also have kin in StarClan. Would you like to know the names of your covered up and dead brother and sisters?" Darkstar hissed his fur bristling and hurt raging off if it.
"you're sick! Lying about my mother!" Sparklebelly hissed.
The young she-cat Lunged for the tom. The tom quickly pinned her to the ground. Biting into her His teeth dripping revenge. For the first time Sparklebelly was actually afraid of this tom. What was he doing? The tom clawed at her stomach and flipped her onto her stomach. Fear rose heavy in Sparklebelly she tried with every strength she had in her body to break free but the tom bit down on her scruff harder than he had held her before, holding her down and drawing blood.
The tom lifted his dripping muzzle from her and rose a little bit. Still keeping a claw dug deeply into the space between her hind leg and stomach. He brought his muzzle down close to her. His yellow teeth clenched together in a smile. His breath stunk of death itself.
"You've never had a mate, or been with a tom,I can tell. Though part Kittypet I would bet anything you would still make wonderful kits. But I don't want you. Not in the least bit, however,I lost my first litter of kits, and I didn't get the chance to have a second. You will be my mate when I rule this forest. When I destroy your Clan and every cat you love. You will give me what was taken away by your disgrace of a war-" the tom gasped as a large force rammed into him and knocked the tom off of Sparklebelly.
Grimheart stood facing his leader with Owlscreech close beside him. Grimheart looked twice his size fur bristled in rage. Darkstar fell into a puddle of mud and needle thickets. Owlscreech ran to the new SkyClan leaders side. Crouching down and comforting the she-cat, licking the deep wound on her neck from where the tom had pinned her.
Grimheart ran straight into The Kin leader. Scratching at both sides of his flanks and biting into his muzzle hard. Sparklebelly heard the toms muzzle crack and a screech come from the dark leader. Grimheart flung the tom onto the ground by his muzzle and scratched deep his the toms shoulder blades.
Sparklebelly's ears rang as she watched cats from different Clans fight for her Clan and Deepfrost Clan. The betrayal and some of the Clan cats eyes from their former Clan mates saddened Sparklebelly deeply. She had lost this fight. Her leader had betrayed her. She had been beaten by Darkstar, she had found out she most likely was part Kittypet, and now she might have dead kin? She wanted to curl up and never leave her nest.
Sparklebelly's attention was drawn back when lightning struck a branch. The branch went up in flames. Sparklebelly saw the fire burn and the dream she had, had of this moment. The moment where she would face Crowstar.. it was right now. The moment Darkstar would lose his final life was now.
Owlscreech got to his paws. "Fire!" The tom yowled. Jumpstar and his warriors retreated for their side of the border near RiverClan. Former ShadowClan warriors joined Deepfrost in their retreat back to their territory and most of the rogues fled off more towards the two leg place just a little beyond ShadowClan territory. Silverstar looked to Sparklebelly for answers.
"Sparklestar what do we do? Grimheart had Darkstar pinned and Silverstar was fighting Crowstar. The rogues will be leaderless without them!" Owlscreech meowed desperately as his Classmates struggled all around to escape while some Stayed put waiting for orders. Silverstar parted from the old tom watching him pant also looking to the new SkyClan leader for orders.
"Cedarhallow, Take SkyClan back to its territory along with the fleeing ThunderClan warriors! Get all the apprentices and young cats to safety! Owlscreech, Silverstar, Grimheart, Dovefeather, Neonclaw, and Badgerfur will stay to help finish this fight, the three ThunderClan Cats dipped their heads, Badgerfur and Silverstar Raced to attack Crowstar, while Grimheart and Neonclaw continued their scuffle with Dakrstar.
Dovefeather padded quickly up to his new leader. Crouching beside her just as Owlscreech had.
"What can we do?" Owlscreech asked looking to Dovefeather letting him know they must stand in place of a medicine cat. "Dovefeather you're the fastest run to RiverClan and Get some burdock root and chervil I only need the leaves of the Chervil. Owlscreech hurry and find some Cobwebs." The toms darted off as Sparklebelly sat their wounded and in pain. The leader watched as her Classmates and other Clan cats were wounded and hurt. Half of RiverClan has just split off and the other now claiming themselves as what Sparklebelly could only assume was rogues.
when the tom had gotten back the two started treating the warrior. They had planned this attack down to the very bone of a piece of fresh kill and nothing had been accomplished other than the loss of some Classmates from each Clan. After the cats had treated her wounds, she had felt a little bumped and bruised, but she needed to get out of here. Silverstar had left Crowstar heaving on the ground. And Grimheart dragged Darkstar to the center of the clearing bloody and battered. Patches of fur missing.
"What now? The fire is spreading Sparklestar that tree is going to fall. If we leave them now they will either die of their wounds or they will die of smoke." Neonclaw hissed.
"Owlscreech, Badgerfur, Silverstar, we can take it from here return to your clans, insure your safety. "Neonclaw, Dovefeather hurry back to camp they will need someone to gather them the Clan cats are scattered, we must stay." The she-cat muttered toward the end.
Crowstar heaving at her feet. The age in the tom showed as he looked up eat her with one blue eye and the other smeared with blood. His muzzle looked ragged and unkept. The she-cat bore her eyes into the tom hurt plastered within her golden eyes. She quickly turned to the dark gray tom held his snarky attitude and teeth bared, even though covered in wounds.
"I'm not finished yet. I'm not old."Darkstar spat to Crowstar.
"Crowstar, you are on your last life. I am to be your successor. I'm claiming it now, as your own Clan refuses to stand behind you any longer. Crowstar by the will of StarClan I revoke any and all rights you have to SkyClan, from this moment until Judged by StarClan themselves you will be known as simply just Crow, youre outside the warrior code therefore you shall not remain a warrior!" Sparklebelly spat into the old toms face. Slicing his muzzle.
"And you…" Sparklebelly's normal bright gaze turned very dark. The flames burned more intensely behind her as the fire continued to rise. "
"I will kill you right here." Sparklebelly hissed lunging for the injured tom. However the tom worked very quickly despite his major injuries. The she-cat and the tom tumbled. Scratching and hissing at one and another.
Finally Sparklebelly had the tom pinned. Her teeth shown blood dripping from them. Darkstar looked ragged and close to death.
"The warrior code states not to take a cats life to win a battle unless they're outside the warrior code, and you Darkstar are outside of the warrior code." Sparklebelly hissed slicing deeply into his throat.
the tom gulped for air, his eyes started to glaze, Grimheart, and Crow looked drawn back. Blood spilled out of the wound like the Stream in SkyClan camp to the lake. The tom collapsed onto his side heaving. As life after life was taken from the tom. After two deaths the tom stopped flaying. The life left the toms eyes. Darkstar was dead.
Finally.