The patrol of cats walked quickly and surely to their destination, anxious to get there, and get back to their dens when it was done with. Rainbowheart led the way, with Streak and Buck flanking each side of her. The sun was beginning to set, and Rainbowheart silently prayed that the night wouldn't turn out badly.
The warrior knew that it was possibly a trap, and that Blue was possibly divulging secrets of them to the Peace Reapers. Complying with Bloodstorm's request had been the result of a threat though. There was no choice but to go and get it over with.
From what Buck and Hampton had told her, there were three main cats in the Peace Reapers. They all got by with being ruthless and smart, making them natural leaders-slash-dictators. Bloodstorm was number one.
The main guard known as Havoc was number two. He was described as a big black tom with a white ring of fur around his neck and blue eyes. The tom was supposed to be as ruthless as Bloodstorm himself, and that made Rainbowheart shutter. Buck had told her that he was also second in command if Bloodstorm were to be absent at some point, and was a very loyal follower of him.
The main punisher known as Gold was number three, and could be distinguished by his golden tabby pelt and scars along his back. Rainbowheart remembered seeing him when Bloodstorm made himself known to her. He was characterized by his intelligence, and often would be sent out to track down those that dared to cross Bloodstorm.
They walked on until they got to where the rendezvous was. Three cats were waiting for them. None except one looked friendly. Stopping in front of them, Rainbowheart could identify Hiss as one of the cats which sat on the left side of a smoky tom with large paws and blue eyes.
The tom was the one who looked friendly, but it looked as if something was wrong with one of his eyes. It didn't move at all and, if it hadn't just hit Rainbowheart that he was blind in that eye, it would have creeped her out.
The last cat, who looked about as friendly as a fox, was a she-cat with dark brown fur, though one might mistake it for black. Her yellow eyes and dark looking expression reminded her of Quill.
What in the name of StarClan is wrong with these cats, Rainbowheart thought. She dipped her head to the tom and, with a placid expression spoke, "You must be our escorts. It's a pleasure to meet you." Though she didn't want to, Rainbowheart acted polite to them.
At least, to this one.
The grey cat nodded, "The pleasure is all mine. My name is Crack, this is Dusk," he motioned to the dark brown cat, who narrowed her eyes at the bigger group of cats. "And this is my sister Hiss. From what I've heard, you two have already met."
Hiss growled lowly, but still loud enough for all to hear.
Ignoring Hiss' growling, Rainbowheart looked at their escorts curiously, "Bloodstorm said that there would only be two cats to escort us, not three."
"He was going to send these two by themselves, but thought better of it, and decided that a guard was more level headed." He looked up as if in thought, "I think he said something about not wanting his reputation tarnished by a couple of thick-heads who'd attack a piece of trash if it crossed their path." He looked amusedly at Hiss who took a really harsh swipe at him.
Crack dodged, and turned to start on the path they would take. He looked around at the others, his expression was serious now, "Follow me, and make sure to keep up."
It didn't take that long to reach the Peace Reaper hideout. In fact it was in plain sight, not hidden. An old abandoned barn that sat between the twolegplace and forest. Rainbowheart could see that it had started to deteriorate; boards were missing from the bottom, creating doors for all sorts of creatures, and the red paint that had decorated it had sunk into the wood.
Stopping outside of one of the openings, Rainbowheart could hear voices inside. Whispers and sadistic sounding chuckles echoed off the walls inside, and reached the ears of the guests outside. The warrior's pelt prickled with anxiousness while they waited for Crack, who had told them to wait where they were. When the guard came back, Bloodstorm was with him.
The misty leader looked around at his visitors and laid his gaze on Rainbowheart. He smiled at her, "Well, it seems that you took my advice and decided to show. And just look at how many friends you brought. I could have sworn though, that you would have had more than this, at least, that's what I've been told." He smirked darkly.
Rainbowheart narrowed her eyes at Bloodstorm, looking him in his dark purple eyes, "I came as agreed. Now what do you want?"
"First, how about we get inside and I'll introduce you to a few of my friends. After all this is a meeting." Bloodstorm then turned to Crack and the other two cats, nodding to them and they went inside. He then motioned to Rainbowheart, "Come right in."
Rainbowheart looked after him curiously, but after a brief pause, she went into the dark hole, followed closely by the others. It was dark at first, and Rainbowheart realized that they were going through a small tunnel created by the stacking of old hay bales, and other twoleg objects.
All members of the patrol filed in, passing a large brown tom that was positioned next to a hay bale. When Rainbowheart looked at him, he narrowed his eyes and dipped his head to her.
He must be a guard; he's sure big enough to be one. She had kept walking, but didn't look away from the tom. Something in his eyes made her feel pity.
"Taking an interest in the toms of my group?"
Rainbowheart nearly jumped to StarClan when Bloodstorm appeared near her side. Everyone else in the patrol had dispersed to check the place out, and to find others who might be of help to their cause.
The black-faced tom eyed the warrior curiously, his pelt brushing a little too close against hers. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He sensed this and smiled, "Because I can assure you, there are plenty of interesting toms here."
He had leaned closer to Rainbowheart, causing the warrior to nearly trip over her own paws. They had stopped walking.
The tom chuckled, and Rainbowheart glared at him. I'm being used as his source of amusement. Is this all we were summoned for? To be humiliated, she thought to herself. She hissed, and as a way to ignore him, she began to look around the barn.
There were many cats here and there. Big cats that could only be guards, sat near all of the entrances. Rainbowheart could see some of her friends talking amongst themselves, but then noticed Apple and Meera talking to the two cats that Hazel had stared at longingly, just days ago.
Both Peace Reaper cats were talking with distressed expression, obviously giving some sort of bad news to the warrior's companions. They then walked off to some other location.
The red-eyed warrior already knew the story behind Bronze and Gem. Even from afar, she could tell that they were miserable.
Bloodstorm must have seen his guest's interest in the two cats, because he spoke up, "I see you're interested in the former friends of that weakling that you helped the other day."
Rainbowheart snapped her head back towards him to gaze at him angrily.
The misty tom wasn't looking at her so ignored the burning look he was getting, and went on, "Their names are Gem and Bronze, though I'm sure you know that already. Bronze is the brother of the leader of my punishers. Both he and Gem are punishers, though Gem is really nothing to my group. She's too kind most of the time, which makes her weak."
"Then why keep her around?" Rainbowheart asked coldly.
The misty tom gave a grim smile, "Because, it's when she's maddest that she's the strongest, just like me. I can guarantee you must be like that too, right?"
The warrior was confused by the evil tom's words, "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I mean. When you can't control your anger. I can see it in your eyes, you're just like me." The tom was closer now, gazing into Rainbowheart's eyes.
Rainbowheart was taken aback by the tom's words, and something clicked. It was an impossible thought to say the least. She silently gasped, "You're reborn..."
Bloodstorm didn't answer, but he didn't have to, for Rainbowheart to know it was true. The misty furred tom then got up and motioned for her to follow him somewhere else. Rainbowheart hesitated for a minute in mid-step, but then conceded to trail after him.
As she followed him, Rainbowheart noticed Gem had appeared and began following them.
Bloodstorm looked over his shoulder to make sure Rainbowheart was there, and then turned back forward to jump the hay bales that were stacked like a ladder to get up to the loft of the barn.
Gem shadowed her leader, and vanished along with him.
Rainbowheart stopped when she reached the bales, noticing her comrades giving her wary glances. She reassured them with a quick nod before going up into the loft.
Once in the loft, Rainbowheart was greeted kindly by Gem, and surprisingly Bloodstorm dipped his head. This confused the warrior greatly. However, she took this as a good sign she wouldn't be attacked or killed.
Bloodstorm beckoned for her to come towards him, which she did and cautiously sat down in front of him. Gem sat close by them both, though her presence here baffled Rainbowheart.
"My dear Gem, this is the one that I talked about. She is like me; like us. Fate has led her here so that she may help us rise up in power," the tom spoke with a calm voice that held the hint of a smile in it.
This. The warrior hadn't expected this, and Rainbowheart immediately didn't like where this was going, "Excuse me, but what are you talking about?"
Instead of getting some snide comment that she expected of the leader, he merely gave her a considering look, before explaining. "You see, I'm much like you, and I think you know how."
He took a breath before going on, "The way I see it, you and I are more powerful than these fleabags around us that follow our commands. They don't deserve to govern themselves."
Bloodstorm smiled sadistically, "We both are unnatural. Don't deny you don't know what I'm talking about either. You must have lived in exile for a while, like me. Wouldn't you like to finally have an important place? It's so simple to just join your own, isn't it?" He stopped to burn his gaze through the red-eyed cat.
Rainbowheart had been listening through the whole of his ramble. "And where does Gem come into this?" She had to ask that question.
"Hnf, a little predicament occurred at a sad point in my life. My little Gem here, is the result. It took me a while to track her down, but she's here with me once more," Bloodstorm explained, flicking an ear. "She's like us, and gained my superior strength. It's quite the show to see when she goes off."
The information being relayed surprised Rainbowheart to the fullest. The warrior shook her head, disgusted, "You're crazy. I think my decision is clearly 'no'."
Bloodstorm had been smiling invitingly at her, but that quickly changed to confusion, and then anger. He stuttered, "E-Eexcuse me?" He stood up and unsheathed his claws.
Rainbowheart made eye contact with him, showing that she wouldn't be daunted by his actions. "I said that I won't join you. You might want to act like a sadistic whining baby, but that doesn't mean I have to. Unlike you, I'm going to live my life in peace and happiness, not chaos and anger."
The black-and-white she-cat was now standing up to meet Bloodstorm's stance, "I'm not going to betray my path to scum like you." She gave a challenging glare, "So just try and make me join you."
The misty tom had stepped forward, glaring at this cat who had dared to degrade him in front of one of his followers. "You'll wish you had never said those words you overconfident brat," he spat out, then leapt at the warrior.
Rainbowheart was ready for him though, and met him mid-leap, making both fall to the ground with a thump. Both cats rolled around in the hay and dust on the wood, clawing at each other, unable to land a crippling blow.
Gem meanwhile had moved, not wanting to be involved. The she-cat looked on in distress, not knowing if she should help the black-and-white she-cat out or not. If she did though, Bloodstorm might do something terrible to her instead. She just stood there, not knowing what to do.
Getting tired of their current situation, the fighting cats broke apart to get some rest. They carefully eyed each other from opposite sides.
Bloodstorm gave a smirk from his position, "See how powerful you are when you let your true spirit take over. Those idiots down there don't deserve to have your help. Join me, and you'll be able to rule over them all."
Rainbowheart hissed, "I'd rather die."
The purple-eyed cat hardened his gaze and spat back, "So be it then. HA!" He leapt again, but this time Rainbowheart moved out of the way, causing him to almost land on his face. Stumbling back up, he turned around again to take a swipe at her face, nearly hitting his target.
Rainbowheart sidestepped to the left when Bloodstorm shot forward, and slammed her paw against his face, making him roll closer towards Gem. Taking deep breaths, Rainbowheart circled her misty foe. "Give this up Bloodstorm. It's pointless what you're doing. You can avoid this conflict if you just stop now."
The purple eyed cat was panting hard, glaring at his opponent. Slowly and shakily he got up on his legs. He clenched his jaws shut, making blood drip from the sides of his mouth. "Shut up! You haven't won yet." He gave a crazed looking smile and licked his jaws free of the blood, seeming to enjoy the taste.
"Havoc! Gold!" he yowled loudly.
Yowls from one of the entrances got the red-eyed warrior's attention. As she glanced down below, her heart stopped for a second.
A big black tom had padded in with a blood-stained Chris in his jaws, dragging him along the ground roughly. Close behind them were two other Peace Reapers along with Gold, escorting in a battered up Brick, and surprisingly a very smug looking Blue.
Rainbowheart could hear Bloodstorm chuckling not far behind her.
"I believe those two belong to you. Some of my Peace Reapers stumbled upon them spying on my spy. They would have succeeded too, if it hadn't been for their scent being discovered by one of my punishers, two days ago."
The she-cat spat at him before jumping down the hay bales, and running towards the cats that had her friends, the others joining her midway.
The big black tom had noticed her coming, and roughly threw Chris to the ground. The poor scrap tried to get up to fight back. Havoc saw this and pushed him back down to the ground, pinning him there with his claws dug deep in his side.
Havoc leaned in close to the younger cat, "Such a pathetic thing you are. It's going to be fun killing you." He sank his claws deeper into Chris' side, causing the poor cat to writhe in pain.
Brick tried to get past the punishers in front of him, to get to the younger cat, but they pinned him to the ground. "Let him go you rat-face! Fight me!"
Among the yelling, Rainbowheart had lunged at Havoc, aiming for his face. She was quickly brought down by Gold, who had jumped at her however. The she-cat fell hard to the ground with a thud.
Her group of cats surrounded her in protective stances, daring someone to try and get past them.
Rainbowheart looked around, when she heard paw steps from behind her, and hissed at Bloodstorm, who was padding closer.
"Let. Them. Go. Now," Rainbowheart got up on her paws, willing to keep herself from attacking the sadistic cat before her.
"Heh, apparently you haven't realized the position that you're in." Bloodstorm gazed around at his cats that obviously outnumbered the small band of cats.
He looked back at Rainbowheart, "Now here's what's going to happen: you and your little rat pack are going to get out of here. Then, you are going to leave this place behind and continue on your way, and forget everything about this place. If you don't, then every single one of these cats here is going to be exterminated, one by one."
A grin formed on the tom's arrogant face, "But first, how about a little incentive to hurry things along. After all, we wouldn't want to have you wasting time over-thinking, and your friends dying as a result." Looking over Rainbowheart, Bloodstorm gave a nod to Havoc, "End him."
Rainbowheart's eyes widened and she turned around to see Havoc raising his claws above Chris. The small cat tried to move out of the way.
Time seemed to slow down at that moment.
All of a sudden, everyone's voices except her own seemed to go mute to Rainbowheart's ears.
"NO!"
No words could stop it, however.
It was all over within seconds, Havoc having dealt the blow to the splotched tom. Chris was left where he was lying, coughing and sputtering miserably. His flank moved up and down sporadically.
Havoc, satisfied with his work, walked past the shocked cats, to stand near his leader's side. The others guarding Brick, got off of him, and did the same as the black tom.
Bloodstorm looked at the scene with satisfaction, "I'll give you one day to get out of here. After that, if you're still training these cats, I may just have to go after more vulnerable and loved targets, like those kits and their mother."
With that said Bloodstorm got up and walked out of the barn, taking most of his Peace Reapers with him, leaving behind the distraught group of cats.
In her mind, the warrior kept repeating the same thing over and over. This shouldn't have happened. This shouldn't have happened. This shouldn't have happened.
StarClan, why did this happen...