CHAPTER 4
Cats swarmed in the clearing, their air was fuzzing with excitement.
Tigerstar, Mapleshade, and Brokenstar was perched on the newly-named Skull Rock, looking down on their cats with baleful eyes.
"It has come to my attention," Tigerstar growled, rapping his bushy tail around his paws. "That DarkClan has not yet conqured everything."
Murmurs rippled through the cats.
"We have not yet crushed the allies of the Clans." His voice was icy now.
Some cats exchanged glances, whispering something into each others ear.
"We must crush the Tribes! Just like we've crushed the Clans!" Brokenstar yowled.
"Death to the Tribe!" Thistleclaw cheered darkly.
Yowls of approval rang through the stone hollow, echoing into the dark, starless night.
"The Tribe of Rushing Water stands no chance!" Lionblaze spat. "I've seen how they've fought. They're a pitiful bunch."
Lionblaze, one of the Three, had secretly been spying for the Dark Forest, siding with them, and helped in the attack against the fallen Clans.
Breezepelt grunted. "They're hopeless. They can't even defend their own territory."
Murmurs of agreement followed their words.
"I have decided who will leave for the mountains to conquer the Tribe of Rushing Water while the rest of us stay to defend camp." Tigerstar announced.
All ears perked with excitement, and the hollow quietened, waiting for Tigerstar to go on.
"Ivypool, Thistleclaw, Snowtuft, Larkwing, Breezepelt, Furzepelt Lionblaze, and Clawface." He announced promptly and confidently.
Some cats murmured doubtful words.
"That's not a lot of recruits," Lionblaze said skeptically, narrowing his eyes. "Shouldn't we bring more? What if the rogues that also inhabit the mountains challenge us?"
It was Brokenstar who replied in a snarl. "Are you afraid of some puny rogues? Or have you grown attached to those frail mountain cats, Lionblaze?"
Lionblaze held Brokenstar's stare evenly, and answered surprisingly without trembling. "I am not attached, Brokenstar. I just want to ensure our victory."
Brokenstar didn't say anything more, luckily.
"I have confidence that we will easily flay those weaklings," Tigerstar growled. "Is any cat going to question my orders?"
Of course, no one did, because if they did, it would cost them their lives.
"When do we leave?" Beetlewhisker called out.
"Right now. I want them killed as soon as possible," Tigerstar replied in a dark tone, before turning his back on the Clan, and retreating to his den.
The Clan stood murmuring to one another in excitement.
"What are you waiting for?" Mapleshade finally hissed from her place beside the Clan Rock. "Leave! Kill the Tribe cats!"
The group of chosen recruits dare not disobey Mapleshade, and they silently filed out, towards the ragged thorn barrier, and disappeared outside the gap.