Chapter 22

"Just a little more, that's it!" Willowcloud's teeth ground together as she felt another spasm of pain ripple through her belly. Embertail had warned her that it wouldn't be easy. The medicine cat had said that it would be a large litter. Three kits had already been born, but Embertail had said that there was one more.

"Here's the moss you asked for." Anger coursed through Willowcloud when she heard Leopard speak. She felt her teeth grinding to the point where they might break off.

"Good, leave it next to her and wash this kit dry." Embertail handed the third kit towards Leopard, who blinked in surprise. It was a tiny looking thing, far smaller from what Willowcloud had hoped it would look like. "The fourth one is coming…." Embertail broke off when Willowcloud felt the fourth kit arrive.

Willowcloud knew what she was about to say. She had already known that something terrible would happen the moment she turned her back on StarClan. Sorrow gripped at her heart as she imagined what the tiny, lifeless kit would have been like as an adult. The kit was dead, and would never have the knowledge of what life could have been like. In a cruel and twisted way, she was relieved. Embertail quickly put the kit aside before looking back at the three kits that were suckling at Willowcloud's belly.

"Three healthy kits," Embertail announced.

And one dead kit, Willowcloud added silently. Her sorrow had died when she saw the tiny bundles at her belly. The smallest reminded her of Leopard—ginger markings could be seen over it's pelt. Most of it's fur was gray and tabby. The largest kit was a pale ginger kit with darker ginger patches, mixed with gray dapples. The last kit was a medium-sized one, reminding Willowcloud of herself when she had been an apprentice.

"What will we name them?" she asked as Embertail left the cave.

"I'd say Clan names are best for them." His words made Willowcloud gape at him in disbelief.

Clan names…. I never thought of that. Maybe Clan names would be good for them. She gave a slight nod of approval before mulling over possible names. I like flowers and plants, but I'm not sure if the she-cat would like that name. Maybe…. Flowerkit? Petalkit?

The name suddenly clicked within her as she met Leopard's warm gaze.

"Petalkit…. The little she-cat will be known as Petalkit," she mewed. "And the smaller tom can be known as Mousekit." Immediately the name Mouse had come to her mind. "And the largest one…can be called Badgerkit."

"Why Badgerkit?" Leopard tilted his head to one side, as if he was afraid of such a name.

"Badgers are known for their sheer size and bulk," she explained calmly. "I'm hoping that Badgerkit will become strong and healthy when he'd older. And maybe he can protect his siblings."

"These kits are our future," Leopard murmured.

Our future. Willowcloud felt warmth rush through her chest. She'd never felt this way before, not even after learning that she was expecting kits. Leopard nuzzled her cheek affectionately before giving her space and time to rest. She looked down at the kits once more, feeling as though she'd never forget the sight. Kits were a precious thing to any Clan, even if they had not yet formed one. She knew that one day these kits would grow strong and healthy.

. . .

A tiny kit wriggled about the reddish tabby's belly. Pride swelled within Ghoststar as he watched his only kit. He had expected several kits to be born this day. Ruststripe had said that it would be a large litter. All but one kit had been stillborn. Some had said that it was punishment for what he was about to do. Others had told him the kit would grow up strong like himself. He knew that they were holding back their fear. They were only kissing up to him, hoping and praying to StarClan that he would spare their lives.

Only a few will survive through what I have planned, he thought maliciously. Redflower grinned back when a smirk fell upon his face. She had no idea that she was being used. He'd planned to have her killed the moment their kit became an apprentice.

"Our kit," she whispered gently. One kit that could change everything, Ghoststar added silently.

He shook his head and nuzzled her affectionately, surprised that he had done so. Even Redflower looked surprised, but she did not complain. Instead she purred loudly enough for most of the Clan to hear. The newly named leader only lashed his tail before leaving the nursery. The time for romance had come to an end. Now was the time for training and preparing. The final battle was to take place in the most sacred grounds—it had taken him days to convince Rainstar that this was the only option.

Once Rainstar is taken care of, all of the Clans will follow my orders, he decided. Already cats were huddling together, whispering urgently to one another. They had heard about the battle from Robintail, who had somehow allowed the news to slip. The newly named warrior would have to be taken care of after that slip-up. Ghoststar couldn't allow any punishments to go unnoticed. If he brought fear upon the younger cats, they would listen without question.

"Ghoststar, I would like to have a word with you." The pale gray leader stiffened in annoyance when he heard an all-too-familiar voice. "I know what you are planning, and it can't happen. StarClan will never forgive you!" Ruststripe's voice rose to a pitch as he spoke. "Please, don't do this!"

"I can, and it will happen." Ghoststar spun around to face Ruststripe, blue eyes gleaming with malice. The medicine cat flinched under his fiery gaze. "The Clans have always been weak. Now they will know who they are dealing with. For seasons upon seasons I have watched them grow. They have betrayed me in ways you can never imagine!" His claws unsheathed as bitter memories coursed through his mind. "I will never forgive the ones who betrayed me, cast me aside like some useless kittypet!"

Ruststripe's eyes narrowed into tiny slits when he realized what Ghoststar was implying.

So the medicine cat knows now, he thought gleefully. Well, this just made things more interesting.

"Who are you?" Ruststripe demanded. His voice had dropped to a whisper so that no cat could hear. By now most had returned to their dens when they realized this was a meeting between medicine cat and leader.

"I am Ghostfire, spirit of the forest." Ghoststar spoke slowly and deliberately, allowing each word to rise and fall. "You should know my stories well, old one." Again Ruststripe flinched when Ghoststar's muzzle came face-to-face with his.

"I…I remember!" Ruststripe gasped. "An elder named Silverleaf…she once told us about you."

"Yes, when you were but kits," Ghoststar sneered. "I remember that day. You were terrified out of your wits. Your mother had smacked Silverleaf across the muzzle because of what she told you." He recalled that day and felt an odd sense of joy. At least one cat had hated his sister. His first sister.

"But I thought you were just a myth!" Ruststripe's voice had changed into a wail as his eyes widened in terror. "Silverleaf said that you wouldn't come back!"

"She was wrong. My sister's faith in StarClan was always a bit too strong. I have other ways of returning. Don't you remember the night I was born? That scrawny little kit would have never survived had I not replaced him." Ghoststar's smirk never faded as he pictured the terrified kit's mind. All too easily he had taken over. Living the life of a kit had been boring, which was why he'd spent so many moons plotting and secretly punishing Willowcloud.

"Sparrowfur…was right," Ruststripe choked. "I should have believed her. She knew what you were." His eyes were blazing with mad fury by now. "I…." Ruststripe's sentence was never finished.

Ghoststar lunged forward, teeth bared in a snarl as he took the old cat's life. Blood rushed between his fangs, and a sense of accomplishment suddenly washed over him. Ruststripe's final cry was murder. The LeafClan leader looked down at the slain body after the final struggle was over. One less cat to defy his orders. Sparrowfur could easily be manipulated if he took his time. Ruststripe was one cat that needed to be taken care of.

"And now, a new era has begun," he said out loud.

His thoughts were interrupted when cats began to emerge from their dens. Ghoststar felt every eye on his pelt as he washed the blood from his fur. Tawnywing, the beloved deputy, had also been taken care of too easily. Now all he needed was to introduce fear into these lazy pieces of foxdung.

"You…you killed him!" Shadowpaw, one of the newer apprentices, squealed. His eyes were wide in horror when he saw what was laying near Ghoststar.

"Yes, I killed him," Ghoststar began. More yowls of horror filled the air as cats began to realize what was happening. "But it had to be done. He threatened to destroy our supply of herbs. He had gone mad with the chaos that has been happening."

"I don't understand, where's Sparrowfur?" Orangestripe demanded. The elder's pale eyes met Ghoststar's gaze. "She should have been with Ruststripe if that was his condition."

"Sparrowfur went to search for more herbs," Shadowpaw explained. "She asked Winterpaw to go with her."

"We've been punished by StarClan!" Owlfeather screeched. "If Ruststripe had to be killed, who will die next?" Her question was answered by terrified whispers.

They all know what I am capable of, Ghoststar thought. Good, that means I won't have to eliminate competition.

"I know what we must do," Ghoststar called out. "Rainstar and her Clanmates are the reason behind his madness. She has convinced him that the three Clans should unite." More yowls of protest followed his words. He knew that most cats would agree with him. Most had considered Rainstar their enemy the moment she killed Graystar and Breezewind. "So, my friends and Clanmates, who should be punished?" His voice rang out so that all cats could hear.

"Rainstar!" By now most of the Clan had joined in, sharing their thoughts and viewpoints on the malicious DuskClan leader. "Rainstar must be punished!"

Ghoststar watched in satisfaction. Even the apprentices were chiming in, though Shadowpaw looked uneasy as he joined Patchpaw in her chanting. Foxpaw and Goldenpaw had been named apprentices just under five moons. Ghoststar saw nothing wrong with naming apprentices at this age. They were strong enough to fend off Patchpaw and intelligent enough to keep Shadowpaw at bay. Both would make good warriors when the time came.

"Then tonight, we shall triumph!" Ghoststar yowled after the chanting had died down. "Rainstar will be punished for her crimes, just as those who followed her will!" More yowls of agreement followed his words. "It may be the full moon, but that doesn't mean StarClan will let her get away with what she has done!"

Not to mention we made an agreement, he added silently. Rainstar knows that she is doomed. Nothing will stop me now.

. . .

The following hours had been spent preparing for the battle. Ghoststar made sure that no cat spent time around Ruststripe's body. Soon he would become nothing more then a memory. Even Sparrowfur was too occupied with organizing her supply of herbs to notice her fallen mentor. A grin had fallen upon his face. Everything was coming together. What Silverleaf had done was nothing more then stalling for time. She had delayed his plans in the past, but now he could fulfill his dreams without her interference. The only cat he feared was Willowcloud, and she had not been seen since the day she vanished from the Clans.

And so it should be, he thought with a lash of his tail. My 'sister' has been nothing more than a hindrance to my plans. It's time she was dealt with personally.

He forced himself to look at Mistybird, the cat who had given birth to the kit he took over. Mistybird's expression was unreadable. She had changed since Willowcloud was banished from the Clans. Ghoststar had made certain that guards were keeping an eye on her at all times. She needed to be watched carefully, in case she tried to flee from the Clans.

"Sir, the preparations are almost complete," Spiderfur meowed as he approached. "Shall I gather everyone?"

"That won't be necessary," Ghoststar replied with a shake of his head. "I already chose which cats will go."

Spiderfur looked at him in surprise but said nothing. "You're going to change everything," he murmured. "Are you sure that's what you want? To be known for destroying the Clans?"

Almost immediately Ghoststar felt his claws unsheathe. Spiderfur's eyes widened in horror at the sight. "Do you doubt my power?" he demanded in a low snarl. "Do you not fear me?" His blue eyes were wild with anger as he glared at Spiderfur.

"N-no sir," Spiderfur stammered. "I was only just wondering…." He broke off when Ghoststar's fangs bared in defiance.

"I expect that you of all cats should know better than to doubt me," he snapped. "Once this is over, no cat will question my will." Spiderfur whimpered and dropped into a submissive crouch. "Good, now get out of my sight. I have a battle to lead." Ghoststar lashed his tail once, signaling that it was time to leave.

At once the cats he'd chosen joined him. He looked over them fondly for the first time, wondering which would die first. Toadfur, Poppyfeather, Oakfoot and Birdclaw had been chosen to go. The cats who were staying behind would leave once moonhigh came and went. He gave Sootclaw a tiny nod before leading them out of the camp. Toadfur's pelt was bristling with unease, while Poppyfeather stayed close to his side. Somehow they seemed to know where their fates were headed.

Good, that means this will be easier than I expected, he told himself.

The forest blurred past Ghoststar as he ran at full speed. The others behind him were having a difficult time keeping up. Lack of prey had made them weaker than usual. Ghoststar had made sure that no fresh-kill was given to the ones who presented a threat to him.

He stopped running once they reached the clearing. Sure enough, Rainstar was there, waiting with a patrol of her own warriors. The DuskClan leader's tail was lashing from side to side when she spotted Ghoststar's pale outline. Rainstar lifted her chin once she was certain it was Ghoststar who stood before her. Her pale yellow eyes gleamed with resilience when she realized what was happening.

"So, the time has come," she rasped.

"It has." Ghoststar emerged from the bushes and glared at her coldly. "I suspect you have prepared your own army." He glanced at the cats she'd chosen. All were well chosen; most of them looked like they had fought in many battles before. "So, how shall we start this?"

"I don't plan on dying any time soon," Rainstar spat. "You made me what I am today, but that doesn't mean I can turn my back on you." Most of her warriors stared at her in disbelief. She must have kept their little deal a secret. Ghoststar smirked at her when she realized what she had said. "This is my Clan, and I am not giving it up any time soon," she added carefully.

"I apologize, dear Rainstar," Ghoststar replied with a shake of his head. "But you are vastly mistaken. My deals always pull through, even when you least expect them to." His claws unsheathed as he felt the ground churn under them. "You of all cats should know what it is like to feel power. That power always comes with a price."

Rainstar seemed to flinch under his icy gaze. "This ends now Ghoststar!" she snarled. "You have already taken Graystar's life, and Breezewind's. It's time you were punished for the crimes you committed."

Gasps of shock echoed throughout the clearing. Ghoststar felt fury sweep through him as he lunged forward. Rainstar's eyes widened in horror when she realized where he was aiming at. She tried to dodge to the side, but he was too quick. By now the other cats were battling, and the forest had grown louder with each battle cry that followed.

I will rip your fangs out, and then your fur! Ghoststar thought furiously. His claws dug into her chest painfully as she struggled to keep him off. Blood stained the ground where Gatherings had once been held. This was no longer about their deal. Ghoststar knew now that every cat here would be dead by moonhigh. He would make sure of it. Rainstar gasped in pain when she fell to the ground. Almost instantly her eyes had closed. Ghoststar knew that she was losing a life. And now, I shall take the rest of your lives while you are vulnerable, he thought.

A hiss of fury erupted from his lungs when he felt a cat slam into his shoulders. He looked up in surprise to see Poppyfeather standing over him. The tortoiseshell she-cat's eyes were blazing with rage and hate as she glared down at him. "Crazy little rogue!" she spat as she dug her claws painfully into his chest. "That was for Mistybird!" She leaned forward and ripped a claw across his muzzle.

Ghoststar used his front paws to keep her from dealing death blows. She was fast, he hated to admit. But he was far more cunning than she could have imagined. A howl of rage suddenly erupted from the clearing as he used all of his might to throw her off. Poppyfeather gasped in pain when she landed on the ground in a thud. She didn't move after that. Ghoststar heaved himself up and saw that most of the battling cats had stopped moving as well.

Rainstar's eyes snapped open when her life came flowing back. Her gaze widened when she saw that the clearing was littered with the bodies of her own Clanmates. "Oh StarClan…." She gasped as she tried to move. Every step was filled with pain, pain caused by Ghoststar.

"You are weak, kittypet," Ghoststar sneered when she glared at him. "You always were weak. You were eager to accept my help, and you paid the price." Rainstar flinched when his muzzle smacked her in the forehead. "You will be remembered for your cowardice. And I will make sure that the Clans are no more."

The DuskClan leader's eyes suddenly changed from yellow to green. In that instant, Ghoststar felt as though the world had been ripped away from his claws. Rainstar's voice had changed as she spoke. It was darker and malicious as she kept her fury under control. "Why dear Ghostfire, don't you remember me? You threatened to kill me when I was just a mere apprentice. I managed to stop you. I exiled you, and look where it has gotten you. You will never feel accepted by the Clans. You will always be alone. No cat will ever love you for who you are." Silverleaf's eyes flashed for a moment before she faded away.

Anger pierced through Ghoststar's heart when he saw Rainstar's body slump to the ground. He had watched his sister become a medicine cat after she trained as a warrior for only a few moons. She had changed her position after he was banished from LeafClan. Nothing she did was ever for her own good. She had always done what she could to protect LeafClan and the other Clans. And now, she could only watch as her brother destroyed everything that she tried to prevent.

His name would leave a terrible mark on the forest. He would ensure that history knew who he was. Even the elders would fear him from seasons to come. No cat would ever trust him again.

A/N: Wow, this was a really long chapter. I was planning on making it longer, but changed my mind at the last minute. So, what did you all think? Willowcloud's kits might have come a bit too early...not too sure about that one. But Ghoststar's point of view is fun to write about! I am definitely going to write a one-shot about his past life later in the week. Also, did anyone think the battle moved on too quickly? I'm not so great when it comes to describing battles...but oh well.

Anyways, thanks to the readers who have actually read this entire chapter. You've all earned Ghoststar plushies!