Chapter 31
Pinkish rays of sunlight filtered across the sky. Willowcloud looked up, feeling a sense of anticipation. Today was it. She would lead the final battle against Ghoststar, and end his tyranny. Her heart clenched at the idea. For moons she had lived as a loner and spent life trying to understand why Ghoststar had become the way he was. Now she understood what he truly was. His past had been revealed by the cats of StarClan, and she wasn't about to allow what he had done continue.
The group of rogues gathered around her as she rose to her paws. Stub blinked several times to keep away the sleep from his eyes. Willowcloud opened her jaws to taste the air. Moisture lay heavily in the air, and she could already see clouds gathering.
Rain will make the battle more difficult, she thought angrily.
"We fight now," Shadow snarled as he rose to his paws. The other warriors around him had woken up early, well rested and eager to get on with the battle.
"Wait." Willowcloud's ears flicked from side to side. "We should attack in waves. One set of cats can strike first and weaken the enemies."
"That sounds like a good idea," Stub meowed.
"Which group will strike first?" The blue-gray she-cat that had spoken out the previous days stood.
"I suggest we take two rogues and three warriors," Shadow suggested. His muzzle pointed towards Grub, Oakfoot and Honeypool. All three cats looked ready to fight. Willowcloud knew that they would make formidable opponents against Ghoststar's followers.
"Sounds reasonable enough," Willowcloud agreed.
Stub won't think we're singling his cats out, she added silently.
"Right. Hawkeye and Ivy will take part in the first wave as well." Stub nodded towards the blue-gray she-cat and one of the twins Willowcloud had seen the other day.
Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd. Willowcloud rose to her paws. She had already promised Stub that she would join in the first wave, no matter what happened. She couldn't turn her back on the rogues now, especially when the Clan needed them the most.
Once the group was gathered together, Willowcloud felt a sense of excitement and dread course through her. Shadow and Stub would lead the second wave, charging into battle and scaring the wits out of Ghoststar's followers. She knew they would win. They had to win, for the sake of the forest and the sake of the Clans.
Ferns brushed against her belly as she led the battle group through the undergrowth. Already she could pick up traces of the Clan as she opened her jaws. Anticipation and anxiety coursed through the group. She knew they were eager to get the battle done and over with. She herself was ready to live life without worrying about Ghoststar.
Blood roared in her ears when she reached the edge of camp. Willowcloud peered through the bushes to see cats circling around the Oaktree. Her fangs bared in outrage when she saw two cats standing beside Mistybird, her mother.
I won't allow any cats to harm my mother, she thought.
"See any of those rogues?" Her ears flattened in alarm when she heard Ghoststar's voice.
"No, but I'm sure they'll be coming soon," another voice whispered.
"That's Robintail," Honeypool hissed under her breath.
"It was kind of your brother to leave us those clues," Ghoststar rumbled. "I hope he does well in this battle."
Beside Honeypool Oakfoot stiffened in disbelief. Willowcloud forced back the urge to glare at him. He'd warned the Clan of what was coming!
Without warning Hawkeye let out a fearsome battle cry. Willowcloud looked over her shoulder to see that he was leaping over Grub, whose eyes were wide in terror. Hawkeye's teeth flashed for a brief moment before he landed in front of Grub, and behind Willowcloud.
The Clan cats sitting in the camp panicked at the sudden noise. Willowcloud glanced back through the bushes to see several standing in front of the bushes. Their defensive strategy would have worked if Hawkeye hadn't gotten in the way. Surprise flared within her belly when the gray tabby bounded ahead, shoving her aside.
As if on cue, the warriors in the camp suddenly exploded from their hiding places. Willowcloud found herself facing Rosefang, the first cat to attack her when she was an apprentice. The former DuskClan cat's badly scarred face turned into a sneer of triumph when she realized who she was facing in battle.
"Well, well, looks like I get my revenge after all!" she crowed.
Willowcloud's fur was standing on end, but not with fear. She was outraged by Rosefang's constant jibes. Even when she was a DuskClan warrior she had done everything she could to make Willowcloud feel miserable in LeafClan.
Heart pounding with fear, she dropped into a hunter's crouch as she waited for Rosefang to make her move. The creamy brown warrior hissed with rage as she lunged forward. Willowcloud saw the move coming and dodged to the side, but Rosefang knew what she was about to attempt. Rosefang's claws flashed in Willowcloud's view, and pain seared from her front leg. A claw had hooked between her skin and fur, and Rosefang had her trapped.
"This is for my face!" Rosefang screeched.
Willowcloud prepared herself for the pain, but the weight had been pulled off. She opened her eyes to see that Oakfoot had pried Rosefang away. The older cat was screeching and spitting as he held her down. "Go find Ghoststar," he called.
She nodded and raced off, aware that he could easily be killed if he wasn't careful.
I know where to find Ghoststar, she thought. It was difficult to ignore the sounds of cats fighting. Honeypool had cornered Spiderfur and Robintail, both cats who had once been Clanmates. Willowcloud could see the pain in Honeypool's eyes as she was forced to take down her son. She spotted Mothfire struggling to keep Daisytail and Stonefang away. Both warriors were fierce opponents, especially Stonefang.
Her paws thrummed against the forest floor as she raced past the crowd. She could see patches of white clinging to bushes as Ghoststar tried to make an escape.
We won't let him, Silverleaf's voice told her.
He will die the way he lived, Ruststripe whispered.
Surprise flared within Willowcloud's chest when she realized that they were running with her. All of the cats that Ghoststar had killed in his past life - every one of them were with her. She knew that they would want their own kind of revenge.
"I wouldn't get too close, sister." Ghoststar's voice reached Willowcloud's ears by the time she skidded to a halt. "Or else this one will die too."
Horror made Willowcloud's heart skip a beat when she saw what he was standing over. Mistybird, her mother and the one who had given birth to him, was slumped to the ground in a bloody heap. A grin fell upon Ghoststar's voice as he met her horrified gaze.
"Now, why don't we actually get the chance to talk," he sneered. "I'm sure my dear sister Silverleaf would like to say a few words as well." His blue eyes blazed like fire as the silver tabby revealed herself before him.
"I won't let you hurt another cat, brother," she spat. "Let her go!"
"And why would I do that? I know this one is not so willing when she knows what the stake is." He looked pointedly at Willowcloud, whose ears flattened in disbelief.
I…I can't let him kill my mother! The thought ripped through her mind. She knew that by attacking Ghoststar, she would attack her own mother.
We won't let him, Ruststripe whispered. His pelt brushed against hers. Willowcloud glanced at the former medicine cat before she glared at Ghoststar. His death shall happen today!
The triumphant look in Ghoststar's blue eyes faded when he saw the StarClan cats. The look was replaced with fear, something Willowcloud had never seen before. Mistybird suddenly looked up when she realized that she was no longer alone.
"No!" Her screech made Willowcloud panic. "I won't let you hurt my last kit!" Mistybird sprang to her paws, sending Ghoststar flying across the undergrowth.
Willowcloud watched the scene in disbelief. Mistybird flung herself at Poppyfeather, a warrior that had been killed by Ghoststar. The tortoiseshell stepped to one side, though her move would have proved nothing. Mistybird's claws swiped through air.
"Stop it, please," Willowcloud whispered. "Mistybird…." She broke off when her mother spun around to face her.
"You tried to kill him too," Mistybird rasped. "He told me what happened. You killed Willowkit and Sparrowkit."
No, I didn't, she thought desperately.
"She won't listen to reason!" Willowcloud glanced at Silverleaf, whose green eyes were dark with sorrow.
"We have no choice," Silverleaf murmured. "Her spirit will join StarClan. Perhaps through StarClan she will remember who her real kits are."
Willowcloud's muscles shook with pain as she watched the StarClan warriors surround Mistybird. Ruststripe took a step forward and locked gazes with Mistybird. The light gray tabby's eyes suddenly turned dark, and silence filled the air.
The ground seemed to shake as the force of Mistybird's anger and hurt left her body. Willowcloud looked away as a single cry escaped from her mother's lungs. Nothing she could do would stop what she knew would happen. Mistybird's body slumped to the ground just as Ruststripe took a step back. His muzzle was lowered in shame.
"No cat should have to suffer what she want through," Silverleaf said.
"And no cat should have to take the life of another," Ruststripe growled.
Careful, we have an enemy to take care of, Poppyfeather hissed.
Willowcloud followed Poppyfeather's gaze. Ghoststar was waking up once more. The pale gray warrior rose to his paws, staggering slightly as he recovered from the shock. His eyes opened and narrowed when he saw the StarClan warriors surrounding Mistybird's body.
"So you've killed your own mother," he sneered.
"She did no such thing," Silverleaf spat. "It's time you were punished for the crimes you've committed!"
Ghoststar's lip curled as a feral snarl escaped from his lungs. He leaped forward, tackling Willowcloud to the ground as he did so. Pain erupted from a previous wound she had received. His teeth were barely a death-blow away when she used her back legs to kick him off.
Her sense of relief was short lived when she felt heavy paws slam against her back. Anger and fear wormed it's way into her heart as she tried to shake her attacker off. She knew that if the attacker could, they would have killed her.
"I'm going to make sure that you don't come back," Ghoststar snarled.
"Let her go!" Silverleaf's cry erupted from nowhere.
His weight was suddenly lifted off her shoulders. Willowcloud staggered to her paws when she realized that Silverleaf was keeping Ghoststar from launching another attack.
"I'll make sure you don't remind any cats of my existence," Ghoststar spat.
Her teeth ground together in fear when she saw Ghoststar grip Silverleaf's throat with his teeth. The silver tabby let out a cry of pain as blood seeped from the fresh wounds.
StarClan, he's hurt her! Willowcloud fought back a cry of terror. If he can do that to Silverleaf, what can he do to me?
She tried not to think about it as he released his grip. Silverleaf was gone. Her faded body had disappeared from the forest.
Anger replaced the fear that she had once felt. Ghoststar had to be killed. He'd managed to destroy a spirit from StarClan. If he could do that, there was no telling what else he was capable of. Her fur was beginning to bristle with outrage as she took a threatening step forward.
"Ha, the little kit wants to fight me now!" Ghoststar's eyes were wild with madness as he glared at her. "I don't think you will ever win," he added coldly.
That is where he is wrong, Poppyfeather snarled. In the Place Of No Stars, he could not be harmed. Out here though, in the real world, he will feel pain. And we will ensure that his death is slow and painful.
Willowcloud found herself hoping that he would feel great pain before he died. For all of the lives lost during his own life, she hoped and prayed that he suffered. He didn't deserve to live in the Place Of No Stars.
Her teeth flashed as she lunged forward. Leaves brushed under her paws, signaling that the time had come. Ghoststar's ears were pricked forward as he used his front paws to block her attack. She saw the move coming and used her own front paws to swipe them against his own. He hissed in outrage as he leaned forward slightly.
She jumped forward with her claws unsheathed. Ghoststar swung his muzzle around when she landed on his back. Without a second thought she clamped her paws over his eyes so that he could not see what was happening. She realized that the StarClan cats were using this as an advantage. Ruststripe swiped a claw across Ghoststar's back legs, allowing blood to cover the leaves. Poppyfeather's furious snarl told her that she was attacking from behind.
Her own claws had begun to dig into his neck. The stench of blood lay heavily in the air. She found it difficult to breath as his sense of panic and fear became her own. Her muscles shook with rage as she leaned forward with her mouth open.
"This is for Mistybird, and all of the others who died before her!" The final words were said as felt his life seep away.
It is finished, Poppyfeather rasped.
It is now time for us to leave, until we are needed again. Willowcloud had left Ghoststar's body, only to be faced by the spirits of StarClan.
"Willowcloud!" The pale gray she-cat stiffened when her voice was called. "You did it!" She realized it was Embertail who'd called her name. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw three bundles of fur keeping together as the medicine cat led them.
"Embertail, thank StarClan you're safe," she murmured. "Keep the kits away," she added when the pale brown cat stopped in midstep. "I don't want them to see this."
"They were asking where we you were," Embertail whispered. "You look like you were hardly injured!"
Her exclamation made Willowcloud recoil in surprise. She looked around at what she could to see that Embertail was right. Were the wounds healed by StarClan?
"He's dead!" Shadow's cry of joy made Embertail's ears flatten. Several cats were standing behind him - the survivors of the battle.
"Who's alive?" Willowcloud asked.
"Mothfire died, along with Grub…. A few rogues lost their lives in the battle too." His voice was filled with sorrow as he thought of the cats that had died.
At least only a few died, she thought. It could have been worse.
"What should we do now?" Embertail asked with a tilt of her head.
"I'm not sure," Willowcloud admitted.
She was honest when she said that. Her mind churned as she thought of the possibilities. Life would get better after Ghoststar's death. A new forest had sprung up after his death, and that meant a new Clan was formed.
A/N: So…Not sure what people will think of this chapter, since I went really quickly through the battle. I apologize for ending it so abruptly. Only one more chapter left to go! Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, you've earned Mistybird plushies :P