The Heart of a Lion

Chapter 25: Breezepelt's Demise

"You have to let me go. This has nothing to do with you. This is about the well being of all the Clans," I hissed.

He sneered. "I think it has everything to do with me. It is hysterical how you think you could get away with all this. Well, breaking the warrior code doesn't work that way."

"Blackmailing a Clanmate is against the warrior code too." I stared past him and ventured a step forward.

Breezepelt flashed a paw out at me, blocking my way. "Not the way I see it. You are finally getting what you deserve."

I was so angry I was imagining five hundred different ways to kill him in my head. "Onestar is on his way right now to declare war on ThunderClan! Is this really what you want?"

"Sure it is. You will finally see the consequence of your mistake," Breezepelt replied. "I was here all along. I liked you a lot, but you never even glanced my way. You were too busy sneaking over the border to see that ThunderClan mouse-brain. Was I such a bad match for you that you would rather break the warrior code than be with me? You blatantly rejected me. Like everyone always does. I don't need acceptance though. I don't need your love to be happy anymore. I realize that. I am powerful enough to rise above it, to be stronger than you can imagine, and I am willing to watch you suffer until you realize that we could've been great together. It is too late for that now, though. You are nothing but a traitor now."

"We could have never been together. You are too full of jealousy and hate," I spat with as much venom as I could. "You are only bringing out the worst in yourself. If you want revenge on me, that's fine, but you can't do this to both our Clans. I have to fix this. If you would just let me go I can."

Breezepelt stared back at me coldly as if he was reflecting on what I just said, but he shrugged it off. "I am obeying my leader now. You are not leaving this spot."

I knew arguing with him was pointless. He was set on having his revenge, and if watching the Clans be torn apart over my kits was how he satisfied his brutish craving, then there was nothing to do to help him. I slinked to the back of the den, scouring the walls for any way to escape.

I was in luck. The back of the den had weak braces. The grass was woven loosely so I could faintly see the world outside. I wrenched at the stems with my claws, tearing a hole in the screen. Looking back out to make sure Breezepelt didn't notice. He had his back turned to me. I ripped at the grass quickly and silently, making a hole big enough for a cat to slip through.

I triumphantly squeezed out. Most of the warriors went with Onestar so there wasn't anyone who could see me this close to the edge of camp. The only thing that stood in my way was Barkface's den, but I didn't see Barkface or Kestrelflight hovering near the entrance. I made a run for it and was soon streaking across the moor.

I was too late to stop Onestar's challenge. I knew he left way before me, and I tingled with fear when I thought of what could be happening. I sprinted the whole way to the ThunderClan border, but it still felt like I was in a haze in which time could not go by any slower. I skidded to a halt when I saw the WindClan patrol. They were moving deeper into ThunderClan territory. I was about to go after them when a midnight black fury darted in front of me, the nightmare from the deepest recesses of a backened soul.

"You thought you could escape, honey? You got another thing coming." Breezepelt lunged at me, striking me across the face.

I threw myself into the battle, leaping and clawing his side. I quickly crouched down and drove him back with vicious clawed paws. He was infuriated and nothing was going to stop his fury now. He snapped at my tail, and I whisked it away just in time. I backed up a few steps, planning my next attack.

Breezepelt rushed at me again, this time knocking my paws out from under him in a snake-like move I had never seen before. I thudded to the ground, and his claws dug into my throat.

"And to think that once I thought we could ever be together," Breezepelt growled in my ear. "Now you can only give me one thing-the pleasure of watching you die."

He had my head pressed to the dirt so I couldn't see what happened next, but suddenly Breezepelt's weight was lifted off me, and the sound of brawling cats erupted through the forest. I scrambled to my paws and saw Lionblaze had Breezepelt by the throat, biting down hard enough so that Breezepelt's writhing body fell limp. It was so swift, the cracking sound so deft, that it was over quickIy. I stared with disbelief.

Breezepelt fell to the ground, a lifeless mass of fur. I couldn't believe this miserable scrap of fur could possibly be him. He was still faintly breathing, and he jerked his head up to glare at me. Blood pooled from his throat, but he hardly seemed to care. My paws locked to the ground as he crawled over to me, half dragging himself. I never felt so afraid.

He collapsed before he reached me and died. His eyes remained vengeful even in death.

Lionblaze breathed heavily, and I noticed he was shaking from the shock of what he just did.

"Lionblaze," I said. "You protected me." I shoved my head in his fur.

"I know," he said.