"Are we all here?" Brokenstar growled, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. Kyoya sat beside Ivypool, watching her through narrowed eyes. They were about to have a meeting. Kyoya was there representing him and Masemune since they belonged to no Clan, Ivypool represented ThunderClan, Applefur represented ShadowClan and Breezepelt represented WindClan, but the RiverClan representative was still missing. Beetlewhisker soon emerged from the trees.
"Beetlewhisker," Brokenstar greeted the RiverClan warrior with a voice like ice. "Did you have trouble finding your way?"
"I was at the Gathering," Beetlewhisker explained, sitting beside Applefur. "I didn't get to my nest till well after moonhigh."
"You can't be in two Clans at once," Tigerstar murmured, sliding in between Mapleshade and Hawkfrost.
"Can we start now?" Thistleclaw asked, impatiently.
"What's this meeting about?" Sparrowfeather asked, his ears twitching.
Darkstripe flashed Sparrowfeather a warning look before dipping his head to Brokenstar. "Sparrowfeather asks questions like a kit. I've told him already that we've come to praise our brave recruits."
Brokenstar curled his lip.
"Our young warriors have practiced hard," Mapleshade agreed. "I've watched their training carefully. They can climb, run, swim, and fight. Though not enough of them have learned to deal the killed blow." Her gaze drifted toward Beetlewhisker.
"Hmph!" Kyoya grunted. "That move is a walk in the park. How can anyone not get it?" Tigerstar growled with amusement. Good. Just keep up the act and you'll be fine.
"Warriors don't kill," Applefur mewed, frowning.
"Clan cats don't kill but they're not real warriors," Mapleshade hissed, whipping around to face the ShadowClan cat. "If they were, why weren't you satisfied with their training? Why did you seek us out?"
"I thought you sought me out," Applefur replied, a note of uncertainty in Applefur's voice. Ivypool glared at her.
"We reconized your need for better training. It led us to you," Hawkfrost explained.
"That's right," Mapleshade purred, her whiskers twitching. "And you've learned a lot." Her gaze drifted around the cats, meeting each cats gaze.
"You taught us well," Ivypool meowed.
"You certainly did," Kyoya agreed in a growl.
"You had more courage and strength than I imagined," Mapleshade conceded. "I'm proud of your progress."
Brokenstar padded forward. "Pride is not important," he growled as he waved Mapleshade away with a sweep of his tail. "Power is important, and the willingness to use it."
"I ready for anything!" Breezepelt boasted, puffing out his chest.
"You keep doing that you'll be asking someone to kill you," Kyoya growled softly so nobody could hear him.
"Good," Brokenstar's whiskers twitched. "There are difficult times ahead but loyalty to the Dark Forest and hunger for victory will carry you through."
"Victory over what?" Ivypool asked. Brokenstar jerked his head around and stared at her, his eyes blazing like the scorching sun. Ivypool narrowed her eyes and met his gaze.
"Our enemies," Brokenstar growled. "Our courage will be tested but we will be ready."
"Enemies?" Beetlewhisker echoed. "What enemies?"
"Don't you know yet?" Mapleshade asked. "Have your Clanmates ever doubted you even though you were right? Has Mistystar never acted like a mouse-heart, siding with weaker cats while punishing the strong? Have your denmates never treated you like a kit when you are more skillful and dangerous than they would imagine? I don't know how you can bear returning every sunrise to feed and protect such feeble creatures!"
Beetlewhisker bristled. "My Clanmates are not feeble or mouse-brained! Mistystar is noble. If she sides with the weak, it's because the weak need out protection!"
"The weak should be left to fend for themselves," Tigerstar growled, his eyes flashing. Kyoya nodded in agreement, though inside he was faking. That's not what the Clans stand for at all!
Beetlewhisker just blinked. "But that's the opposite of everything the warrior code teaches us!"
Brokenstar lowered his head and spoek quietly. "The warrior code teaches us how to be weak."
"It teaches us how to be strong!" Beetlewhisker snapped. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but you'll never make me despise the warrior code, or my Clan!" He took a step toward Brokenstar. "My Clan thinks it's being targeted by rogues because of you. They're frightened by our nighttime visits to their territory." His voice softened. "I appreciate everything you've taught me, I really do. You've made me a stronger warrior than I could have ever dreamed of being, but I can't stay here. I must leave and protect my Clan. I won't be coming here again." He turned and padded away.
"What are you? Mouse-brained?" Kyoya hissed.
Brokenstar's ears flattened. "No cat leaves the Dark Forest unless I say so." He unsheathed his claws. "Your loyalty is to us now."
Beetlewhisker paused and glanced over his shoulder. "My loyalty is to RiverClan, just as it has always been. You promised me that coming here would make me stronger for my Clanmates. It has, and I'm grateful, but you must have known that I'd leave eventually."
"You really are dumb, aren't you?" Brokenstar growled, his eyes glinting menacingly.
"Not as dumb as you hoped! I'm going, and you can't stop me," Beetlewhisker retorted, lashing his tail.
Brokenstar shot from the circle and blocked Beetlewhisker's path. Ivypool started to move but Thistleclaw stopped her.
"Stay out of this," he wanted.
"Don't go, Beetlewhisker. You've got friends here," Applefur pleaded, fear for the RiverClan warrior filling her eyes.
"Thanks, Applefur." Beetlewhisker nodded to the ShadowClan she-cat. "But I have to go. This is the right time for me to leave."
"Really?" Brokenstar's growled started low and grew louder, sharpening into a screech. He reared up until his shadow spread all the way across the clearing and dived toward Beetlewhisker, forepaws stretched out and teeth bared.
Beetlewhisker's eyes widened in horror. Fight back! Beetlewhisker put up his paws to fend odd the Dark Forest warrior, but Brokenstar knocked him back with a fierce swipe. Beetlewhisker staggered to his paws, blood spurting from his nose. "StarClan help me!"
"You think StarClan listens to what happens here?" Brokenstar hissed. He lunged forward and clamped his jaws around Beetlewhisker's neck. Brokenstar lifted his head unti a crack split the air. Beetlewhisker fell limp in Brokenstar's jaws. His body thumped to the ground as the Dark Forest warrior dropped it.
"Would anyone else like to leave? Applefur?" Brokenstar challenged, resting a menacing gaze on the ShadowClan she-cat. "Do you want to return to your Clan?"
"N-no," Applefur stammered shifting her paws. Ivypool pressed against against her reassuringly.
"Breezepelt?" Brokenstar turned his gaze to the WindClan warrior was gazing at Beetlewhisker's body through narrowed eyes. "Did you hear me?" Brokenstar growled quietly.
"Why would I leave the strongest Clan?" Breezepelt lifted his head. "My Clan wastes too much time looking after the sick and old. If you led us, we'd never have to beg another Clan for help again.
Brokenstar stepped over Beetlewhisker's body and strode back into the circle. He flashed Kyoya a look, as if he were daring him to try and leave. Kyoya returned to look. In your dreams Brokenstar!
"You will always stay here," Brokenstar told them. "You will be loyal to me. Or I will kill every one of you. Starting with you." He thrust his muzzle into Applefur's face, who swallowed. "Say nothing to any cat," he continued. "You will fight alongside us. And if I hear any one of you spreading rumors and lies among your Dark Forest Clanmates, you will suffer beyond anything you have ever known." He turned his back and pushed his way between Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. "Go," he growled, disappearing into the shadows. "Train my warriors. The final battle is near."
Tigerstar's gaze rested on Ivypool, who met it. "My recruits will be ready when the battle comes," she vowed. "We're ready to kill every lake cat we meet."
Applefur winced in alarm beside Ivypool. Tigerstar stared for a moment before disappearing into the darkness. Hawkfrost nodded at Ivypool, his eyes glowing. As he passed Beetlewhisker's blood-streaked body, he kicked it viciously. "I never trusted him anyway." With that he padded off into the gloom.
Kyoya then awoke to piercing dawn light glittering through the camp. Most cats were still asleep. Masemune was even still asleep. Thistleclaw had passed over his training to Kyoya. Oh, we'll be ready, and we'll beat every last one of the Dark Forest cats!