Chapter 21: The Dark Leader...

Breezepelt sat in the centre of the island, his thin black fur being tugged by the wind. He was remembering what the other clan leaders had told him. They had found out that Darkclan was sheltering in the island. They had threatened to drive them out if they didn't leave. Breezepelt knew they weren't ready to take on the clans, nor was he. For power he needed lives. Nine. Lives.

I can give you them Breezepelt.

Breezepelt suddenly pricked his ears. You can?

Yes, you've met me before, I'm surprised you haven't worked out who I am yet. Go to sleep, you will have you leader ceremony in your dreams...

Breezepelt warily obeyed and found a bush to fall asleep under, quickly the darkness consumed him.

Breezepelt woke up to a very familiar place. A pair of amber eyes greeted him. Breezepelt quickly leaped up and stared in awe at the cat.

"Tigerstar..." Breezepelt whispered. Tigerstar grinned.

"Welcome back, Breezepelt." The tabby led him with a sweep of his tail. Breezepelt followed obediently. Excited.

Breezepelt was led into the clearing where they trained, blood splatters stained the ground. The muddy ground sucked at his paws, and the twisted roots of the trees snapped at his paws. Breezepelt looked around and saw the dark forest cats, he noticed that Tigerstar, Hawkfrost and Brokenstar were all extremely faded. "How did you come back?"

Tigerstar grinned and unsheathed his claws. "Me, Brokenstar and Hawkfrost are half lives. We can only exist in reality as a voice and in the dark forest as ghosts. Our life span if very limited."

Breezepelt's expression of relief warped into despair immediately. "But, what happens when that life span runs out?"

Tigerstar growled. "We simply fade from existence forever."

Brokenstar unsheathed his claws. "But we won't let that happen."

Breezepelt tilted his head to one side in confusion. "How?"

Hawkfrost smiled. "By taking a form in the real world."

Tigerstar silenced them with a powerful glare. "Enough of this. We need to make a new leader." Brokenstar and Hawkfrost nodded.

Nine cats lined up, the first padded up to him with ruthless eyes. It was the mottled ginger tom, Redwillow. "With this life I give you courage."

Breezepelt expected Redwillow to touch his nose to his forehead but what he got was completely unexpected. Redwillow unsheathed his claws, and lifted one paw into the air. With one claw, he sliced Breezepelt's shoulder open. Breezepelt felt energy flow into him and he felt himself grow stronger.

Breezepelt looked down at his shoulder, it was bleeding heavily, and would no doubt leave a scar.

Next Snowtuft took Redwillow's place. Snowtuft grinned and again slashed his claw into Breezepelt's shoulder. "With this life I give you loyalty. To the dark forest."

Snowtuft was followed by Maggottail who gave him quick thinking.

Then Mapleshade grinned as she slashed as his pelt and gave him the life of insanity.

Next Breezepelt recognised the grey pelt of Thistleclaw. His yellow eyes narrowed. "I give you the life of battle skills, use them to kill your enemies and to train your warriors to be invincible." He finished by adding another gash on Breezepelt's shoulder.

Then Darkstripe leaped up to him, he didn't smile, but his eyes glowed dangerously in the misty dark. "With this life I give you leadership, use it to lead your clan into battle and be the most powerful leader the lake has ever known!" He added yet again another wound to Breezepelt's shoulder. The pain was so intense, it burnt like fire, he didn't know if the pain would stop.

Brokenstar padded up to him next, his eyes serious as always, a fierce glare that never seemed to leave them. His pelt was almost invisible, you could barely register that he was there. "With this life I give you ruthlessness, use it to kill anyone without a second thought, then you will become a legend." Brokenstar unsheathed a claw and sliced Breezepelt's shoulder deeper than anyone had before. It started gushing out blood. Breezepelt bit back a whimper of pain, he couldn't show weakness in front of these cats.

The next cat was Hawkfrost, his faint frost blue eyes glinted weakly. He was defiantly fading from existence. "With this life I give you strength, over power anyone you meet in battle and in words." He unsheathed his claws and sliced Breezepelt's shoulder. It didn't hurt as much as Brokenstar but the pain was still intense.

The final cat stepped forward, Breezepelt wasn't surprised that the leader of the dark forest would give him his last life. He dipped his head to Tigerstar. His thick tabby pelt was almost faded, however his amber eyes glinted the brightest. He was the strongest. "I was the voice in your head Breezepelt, for now I will continue being your guide. But the time is coming, when my paws will become solid again. I will return."

"With this life." He unsheathed his claws, a thorn sharp, curved weapon of death. "I give you ambition, to make yourself the strongest warrior that the lake has ever known."

"I now name you Breezestar! Leader of Darkclan!" Tigerstar yowled and sliced his claw into Breezestar's shoulder, he left the deepest, longest wound. Breezestar looked at it, his shoulder was a mess of loose tissue. "now go, lead your clan and destroy those who did wrong to you."

"BREEZESTAR! BREEZESTAR!" The dark warriors shouted. Breezestar's shape started fading, the dark forest blurring around him. He felt himself fall into nothing, he was floating in the dark. With only the excruciating pain of his shoulder to keep him company.

Breezestar blinked open his eyes, the faint, dawn sunlight stroked his ruffled fur. He looked at his shoulder, it was scarred now. The flesh looked like it had been healed for moons. It is your mark, to show you are leader.

Breezestar heard Tigerstar's voice once again. He got up, and walked over to where his warriors were resting. Thornclaw looked up at him. His expression turned into horror when he saw his shoulder. "What happened!?"

Breezestar flicked his thin tail. "I have received my nine lives from the dark forest, I am now Breezestar."

All the cats started shouting his name with glee. Breezestar puffed out his chest, pride surging through him. "Now, we need to make our clan stronger."

"I need a deputy, and not a medicine cat, but a healer. We will not consult with Starclan. However we will need healing when we enter battle. We also need a home."

Breezestar raised his head and leapt onto the lowest branch of the tree. "I say these words before the claws of the dark forest, so they may hear and approve of my choice, the first deputy of Darkclan will be..."

Choose someone who is battle hungry, you will need them for the fight to come...

Breezestar nodded then continued. "The deputy will be Ratscar."

Ratscar jumped up with excitement, Breezestar could see the hunger in his eyes.

Excellent choice, Breezestar, but watch your back... he may be what you need but he could be a threat to your leadership..

Now, Darkclan needed a healer. "Now we need a healer, one with a desire to heal and learn the ways of herbs." Breezestar meowed.

Nearly all of his clanmates were avoiding his gaze, much more keen to fight than to mend the weak. However Breezestar knew there was one cat who was looking happier at the prospect to avoid fighting. "Minnowtail. What do you think?" Breezestar eyed the dappled, grey she-cat.

Minnowtail shyly looked up to him, "I would like to be Darkclan's healer."

Breezestar grinned. "Excellent, looks like you will fit into Darkclan after all."

Ratscar lifted his tail. "If I may interrupt, does Minnowtail know anything about healing?"

Minnowtail ducked her head. "Actually, I sometimes helped Mothwing a little."

Breezestar nodded. "Good. You're going to need supplies."

Minnowtail looked up at him with confused amber eyes. "Why?"

Breezestar grinned and raised his voice for all the warriors to hear. "Because we are going to battle!"

Minnowtail's eyes turned into a wide expression of horror. "Why?!"

Breezestar growled and paced while on the thick branch. "You think we can stay on the island forever? When they find out, they will chase us out, we need territory, then we can grow stronger, create a clan, put fear in their hearts."

Ratscar grinned but suddenly, his evil smile dropped. "But even one clan would outnumber us two to one!"

Breezestar was secretly comforted by the fact that the evil cat did have a little sense.

"I have a plan...hostages..."

OHHHHH!

What's Breezy planning, oh and he's a leader now! Whoooo!

No I know many of you would like to kill him

Please remember to review and fav and all that stuff, then I will cry with happiness!

The next chapter is going to be well epic!

Bye! xx