Chapter 23

HOWSITGOINBRODIS

So, last chapter, JAGGEDSCAR RETURNED TO THUNDERCLAN! We also met Scourge and Shadestar, the first Dark Forest cat. Let's see what happens next, shall we?

Also, some of you may have noticed that I keep on deleting my other stories. That's because I really want to concentrate on Part 1 of this trilorgy. I may change the title of the story; I want it to sound better.

Here we go!

Shadestar padded around me. "Oh, yes," he purred in an eerie tone. "This will be fun." His pelt was beginning to prick up in excitement, and I could smell his hot breath on my face. His muscles bunched together as he kept walking.

Scourge walked up and examined me next. I tried not to tremble and shake when the ice-blue eyes stared through me like daggers. I gulped as I saw his claws. Even in death they were reinforced with dog's teeth, like his collar. Had death become so much a part of him that they were fused to his spirit?

Scourge let out a noise that sounded like shattering glass. I assumed it was some sick, cruel laughter. "You were right, Hawkfrost. This one does look strong. He will be... exeptional for our purposes."

I was close to panick at this point. I almost cried out when I saw Hawkfrost nod and turn away. "Wait, where are you going?"

Hawkfrost turned back to look at me. "My father requested my presence." I wanted to cry out, don't leave me, but I couldn't summon the courage. Hawkfrost was out of my sight in moments. I looked back to Shadestar and Scourge. They were discussing something. When they saw me looking, they turned to me.

"We thought it best to educate you in battle moves first," Scourge meowed. Before he even finished talking, he had flung himself into the air and slammed into me. I hissed and gritted my teeth. I knew better than to complain about his sneaky tactics. Scourge was Scourge, that was that.

I hit the ground hard, and panted as I pulled myself up. Scourge stood over me, grinning evilly. "Come on, is that the best you've got?" I growled as my teeth met in his forepaw. I kept my head at an awkward angle, trying to avoid the dog's teeth fastened to his claws. He flicked his paw. I jerked my head off of his paw before the claws swept past my eyes.

"What was that?" I snarled. "You nearly blinded me!"

Scourge shrugged. His face was a mask of indifference. "So would an enemy. But would you say that to him?"

I growled back in my throat. I gathered the muscles in my haunches and sprung. Scourge nimbly leaped aside, and then threw me to the ground once more. I saw him leap for me again, but this time his claws weren't pulled back. They were out and gleaming in the sickly moonlight. I gasped and rolled to the side just before Scourge's claws gauged into the earth. I shuddered when I saw how deep they had gone.

Scourge turned back to me again. "Stop fighting like a kit. I don't want you to be easy, because I know you aren't." I stayed still as Scourge continued, sucking in small breaths of air. "I want you to fight, because I know that you are the one we've been looking for." Scourge leaped once more as he finished the small rant.

This time, I rolled with the impact and smashed a paw down on Scourge's head. Scourge snarled and head-butted me. I lost my grip and rolled backwards, yowling. Scourge jumped back over and held up a paw. I scrabbled to get away, but this time I caught the tips of the dog's teeth. Pain like fire seared through my back, and I felt warm blood trickle through my fur.

I immediately jumped up and slashed at Scourge. My claws caught his ear and tore a nick in it. Blood spurted out and I felt some spatter on my fur. Scourge let out a yowl but I continued. I slashed through his leg. More blood pooled out. Scourge suddenly shot up, knocking me over.

"Enough!" Scourge growled. I looked up, suddenly fearful. Was Scourge so mad that he would decide to kill me? But instead of anger, I saw a cold satisfaction in Scourge's eyes.

"Good work," Scourge meowed, looking over his wounds. "We will continue soon." Scourge then turned away, and padded through the undergrowth until he ceased to be visible.

"That's it?" I asked, turning to Shadestar. The dark tom looked thoughtful as he gazed upon me. I almost cringed under his gaze. His eyes were incredibly dark, filled with hate and evil.

"No," Shadestar mewed. "We will come back." He turned and padded away as well, leaving me alone. I began to lap at my wounds. As I twisted over to my back, I heard a yowl fill the air. I turned, and began to move towards the sound.

I crouched under the bushes, crawling fast and quietly. I moved to the clearing where I had first met Tigerstar. The ferns and trees now gave shelter to Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, and a third cat. The newcomer was not at all strange to me. I had seen him before. He had a ginger pelt and glowing amber eyes. His pelt was bushed up in excitement, and he nodded eagerly at somethingTigerstar was saying.

It was Lionblaze.

I watched curiously as Lionblaze leaped for Hawkfrost. Hawkfrost and Lionblaze fought for a while, until Hawkfrost crumpled down. Lionblaze leaped upward, ready for another attack.

I was so absorbed, that I almost didn't notice when Tigerstar looked directly at me. I didn't have to think about anything to realize that he knew I was there. I desperately began to scrabble backwards. I felt my heart leap into my throat when Tigerstar called my name.

"Jaggedscar, would you like to join our training session?" Tigerstar had an evil gleam in his eyes as he called me out of the bushes. I cursed silently as I crawled ungracefully out of the bushes. Hawkfrost looked faintly surprised, while keeping his mouth shut.

Lionblaze, however, looked completely bewildered. His eyes were wide open in shock, and his jaw hung slack. He was completely tense, and as I walked over, he padded towards me. "Jaggedscar, what-"

Tigerstar interrupted him. "Lionblaze, would you please show Jaggedscar the move we have been working on?" He held a look of pure amusement on his face. He was enjoying the awkwardness of the situation.

I stood firm. As Lionblaze got into position, he looked uncertain. Then Tigerstar said something that made my blood run cold.

"Actually, let's make it interesting. You will fight eachother to determine your abilities on the battlefield.

Lionblaze looked at Tigerstar with a mix of shock and anger in his eyes. I stood at my spot, trying to decide what to do. Obey Tigerstar and hurt Lionblaze, or disobey Tigerstar and probably get killed.

Lionblaze turned and faced me. I could easily read his face: I don't want to hurt you!

I growled through my teeth. "Don't hold back, Lionblaze." And I leaped.

Lionblaze caught me as I fell. I growled and swiped my paw across his flank. My claws were sheated, and My paw bounced across the golden fur. Lionblaze twisted and battered me with his front paws, claws sheathed. I jerked back and gently bit into Lionblaze's fur.

"Unsheath your claws!" Tigerstar yelled. "Don't fight like apprentice's, fight like warriors!"

I hesitated. I felt conflicted about hurting my Clanmate, and even worse, one of the Three. Lionblaze, however, must have gotten the Death Glare from Hawkfrost, because he leaped at me without hesitation. I could see the tips of his claws poking out past his paws.

I whipped to the side and his claws passed harmlessly through my fur. I unsheathed my own claws, clean since the Great Battle, and turned them on my Clanmate. I yowled as I ripped a paw down Lionblaze's flank. He growled, but no blood came out of the wound.

"How-" I was cut off as Lionblaze crashed into me, slicing at my legs. I quickly reared up, dragging my claws across his chest. This time, blood came pouring out of the wound. I was about to bring my claws crashing onto his back, but Lionblaze veered away like a snake. My paws slammed on dry ground. I snarled as I saw Lionblaze coming around out of the corner of my eye. As he was about to hit me, I brought my paw up.

My claws caught his jaw, sending him careening into a tree. He staggered back into the clearing and jumped. He hit me hard and fast, and I felt the wounds on my back re-opening, as well as a new one on my flank. I was about to retaliate when -

"Gahh-" I shot up in my nest. My head rustled against the branches of the warrior's den. I looked around. I was back in the Thunderclan camp. I looked around the den for Lionblaze's sleeping form. I found it immediately, ruffled and bleeding from a small wound on his chest. I looked guiltily at my claws. They still bore traces of his blood.

I looked back at my flank. It was still bleeding, and some of the blood had dripped into my nest. I quickly lapped up the blood on my flank and moved out of the nest to get cobwebs for the wound from Jaypaw. I was about to leave when a voice called my name.

"Jaggedscar?" I looked back and saw Lionblaze was now fully awake, looking at me with a mix of shock and anger. "What were you doing back there?"

I looked at him for a few minutes, and shot out of the den. I moved quickly through the clearing, ignoring Birchfall's gasp of surprise as I rocketed out of the thorn tunnel. I kept on moving, only knowing I wanted to outrun Lionblaze and his questions. I heard rustling behind me, and I heard a voice growling to itself about my... stubbornness? I shook my head. I didn't want to talk to Lionblaze right now.

Lionblaze was fast, however, and my years of refusing to lift weights finally took their toll. I felt myself slowing down, and I heard Lionblaze move up behind me. He tackled me to the ground, and pinned me down. I looked up into his eyes, dark pools of amber. They locked with my eyes, and we stayed like that for a moment before Lionblaze hissed.

"Now, I'm going to let you up. When I do, I want you to tell me what you were doing back in that forest. Okay?" I nodded, albiet reluctantly. I knew Lionblaze wouldn't listen to what I would tell him, so what was the point?

Lionblaze gave a curt nod before letting me up. I groaned and twisted my back, hearing a few joints pop as I turned. "Man, you pack a punch." Lionblaze narrowed his eyes, and I sighed. " Alright. I was being trained, like you were. Only... By different cats."

Lionblaze looked surprised. "They're training you too?"

I hissed. "They are not who you think they are. They will use you and other Clan cats to get back at Starclan for banishing them to the Drak Forest. They don't care about you, they only care about how well you can fight."

Lionblaze looked bewildered, but then he sat down on the forest floor.

"Alright. Tell me more."