Hey everyone, i know that it has been wayyyyy too long since i updated this story and honestly i really dont have an excuse as to why. I lost my inspiration for a while and just couldnt get myself to sit down in front of the computer and type. Plus school got in the way as it usually does. Please enjoy this chapter that i worked so hard on and i really love it. I cant wait to hear what you all think of it so please leave me a review letting me know what you think!
Plus i know that this chapter is structured a bit differently than my usual ones. So bear with my and give it a shot, i know you all will love it!
As usual, read, review and enjoy!
-Tigerflower08
Reedstar emerged from his den, his yellow eyes blazing as he called a meeting. "Let all cats join me at the center of camp for a clan meeting." Reedstar stood at the center of the camp, his dark blue gray pelt fluffed out to make him look nearly twice his size. He dug his long claws into the ground wildly as he waited for his clanmates to gather around him. His clanmates formed a half circle in front of him, sitting in two rows waiting expectantly to hear what their leader had to say. Once all his clanmates had gathered around him, Reedstar began the meeting.
"We cannot allow Thunderclan to continue to get away with their crimes" Reedstar began, pacing back and forth as his clanmates watched him, some with fear in their eyes.
"It is time they paid for their crimes" Reedstar continued "Starclan has done nothing to stop them so we must take matters into our own paws."
Flameclaw watched his leader carefully from his seat in the second row beside his sister and her mate Bumblestrike. The ginger tom felt and uneasy feeling creep though his pelt and his claws unsheathed nervously.
"We have been at war for many moons now, but this way hasn't been bloody enough" The tom's yellow stained teeth glittered in the sunlight as a few cheers erupted around him.
A growl rumbled deeply in Flameclaw's chest as he watched the leader he had once respected as an apprentice from his seat in the crowd. Spottedwhisker and Galeforce sat on his right side with Foxstreak bristling in front of him. The ginger tom shot a look to his siter Swirlspots and the cream she-cat leaned closer to him as he hissed.
"You need to stop this" he hissed "This is going too far, this can't be what starclan wants, and he is going to lead the clan to its demise."
"Before we head to battle, I think it is due time for a ceremony" Reedstar continued, his yellow eyes glinting as he spoke "Blazekit, Emberkit and Scorchkit step forward."
The three kits, sitting outside the nursery with their mother Doveheart, looked shocked barely standing up before getting yelled at.
"Well hurry up" Reedstar snarled, at his command the three kits scurried through the crows over to their leader.
"You shall from this day forward be known as Emberpaw, Blazepaw and Scorchpaw. Your mentors shall be-"
"Can Nightswallow be my mentor?" Scorchpaw spoke up, his fluffy pale ginger pelt quivering before looked down at his paws.
Nightswallow stepped forward to speak but a sharp hiss from Reedstar sent her scurrying backwards to sit back down.
"That's nonsense Scorchpaw" Reedstar meowed, laying his tail across the small tom's shoulders "Who would want to be a medicine cat, stinking of herbs and sickness when you can be a warrior. A warrior who protects their clanmates, no your mentor will be Foxstreak. Blazepaw your mentor shall be Sunvine and Emberpaw your mentor will be Shalepelt." Shalepelt and Foxstreak stared ahead in shock as their apprentices scurried away from Reedstar.
"We shall invade Thunderclan's territory at Sunhigh" Reedstar yowled.
"Swirlspots" Flameclaw hissed "You have to do something about this, you can't let him take my kits to war."
Swirlspots closed her eyes, looking away from her brother as her shoulder slumped in defeat.
"Foxstreak?" Flameclaw hissed, the ginger she-cat glanced behind her before sighing "What do you want me to do Flameclaw? He is our leader."
"Tomorrow we go to war" Reedstar cried. Some warriors cheered alone, Sunvine the loudest. The rest of the clan watched quietly, a sense of dread passing over them.
Drizzlelight trudged through the territory closely following those who had accompanied her on the hunting patrol. Stoneshine led the patrol deeper into the forest heading towards snakerocks. The long furred gray tom was followed by an eager Snowpaw right at his heels. The white tom followed his mentor eagerly in the brisk frosty sunhigh morning.
Drizzlelight hung back, scuffing her paws along the frost covered dead leaves on the forest floor, her ears lay flat against her head and she grumbled to herself as she followed after her new "mentor". She looked ahead to see Stoneshine and Snowpaw were getting further and further ahead of her and the tabby brown she-cat picked up the pace just as she heard a high pitched shriek. Drizzlelight turned her ears towards the sound but when it stopped she took a few steps forward. As she was about to run to catch up with the patrol she heard it again, now more of I a high pitched squeal. She turned her narrowed amber eyes towards the direction of the sounds. Sunningrocks!
"Drizzlelight?"
The brown tabby she-cat turned towards the direction of the voice to see Snowpaw trotting towards her. Drizzlelight looked at Snowpaw for a moment before turning her gaze towards Sunningrocks. Suddenly Stoneshine appeared from the brush, his amber eyes narrowed and his shaggy gray fur bristling. The snarling gray tom pushed Snowpaw with his forepaw.
"Snowpaw, go back to camp and get help. Tell them there is trouble at Sunningrocks"
The white tom's fur fluffed out and his amber eyes flashed with fear and then determination. With a quick nod the young tom bolted back in the direction of camp. Stoneshine turned his eyes on Drizzlelight and without a word the two Thunderclan warriors raced towards the sounds of fighting.
Squirreltail fought to catch her breath as she scrambled backwards to avoid the outstretched claws of her attacker. The Riverclan cats had appeared so suddenly and easily began to overwhelm the Thunderclan fighting patrol. Since there were no apprentices on the patrol and all of the warriors on the patrol were too overwhelmed to send someone for help. Lichenfur tussled with a larger white tom while a springy brown tom with crinkled whiskers tried to hold the black she-cat down. Skyshine managed to hold off a much smaller white tom that looked more nervous than eager, no fight behind his half attempts at striking the gray and white Thunderclan tom. A large ginger tom stalked in a circle around Flowertail, his tail lashing back and forth. Slinking up behind the ginger and white she-cat was a large gray and black striped tom who seemed to think the young she-cat was distracted. He leapt backwards in surprise when the fierce she-cat spun quickly leaping towards him.
Squirreltail spat in anger as she felt claws connect with her muzzle, her attention back on her attacker. The long furred black she-cat snarled her yellow green eyes glinting with triumph, the fierce black she-cat before her was young but fought with deceiving blows that hinted at experience. The older ginger warrior leapt backwards as another black paw lashed out, nearly hitting her squarely in the jaw.
Squirreltail yowled in pain feeling a sharp pain across her back as another cat raked their claws down her spine. Snarling she turned sharply, lashing out and raking her claws across the smug tortoiseshell she-cats face. The dappled she-cat stumbled and fell backwards with the force of Squirreltail's blow and when she collapsed the black Riverclan warrior snarled her eyes flashing wildly.
"Leave her alone you foxheart"
Squirreltail turned to face the young spotted warrior but collapsed as she was pounced on and yowled when the black she-cat sunk her teeth into her shoulder. Squirreltail struggled under the she-cat for a few heartbeats and although the she-cat was younger than Squirreltail, her large body size kept Squirreltail pinned to the ground.
"Thanks Driftflight" the smaller dappled she-cat grumbled, shaking the blood from her muzzle.
Squirreltail tried going limp to see if Driftflight's grip would loosen but she only felt the pressure go from her shoulder to her throat. As the black she-cat lifted her head, she used her forepaw to hold Squirreltail down.
"Nice try you foxheart" the Driftflight snarled and Squirreltail flinched under her crazed yellow green gaze "I may be young but I know Thunderclan's tricks" the she-cat raised her other forepaw, her long claws glinted as the light hit them, poised for a death strike.
"Then you know that Thunderclan never fights alone" a voice snarled and as Driftflight slowly lifted her head to see who had spoken a large gray blur slammed into her body, knocking her off of Squirreltail.
Squirreltail shakily stood to her paws, struggling to catch her breath the ginger she-cat spotted Stoneshine standing over Driftflight. The black she-cat's eyes were glazing over and Squirreltail stiffened spotting the gaping wound just below her throat, blood flowed freely from the wound and Squirreltail wrinkled her nose at the smell.
"You foxhearts"
Squirreltail turned to see the tortoiseshell she-cat staring at them, anger blazing in her silver eyes, without another word the dappled she-cat vanished among her fighting clanmates.
Squirreltail cast a disapproving look towards her mate but Stoneshine just shook his head "There is no time to discuss this right now, we need to protect our clanmates" With a nod Squirreltail took off to help Flowertail, Stoneshine vanished in the direction of Skyshine.
Lionstreak sat beside Birdstrike just outside the Thunderclan camps main entrance. The two warriors had been left behind to guard the camp with the apprentices while the rest of the warriors met Riverclan head on at Sunningrocks. The golden tom's tail tip flicked back and forth as he nervously kept watch, every falling leaf and every snapping twig demanded his attention and an anxious shiver rippled through his pelt as he listened for anything that may be caused by intruders. The forest was dead silent; not even the scurrying of prey could be heard. The only sound surrounding the toms was the sound of dead leaves settling to the forest floor.
Lionstreak felt Birdstrike puff up beside him for a moment before the dark striped tom let out a long breath that he had been holding in. Lionstreak turned his icy blue eyes towards the tom to speak but was cut off by a shrill shriek from within the camp.
Without a moment's hesitation the two toms burst into the camp taking in the scene around them. The apprentices scuffled on the forest floor against a pair of plump but small Riverclan apprentices. Brightwing and Willowfall were locked in battle with the bulky Riverclan warriors while Petalblossom blocked the entrance to the nursery. The pretty silver tabby was fluffed out to twice her size and was snarling menacingly, her blue eyes blazing like flames. Whitefog and Silverstreak stood outside the elders den keeping all Riverclan cats from entering while Rowanflight and Leopardlight bristled as they looked for a way to help their battling clanmates.
Willowfall struggled to gain the upper paw in her fight against the bulky ginger she-cat, Foxstreak. The large ginger she-cat held Willowfall down by the shoulders and pummeled the pale tabby's soft belly with her hind paws. Willowfall yowled as she felt thorn sharp claws digging into her skin, a sharp stinging sensation prickled across her belly and the scent of blood hit her nose.
Swiftbreeze fought to catch his breath, a fresh wound above his eye stinging sharply and blood dripped down into his eyes. He roughly shook his head to clear his blurred vision and scrambled backwards as the black she-cat advanced towards him. Her blue eyes glinted eagerly as she watched the young warrior scurry from her in fear and her white forepaws were stained with blood.
The young blue tom smirked as the she-cat let down her guard, her overconfidence making her more likely to slip up. He quickly dove forward, as quickly as any Windclan warrior and pushed his body upward, feeling contact between his back and her belly. He threw the black she-cat towards the brambles that he had been backing up towards and heard the she-cat yowl as the thorns tore into her pelt. Turning from the she-cat Swiftbreeze headed back into the battle. Pain flashed across his face as he felt thorn sharp claws slice down his side, ripping his pelt open. Turning to face his attacker, claws ready to tear flesh, Swiftbreeze stopped. He found himself staring into the playful amber eyes of Galeforce. Swiftbreeze took a few steps back, as did Galeforce, the white tom shook the confusion from his feature before shooting Swiftbreeze an apologetic look to the wound, seeping blood, on his side before disappearing back into the battle.
Swiftbreeze shook his confusion away before taking a deep breath and heading towards his battling father.
Lionstreak looked towards his mate as a bulky blue she-cat approached the nursery, his heart clenched as he watched his smaller mate take a step back as the blue she-cat approached her. The pale tabby's blue eyes wavered for a moment in fear before she gathered the courage to stand her ground.
"Move out of the way mouseheart" the blue tabby snarled, unsheathing her long claws her teeth glinting in the light "We're here for the kit, there is no reason for you to get hurt."
Petalblossom narrowed her blazing blue eyes "No cat will enter this nursery" she hissed "Not if I have any say in it." Without another word the small pale tabby launched herself at the blue she-cat taking her by surprise and bowling her larger body over.
Lionstreak took a step in the direction of the nursery to help his mate when he heard a voice behind him.
"Lionkit" a voice sneered from behind him "Leave the she-cats be."
Lionstreak stiffened, feeling his fur standing on end and digging his claws into the ground, he turned to face the tom speaking to him.
The sandy gray striped tom smirked and lashed his tail tip back and forth "Your fight is with me."
"The name is Lionstreak now" Lionstreak snarled, his ginger pelt fluffed out and his muscles rippling as he and the other tom began to circle each other "What are you doing here Sunvine?"
Sunvine shrugged nonchalantly, digging his long claws into the dirt as he paced "Well, I couldn't stay away forever now could I? You're my kit after all, I have a right to check up on you."
"You call this checking up?" Lionstreak snarled "You've been banished from this territory. Now leave" he narrowed his ice blue eyes "Or I'll make you."
Drizzlelight scuffled with a pale white tom with intense amber eyes, the tom's moves were sloppy and his blows were half-hearted during the rare event of contact. The tabby she-cat found she could easily evade his strike, a fury building inside her that she had only felt a few times in her life. These cats were responsible for her father's death, they all needed to pay. A snarl built up in her chest as she launched herself at the tom, fear flashed in his eyes as she crashed into him digging her claws into his chest.
The white tom yowled in pain as he tried to wiggle out of her grasp. Drizzlelight narrowed her eyes and dug her claws deeper into his body, blood welled up in the wounds around her claws and her heart began to pound in her chest beating faster as his yowls of pain quickened. A sneer pulled at her lips as she felt his struggling weaken below her. Suddenly claws dug into her body and she felt herself being ripped away from her prey below her, the white tom leapt to his paws and charged into the water heading back onto Riverclan's territory.
Drizzlelight turned and swatted at the cat responsible but stopped mid strike seeing Shimmerlight staring at her in shock.
"He was done Drizzlelight" The ginger she-cat meowed disapprovingly "When your enemy surrenders, you let them go. We don't fight to kill." Without another word the deputy stalked away, heading towards Squirreltail who was struggling against a springy brown tom with yellow eyes.
Drizzlelight looked around the battlefield for her next victim, Bluecloud and Swiftbreeze fought side by side. Father and son both worked together to hold back a large gray striped tom and a ginger tom. Bumblestrike and Flameclaw if Drizzlelight remembered correctly, Stoneshine and Skyshine worked together to chase off Spottedwhisker, a young tom that the brown tabby had fought against before. Mossdapple rolled around with a tortoiseshell apprentice and her sister Flowertail battled with a ginger apprentice. Lichenfur stalked in a circle with an older white tom with playful amber eyes.
Finally Drizzlelight's eyes set on a large gray tom with yellow eyes that was perched on top of Sunningrocks. The large tom was watching the battle commence below him, uninvolved in the fighting but interested in the outcome. Drizzlelight quickly made her way over to the rocks, her tail lashing back and forth with anticipation of the attack on her next victim. Riverclan had to pay for the pain they had caused her.
When she reached the top of Sunningrocks the gray tom turned, with a bored expression on his face and he faced his attacker. Suddenly shock crossed his sharp yellow eyes and the large tom stumbled backwards a mix of fear, anger and other emotions crossing his face.
"Mothpetal?" the yellow eyed tom choked out "Is that you?"
Drizzlelgiht lashed her tail back and forth, she opened her mouth to correct the tom but he leapt forward, silencing her with a brush of his muzzle against hers.
"You've come back to me" the tom cried "How is this possible? How can you be back, you were dead. They told me you were dead. Of course they were wrong. I always knew they were. Where have you been all this time?" he spoke so quickly, and he covered Drizzlelight's face with comforting licks as he spoke.
Suddenly a dark look crossed over his sharp yellow eyes and the tom stepped backwards, looking Drizzlelight over carefully with scrutinizing eyes.
"No, it can't be" he meowed quietly, almost to himself.
Drizzlelight opened her mouth to correct him, a strangled choked gurgle erupting from her as the tom shot forward closing his teeth around her throat. He clamped his jaws shut tightly, tasting the warm blood that flooded his mouth. The tabby she-cat twitched as her life flooded out of her, her limbs grew cold and her vision darkened.
Reedstar dropped the limp body from his jaws and stepped back, staring down at the fallen body before pushing it over the edge of the rocks, sending it crashing to the grass below.
"Impostor" he spat.
"Reedstar" a roar sounded from below and the large gray tom looked down to see Amberstar staring at him, the pale tabby laying lifeless at her paws, a fury he had never seen before blazing in her amber eyes. The old leader carefully rasped her tongue over the dead she-cats head before climbing her way up to the top of Sunningrocks "Your fight is with me."
Once again i want to apologize for taking sooooo long to update i really dont have any excuses except for laziness and lack of inspiration but i hope you all really enjoyed this chapter.
I know that this chapter was a bit chaotic, what with the two battles going on at the same time!
But i wanted it to be a bit crazy, going back and forth between sunningrocks and the camp, also getting POVs from different characters was interesting, i really liked writing from the POV of other warriors (especially Drizzlelight)
Let me know what you thought about the chapter and please leave a review :D i always love seeing them and enjoy getting new ones.
-Tigerflower08