Chapter 77: I Bring Chains of Impossible Things
The clans emerged into Fourtrees as a unified force. The barriers of clan borders no longer mattered with the external threat now present. From the edge of the trees came scraping sounds alongside vast quantity of stomping paws. Stripes of bright colors made their presence visible. There came Bloodclan with Scourge in the lead. A collective shiver seemed to pass through the waiting clan cats as Scourge stepped into the clearing. His feat of slaying a cat nine times over in one strike had not been forgotten.
Scourge's icy voice pierced the silence. "Forest cats, what is your response?!"
Instead of words, the clans had their rehearsed answer. Each clan leader with their chosen champion stepped forward with a dog tooth in their maw, all except Thunderclan. Under Darkstripe's instruction, they lagged behind the other leaders. Their challenge was of a different nature. The three clan leaders cast the dog teeth at Scourge's paws making clear their challenge.
Scourge raised an eyebrow at their clear abuse of his clan's rituals. "I see you know about our duels. Fascinating. Fine. I will humor you three. Brick, Snake, and Snipe will handle these duels. May they prove… entertaining."
Darkstripe didn't let Scourge go any further by stepping forward with that ashy grey band he'd taken so long to find again. He dropped it at Scourge's paws for all watching cats to see. Immediately all of Bloodclan was muttering at the challenge. How did he know the oldest rite? Was this even proper?
Scourge looked up at Darkstripe incredulously. "What is this?"
Darkstripe gave him a mischievous look in response. "I'll give you a hint. It was once pink, and it came from you."
Scourge was taken aback before bursting out laughing. The laugh had that same malicious edge he'd displayed before, but somehow this was more intimidating.
"I didn't think you had it in you… Thunder! You really challenge me to the rite of enslavement!"
That seemed to have drawn the attention of every cat. Darkstripe and the rest of Thunderclan hadn't let the rest of the clans know their plan. Bloodclan was in an uproar. The rite of enslavement was something taboo and ancient. It was part of their horror stories and kits tales. To see it used in real life seemed beyond possible, and here there was, a clan cat, challenging their god of blood and violence in a duel of possession. It was somehow both ridiculous and intimidating at the same time. The fact that Darkstripe could meet Scourge eye to eye without flinching somehow made the situation even more tense.
Darkstripe steeled himself sustaining eye contact with Scourge, one of the most deadly cats he ever met, and replied. "That is my first collar with proof of my strength! I call upon the rite of enslavement! We won't kill you. We'll bind you, make you ours, prove our divinity is stronger than yours. If you die, they will return, but if we take you, they'll have no god."
This sent Bloodclan into a panic. What if their god was enslaved? What could they do? Where would they go? What would happen to Bloodclan?
Scourge gave as chilling of a counter as Darkstripe. "When you fail, you'll be mine. I know how useful you are, and I plan to use you until you break and then some. You'll be my obedient little slave, I'll have run all my errands and my scratching post to ensure my claws stay sharp. Who knows. Maybe I'll let you die in a few seasons.
Darkstripe had to suppress a shiver at Scourge's threat. Scourge on the other paw seemed to have dismissed the challenge. "Let's watch the duels first. Then we'll have our grand finale in a two on two."
Despite everything, it seemed Scourge was trying to play things in the forest clans' favor. Darkstripe knew he could never best Scourge alone. He was a terrible one on one fighter, but he was the best support fighter. With Firestar by his side, he'd have a real chance.
The duels began with Brick versus Stonefur. Ironic that Riverclan was represented by the cat they betrayed, but Stonefur was their best option. He was an amazing fighter taking cues from both Crookedstar, Leopardstar, and Oakheart in terms of fighting style. He had the striking power of a brute but all the slipperiness of a hit and runner. Brick on the other paw was a purely balanced fighter. His renown on the battlefield was for his deadly accurate strikes and his relentlessness. The only weakness this cat seemed to possess was an old spinal injury that made turning and standing strikes more difficult.
The two circled each other, daring the other to make the first move. A crude circle surrounded the dueling cats making a simple arena. The circle was made up of equal parts Bloodclan cats and Riverclan warriors. At some unspoken moment, both cats leapt at each other turning the opening of the fight into a vicious wrestle.
Darkstripe looked on, his anxiety rising rapidky. If even one of these duels was a loss, it could spell the end for the clans. He suddenly felt Firestar's presence by his side. His yellow eyes met Firestar's green eyes, and the tension melted. He pressed himself into his mate's side and closed his eyes, unwilling to witness the outcome. Firestar let him knowing no amount of worry or vigilance would change the outcome of the duels. Their best option was to wait. Firestar decided to trust the other clans to succeed their duels and turned his attention to Darkstripe. He set to grooming his mate quietly, feeling the tom's tense muscles loosen and his weight shift slowly onto Firestar. In the midst of conflict, they were their own haven. Darkstripe fell asleep at Firestar's side as the duels continued. In the safe embrace of his mate, the sounds of conflict failed to breech his ears.
Firestar let Darkstripe sleep knowing the cat had likely been running on adrenaline and anxiety the past few days. A nap wouldn't hurt him before the final conflict. Firestar looked up to see the first duel coming to an end. Stonefur was victorious, having abused Brick's old injury to outmaneuver the Bloodclan cat. Brick was on the verge of bleeding out, but Stonefur also had his fair share of nasty injuries. He had an ear near torn in half, had deep scratches running the length of his chest, and a long belly wound that looked like it would keep him in the medicine den for at least a moon. Scourge struck a scratch into one of the four trees. Then it was Windclan's turn.
The duels didn't go all to plan. Windclan failed their duel losing their deputy Deadfoot in the process. He would be mourned, but the battle was not over. Russetfur took part in the next duel. Her cunning netted the clans a clean win, but with Windclan's loss, the balance of the forest rested on Thunderclan to win the final duel. Darkstripe had been roused by this point, focused and ready for his fate, whether good or bad. He decided he was going to win or die trying.