Chapter 67: First Crusade
Scourge's control over the 'town' continued to expand over time. With control of a food supply, he was able to amass a small gang of cats to fulfill his desires. With only one effective food supply, he could afford to maintain the loyalty of ten cats including himself and the other founding members. They had the strength to occupy a couple blocks of territory, but without another food supply, their ability to exert their influence began to plateau.
As Scourge pondered his conundrum, a report came in from one of his more freelancer rogues. Another, almost equally abundant dumpster was located. Unfortunately, it was under the control of another small gang of cats. There was only three, but they were well fed and experienced. Driving them out would be the beginning of his conquest, but it needed to be symbolic and monumental. Overwhelming the three would reflect poorly on Scourge's cats. He needed to beat them fairly and completely. Thus, he came to me again to request my aid.
Scourge emerged from the mirror pool, his cold and carefully created façade cast away in my presence. He buried himself in my fur as I gave him reassuring licks and comfort. Down below he maintained a careful and ruthless demeanor, but here he could afford to drop it. He was a kit I couldn't be more proud of.
"Mother! I'm so glad to see you again. Have you seen me? I've been working hard." He mewed excitedly.
"I know, my dear kit. You've done well. You've gathered strength and created loyalty and order in a place devoid of it. You are an island in a vast lake, consistent and firm. Now you've come upon your second trial. We both know your enemies need to be defeated by your paws to establish your position. Bone has been teaching you more lethal fighting moves. Now it is time to put your skills to the test. You may have to kill their leader. I believe I can aid you in your fight to come. I've been experimenting, and I believe I can lend you my claws. This will be very taxing on me, so you won't have them for long. After this, I won't lend you them unless it is absolutely necessary, so you'll need to work something else out on your own. I trust you and have faith in you my darling kit. May your claws strike true and your courage never falter." I mewed.
After a bit more cuddling and grooming, Scourge departed to the land of the living. Bone, his now deputy, rose to his side.
"What's our plan Scourge?" Asked Bone.
"I've had a dream from the mother who watches over us. She will lend me aid in the battle to come. If the three have any level of honor, they will accept a request to duel for the ownership of that dumpster. I will accept and partake in the duel." Scourge replied calmly.
"Why risk yourself? We have numbers. We could wipe them out easily. Even if there is a duel, why should you risk yourself instead of me?" Bone asked with worry.
"Calm yourself Bone. The Mother has faith in me. I respectfully ask for you to do the same. This first battle will establish ourselves as a force to be reckoned with. If we just overwhelm them with numbers, we'd garner no respect. We need to display our superiority in a dominating display. If I alone best their leader when I am both undersized and young, our other cats will seem all the more powerful. We need to establish a name and reputation. Thus, we are beyond blood. We are Bloodclan. We are better than rogues and kittypets. We must act as such, so that they accept our rule." Scourge answered in a cool tone that demanded respect.
"Very well. I'll follow your lead, but if they don't accept or cheat, I'll be the first one to rip their throats out." Bone responded in a slightly argumentative tone.
"I'd expect nothing less from you Bone, my guardian and confidant." Scourge teased.
Bone's ears slid back slightly in embarrassment, but he said nothing. Briefly, Bone let the silence rein before asking a question that had been bothering him. "Who is this mother you revere so much? Why does she deserve your faith?"
"The Mother is a cat that lurks between the stars. Her name is Mapleshade, and she is the mother of us all. If you wish to speak to her, call her name as you drift to sleep. She will answer. The Mother both loves us and is a jealous guardian. I think you two will get along quite well." Scourge elaborated.
After their chat, Scourge set his plan into motion. His cats rallied to his side to approach the rival gang of cats. Scourge's group severely outnumbered them, but Scourge held them back. As the three hissed at Bloodclan, Scourge moved forward alone.
"We could easily overwhelm you and slaughter you now, but there'd be no honor. I offer you a chance. You may duel me to keep your territory or fall under my rein. Choose wisely." Scourge stated icily.
The biggest of the three stepped forward. "You're just a runt. This'll be easy." He stated cockily.
Scourge and the other cat began circling each other slowly. They traded hisses as they tried to bait each other into unwise attacks. The enemy misjudged Scourge's speed and wit, so he attacked first. It would also be his last. As the tom lunged forward, Scourge was prepared. In a calculated dodge, Scourge moved inside the tom's range. With an unnoticeable flash, Scourge's claws were traded with mine. Then with one smooth and quick move, those claws separated skin and flesh, tearing through veins and the tom's airways. Then the claws were gone. The enemy tom gasped for breath as he began bleeding out and choking on his own blood. He was in the throws of death, but Scourge maintained his calm. He padded over slowly before resting one paw on the rapidly fading tom's head.
"This is what Bloodclan can do. This is our power. Now you two have a choice. Swear loyalty to me or flee from my sight to never be seen again." Scourge demanded.
The two decided to flee, but Scourge's mercy didn't go unheard. The dumpster Scourge had just secured was sought after by many hungry rogues looking for a chance to survive and achieve a little bit of stability. They watched silently as Scourge had his cats remove the tom's body and rationed the food. Scourge's cats weren't fat, but they weren't starving like the rest of the rogues. Scourge may have killed a cat, but having both power and mercy was unheard of in the Twoleg Place. In their eyes, he was a holy being, something to save them from their misery. It wouldn't be a paradise, but it was better than the status quo. Mothers with kits and rogues who'd experienced too much began to flock to him, to fall into his rule. Thus, the conquest of Scourge, the bloody demigod, and the faith of the Mother began to spread.