Shadows in the woods

Part 10: Clawed duality

MARRY WISHED HE HAD POPCORN FOR THIS. Yes this was bad, very bad, EXTREMELY BAD. BUT-It was Claw Vs. CLAW!

How could he not have some excitement for this as he went in front of the clans with the leaders and some warriors. All protecting the young apprentices in-case this crazed feline decided to go for them.

Both felines circled around eachother, glares in their eyes and fur up. Their tails were twitching and up as their paws clawed the ground around them.

Claw: So-your the other one huh? Hate to tell you but you don't deserve MY NAME with the blood on your paws.

Ruin Claw: *evil smirks* I should be saying that to you. The Panther Rusher himself...*laughs and scoffs* Well, your certainly far from you territory huh.

Claw: *anger increased* ONLY because I was put in this position. Gotta say, was surprised to see the clans were the real deal than the pages tell.

Ruin Claw: Well-seems they are added to your list of allies. Thus, you are added to our list of MUST KILL.

.

Tigress: *to Marty/Swiftshape* This is going to be intense.

Marty (Swiftshape): How so? I mean I know both are very powerful but-is there more?

Tigress: Yes...the Claw from Ruinclan is the most sadistic, cruel, cunning, and unhinged out of all, complete opposite to Claw of the Rush Zone. Even the leader Wicked can't help it when he talks the talks and walks the walk. Sometimes, I wonder who really runs the clan...Wicked, OR HIM.

.

Claw: *snarls* Soo-you just gonna stand there or-

Claw lept to the side as Ruin Claw clipped him with a blooded claw. Claw landed to the side as he roundhouse around the cat, managing to headlock him in a cat form none the less.

Ruin Claw growled as he dug his claws into Claw, making him yowl in pain. He responded by biting his back hard making him flinched, but it did nothing other than freeing Claw.

Waspstar: *awe* My ancestors...

Claw and Ruin Claw tackled eachother back and forth, but Claw had the upper hand as he slashed his face. This did nothing but made the wild cat laugh insanely.

Claw was annoyed that this cat was enjoying the pain, seeing just how far away his sanity was as he lept up. Ruin Claw smirked as he turned, his claws actually extending longer as he swipe at him, scratching his stomach.

Claw winced as he landed and covered the wound in pain, wincing.

.

Marty (Swiftshape): I gotta get in there, he needs help no way he can last long when this guys a cheater.

Tigress: Oh no-*determined* Need a back up.

Marty (Swifthshape) gave a purr on her head, making her blush.

.

Claw darted forward and backward from the felines massive claws...Ruin Claw was laughing madly until he was bashed on the head by Tigress. He stumbled back dazed which gave Marty (and Swiftshape) the opening to headbutt the Brown cat away.

Ruin Claw bounced on the ground for a bit before sitting up. Claw stumbled to a standing position, seeing Marty and Tigress in battle stance.

Claw took a breath, before he darted forward as slashed at Ruin Claw-MANAGING TO SLICED HIS LEFT FRONT PAW.

..THAT made Ruin Claw yowl in pain as he gripped it, all seeing the blood was a mixture of a strange green substance.

Claw: *anger* LEAVE. NOW.

Ruin Claw hissed as he got up.

Ruin Claw:-THIS, IS NOT OVER. TO ANY OF YOU THREE-

?: Fall back Claw. You will have plenty of time to kill him soon.

All froze, looking up to see a pitch, scarred up black she cat with cold navy blue eyes, standing in the shadows. Ruin Claw sighed but reluctantly went to his leaders side.

Waspstar: WICKED.

Wicked: Waspstar...the leader of this puny Rush Clan...I see the others as well. Margioldstar, Swiftstar, Icestar-Gasp- Why, and if it is the newly named THAWSTAR! I hope you are doing well after our-little visit.

Thawstar hissed in anger as the leaders surrounded the three.

Wicked: *sees Tigress* And here is the traitor weakly, why did I think you would be able to lead Ruinclan when your so soft hearted. I should of known when you refused those experiments.

Tigress: *glares* AND I DON'T REGRET IT. I am not and was never your successor.

Wicked: I see that now pest-

Marigoldstar: Leave now Wicked, tonight is a sacred night tonight and just because your clan does not fallow the moon and stars does not mean you attack us and shed blood.

Swiftstar: And don't even bother, we sense you are not alone. Reveal the felines behind you fiend.

At that, another Picth black cat appeared, this one with piercing blood red eyes.

Ebonydark: Sorry, but we wanted a proper introduction as to what is to come. Claw has succeeded in that in more ways than one.

Icestar: *snarls* EBONYDARK, the leader of the Shadows...of course even your tribe would want this blood to shed upon the mother earth.

The three dark soul cats rolled their eyes, before looking down at the three.

Wicked: I must say-that was quite a show you put on there for us.

Claw: *Snarls* LEAVE..NOW. YOU THREE ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.

Ebonydark: Oh-we shall, but we have a message.

All looked confused at this.

Wicked: Very soon, the two-leg shall call upon us. If you truly wish to protect your clans, the Rusherz, and these 'GUARDIANS'...then you best leave.

Ebonydark: For we shall make it a blood bath and it shall be our territory, no matter how many two-legs we make fall-

Swiftshape: YOU STAY AWAY FROM THEM YOU SOULLESS FELINE FIENDS! IF YOU THINK WE WILL STAND DOWN YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING! WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN AND WE CERTAINLY WON'T NOW.

Tigress stood firm next to him...Marty allowing Shiftshape to take over. Thawstar snarled in anger.

Thawstar: If you think I'll let you escape what you done to my clan, you are gravely mistaken.

Ruin Claw: Oh-still got bite-

Thawstar finally SNAPPED.

Thawstar: YES I DO AND I PRAY REDDEATH FINDS YOU AND GIVES YOU A KARMATIC AND PAINFUL DEATH!

Gasps were heard from the felines (minus Marty, Claw and Tigress).

Waspstar: THAWSTAR! That far?!

Thawstar nodded in anger, seeing how it had effected the two foe leaders hard. Wicked and Ebonydark were in shock at the proclamation, even pale.

...

Marty (thoughts): OKAY. Literally confused on this here. WHO IS REDDEATH? And how is it that this guy even managed to make those two crazy cats pale and shock.

Swiftshape was shaken in the mindscaped at the name.

Swiftshape (thoughts) : *shaken* Reddeath was a black cat with blood eyes that frequent a certain poet in Baltimore before coming here after his burial. He was known for punishing those who harm with cause and those who wish for ruin with a horrible illness that can even wipe out a whole clan of them! He has no clan, no tribe, yet not a rouge or kittypet. He is an enigma, a lone warrior with no need for an army. He is both feared and revered in the clans here. To wish death upon his hands to any foe, is basically condemning them to DEATH. A cold, painful, brutal and BLOODY DEATH.

Now Marty was shaken at the thought.

Marty (thoughts): Dang Edger, you made some interesting friends.

...

Ruin Claw-LAUGHED.

Ruin Claw: *mad laugh* THEN LET HIM COME! I WILL DRINK THE BLOOD OF THOSE WEAKLINGS HE HAS TAKEN AS US IT AS FUEL AGAINST YOU!

Ruin Claw ran off into the dark, leaving his leaders behind. The two shoke their heads out of their shock, hiding their emotions again.

Wicked: SO BE IT. We will meet again.

Ebonydark: Very soon, till next time clans.

With that they vanished into the darkness. Claw shoke before falling to the side, being caught by Marty.

Marty: Easy there.

Claw: T-Thanks.

Waspstar sighed, calming herself as her leaders we either shaken or in anger.

Waspstar: I do beleive we should turn in for the night...But not at our camps. We go and gather our clanmates and wait for the tribe and Queens to meet us tomorrow. We head to the Hall of fame IMMEDIATELY then.

The leaders nodded in agreement as Waspstar trotted over to Thawstar, nuzzling his head.

Waspstar: It'll be okay Thawstar. It'll be okay.

Thawstar's anger fell as tears fell, he began to sob into the leader of Rushclan.

THIS-was going to be a long night. And tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Meanwhile, HOK...

Freefall manage to cover the wounds that had formed on Claw's frame. He was shaken when he heard Spot calling his name in fear, saying Claw was bleeding. He was right-when he ran in he say Claw at scratch marks on him.

Freefall: This is new and this is bad. Whatever that blast did it causing this.

?: He okay?

Freefall turned to see Ish at the doorway with Spot.

Freefall: -sighs- Yeah, worried to no end but he's fine.

Ish: Don't blame you. Whatever he gotten into he got hurt and this can effect his body here...listen, Spot told me something important.

Freefall: Oh?

Spot nodded as he went forward.

Spot: Freefall, that scientist is gonna attack us with an army and we're going to need back up. Thankfully we're gonna get it soon.

Freefall worries fell to relief hearing this.

Freefall: Good, we need all the help we can get-*confused* Hold on how do you know and whose the help.

Spot-was very hesitant as Ish shoke his head, a hand on it.

Ish: Brace yourself.

Freefall: *very confused* FOR WHAT?

.

.

HOK, Main room..

All were working at their spots-

Freefall: *Screaming* IS THIS GOING TO BE A THING NOW WITH THESE GUYS!?

All stopped hearing this.

...NEEDLESS TO SAY, when they get told what is going on-THEIR GONNA NEED A VACATION.

...And maybe some research for the future.

To Be continued...

Some lore here for the US Clan cats;

RedDeath is a famous cat that roamed the territories for years, he named himself after Edger Allen Poe's story "Mask of the Red Death". He became famous for his kill counts via illnesses and not lifting a claw to those who wish to harm the clan, being beloved by the clans for protecting him.

Those who wish death by his hands are often using it as a means to protect the clans from evils in the likes of Ruinclan and the Shadows.

Every October, the clans actually meet twice. One on the normal full moon, and the other on a moonless night to celebrate Reddeath as a Festival. They tell ghost stories, the legends of him, and feast.

The US clan cats have many other Festivals they celebrate throughout the year.