~Warnings: Death, blood, cats fighting, battle chapter, Death, murder, blood~ ‘Perhaps we could both get some revenge today.’ Shadow whispered as Snowpelt looked at Willpaw’s mother. They paused for a moment, then Willpaw’s mother broke their silence in this battlefield, “Silveroak.” Snowpelt blinked “What?” “My name. My name is Silveroak.” Snowpelt nodded and said “Snowpelt.” ‘Don’t waste time on introductions. Whitestar’s entering the battlefield.’ Snowpelt looked away. That she was. Whitestar had moved from her spot and was entering the mess of fighting cats. Snowpelt nodded to Silveroak, and the two of them began carefully weaving through the battlefield. In all the chaos, no cat noticed the two form separate clans walking together rather than fighting. As they neared an edge, Silveroak asked in a hushed voice “Who killed her? You said Whitestar watched.” Snowpelt paused, ‘Go ahead and tell her. He doesn’t deserve your protection.’ But he was Skylight’s bro- ‘She hates you, remember? You owe her nothing.’ Yeah… Snowpelt shook her head and said “Sunstrike, the light golden cat who was on patrol with me.” Anger hardened Silveroak’s face as her eyes scanned the battlefield. Snowpelt went to speak when she was suddenly tackled by a blur of black and white striped fur, claws digging into her side. Snowpelt let out a growl and turned to fight back, her claws unsheathed as her eyes met greyish-blue ones. Snowpelt went to batter the cat with her hind paws, but the cat suddenly stopped, and Shadow snapped ‘No. Stop. Ally.’ What? The cat paused, her eyes clouded like she was listening to something. Silveroak’s voice spoke next “Jaggedmoon! Stop!” The cat, Jaggedmoon, looked over to Silveroak and said “But-” Silveroak shook her head and said “She’s with me.” Jaggedmoon slowly stepped away from Snowpelt, who climbed to her paws. Jaggedmoon looked to Silveroak with betrayal in her eyes as she asked “What do you mean?” Silveroak moved closed to Jaggedmoon and said “She’s helping me get revenge on the cats that killed Willpaw.” Jaggedmoon paused, then asked “Who?” Silveroak replied, “Whitestar and a cat named Sunstrike.” Jaggedmoon’s eyes widened and she asked “Whitestar?” and looked over to Snowpelt. Not with horror or judgement, but calculation, as if trying to figure something out about her. Snowpelt nodded and said “She’s responsible for the death of my kits.” Silveroak nodded and said “We’re going to take one of her lives.” Jaggedmoon slowly nodded, then asked “What about the other cat, Sunstrike?” Silveroak drew closer to Jaggedmoon and said “I need you to go after him. He’s a light golden tom, green eyes, large build.” Jaggedmoon nodded and said “I can take him. Stay safe.” Silveroak nodded and said “You too.” And Jaggedmoon raced away. Snowpelt asked “Can we get going?” Silveroak nodded and they started moving again, drawing closer and closer to the white pelt and amber eyes shining with fear as she tried to fight. She deserved this, she deserved all that was coming to her. Whitestar was to blame for it all. Bightspot was dead because of her, Willpaw was dead because of her, Stormcloud was dead because of her, Silverkit, Nightkit, Dandelionkit, all dead because of her. ‘Yes. She deserves to have the same tragedy she gave you. She deserves death and pain.’ Snowpelt nodded. Shadow was right. Shadow was always right. She glanced over to Silveroak and saw a cold, determined, and angry look in her eyes. A look Snowpelt knew was in her own eyes as well. She let out a breath and muttered “You attack her from the front, I’ll attack from behind. I still have to live in the clan, this is only her seventh life, I have two more left after this.” Silveroak nodded and said “Got it.” Finally, they came within distance of Whitestar as Whitestar broke away from the cat she was fighting, and another cat attacked that cat. Snowpelt nodded, and Silveroak attacked Whitestar with a hiss “You watched as she died!” Whitestar let out a terrified yelp as she tried to defend herself from Silveroak. Snowpelt slipped around behind Whitestar, waiting for her chance as Silveroak and Whitestar fought. Whitestar was barely holding the she-cat off as Silveroak hissed “This is your fault, and I’m going to make you pay for what you’ve done!” Whitestar couldn’t even hide her fear as she said “I never touched her!” “You let him kill her!” Silveroak hissed. Whitestar faltered, asking “How did you know-” Snowpelt took her chance and attacked Whitestar from behind, her claws digging into her sister’s pelt. Whitestar let out a cry of pain, and Snowpelt pulled away as Silveroak leaped and pinned Whitestar. Snowpelt nodded, and Silveroak’s teeth sunk into Whitestar’s neck, killing her quickly. Silveroak looked up and the two of them gave each other firm nods. ‘Now get out of there before you’re noticed.’ Snowpelt turned and ran across the battlefield. Her eyes landed on a grey cat battling two other cats. Skylight needed help.
Snowpelt raced towards her and tackled the second cat. Skylight looked over and Snowpelt saw thankfulness in her gaze. Snowpelt looked away and let instinct take over as she fought. Shadow coached her through moves, but Snowpelt always stopped before a killing blow. No one else needed to die. Snowpelt wasn’t sure how long the fight went on before a yowl sounded over the battle that made Skylight freeze, fear in her eyes. She whispered “Sunstrike.” And took off. Snowpelt followed close behind, wanting to see what was going on. Her eyes caught on Jaggedmoon running away as they closed in. Then her eyes landed on a bloody, light golden pelt. Sunstrike. He was not quite dead, his eyes were still lit with panic, but he was bleeding heavily from his stomach. Too heavily. Too heavily for anything to be done. Sunstrike was dying. Skylight raced to her brother’s side, fear in her eyes as she said “No, no, not again.” She pressed her paws to Sunstrike’s wound, trying desperately to stem the bleeding, but her efforts were futile. Sunstrike looked up at his sister weakly. He was fading, and fast. Skylight kept trying, snapping “Don’t die on me! I was supposed to protect you!” Sunstrike suddenly spoke, his voice weak “Were you?” “Yes! Of course I was!” Skylight snapped back, “I failed Moon, and now I’m failing you!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “You, you couldn't have changed…” He trailed off, then quietly said, “I did it. I killed that apprentice.” Skylight paused, then couched down next to her brother, her voice cracking as she said “It’s ok.” “It’s not. I killed Birchtail too.” “I know. It’s ok.” Skylight replied softly. Sunstrike shook his head and said “I’m just so angry. Over so many things… I, I think we’re really messed up, Sky.” Skylight let out a weak chuckle as she said “Yeah, we are.” He returned the chuckle, but then looked up at the sky dyed as red as blood from the setting sun. Quietly, he said “I hope we go to Starclan, like in Mother’s stories.” Skylight let out a quiet sob as she said “You will, I swear you will.” “Maybe I’ll see Moon again, Mother too…” He said, the light fading from his eyes. Skylight nodded and said “Tell them I said hi, that we missed them.” Sunstrike gave a weak nod, then fell limp, his eyes staring lifelessly at the sky. Skylight lowered her head and her body shook with sobs. Snowpelt looked around at the battle. Most cats were still fighting, Whitestar had dragged herself off to some nearby trees, hiding. Her eyes caught on a still dark pelt of another dead cat. Sootshine, the tom Stormcloud had once been friends with. She glanced back up at the sky. It was quickly fading from red to black, stars beginning to appear. Wait. The sun had set, which meant… Snowpelt looked, and sure enough, the full moon was rising. The gathering was tonight, there was supposed to be a truce. She quietly said “Skylight…” Skylight’s head whipped around to face her as she snapped “What?!” Snowpelt nodded up at the moon and Skylight looked, then froze. After a second, she rose and took a breath, then yowled “STOP!” Out of surprise and confusion, the battling cats stopped. Then, Barkstar stepped out of the trees, looking at the battle in cold horror. Then he announced, “The full moon has risen. That means that the truce begins. Stop this at once. Where is Whitestar?” Whitestar slowly slunk out of her hiding place, looking around. Barkstar nodded, then called “Both clans, take the severely wounded and the dead back to your camps and fetch the medicine cats. The rest of us will stay here until they get here.” “Don’t order my clan around!” Whitestar snapped. Barkstar pinned her with a cold look and said “Then stop acting like a mouse-heart and do it yourself, Whitestar.” Whitestar paused, then called “Thunder-thunderclan! Take the dead and very wounded back to camp and get Flowersong! The rest of you stay here!” Snowpelt stood still as Skylight gave a few of the more wounded cats the task of bringing Brightspot and Sunstrike’s bodies back to camp. When those cats left, the remaining Thunderclan and Shadowcaln warriors gathered in their respective clumps, eying each other. Silveroak and Snowpelt made brief eye contact before looking away. Barkstar spoke quietly to Jaggedmoon, looking angry, and Jaggedmoon was clearly arguing back. Wolfsong stood nearby, limping heavily. Snowpelt glanced over at Skylight, who kept her eyes focused on the ground, clearly trying to hold back tears. A long moment passed before Flowersong slowly came out of the trees, looking shaken. Shadowclan’s Noirpool appeared quickly after. Barkstar nodded and said “Let us go to the gathering.” Whitestar nodded, and the two clans started walking. ~First~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1066586971/ ~Previous~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1273829234/ ~Next~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1291435706
