Default Title - Write Your Own

Chapter Two

"Are you sure?" Peartail mewed, shuffling his paws, "Palestar is so great and strong. She's the perfect leader. Why would she care about someone as weak as me?"

Vincent simply purred in response. "She loves everyone."

Peartail gave a nod. "No one can deny that," turning to Goldenblaze, he mewed. "I'm leaving. I can't train here anymore. I'm sorry."

Goldenblaze felt something burning inside him. Larkclaw will always be my mother. Don't you dare take that away from me, you selfish foxheart!

"It's not that easy." He growled, before flinging himself at Peartail.

Peartail reached out desperately with his claws, slashing Goldenblaze's cheek. He barely felt anything. Goldenblaze felt power rush through him. He slashed his claws down Peartail's shoulder, pinning the grey tom to the ground, holding him down as he wriggled, crying with fury, "You're the foxheart! Why won't you see how evil the Dark Forest is? What would Moonstar think?" He gasped out, and Goldenblaze simply narrowed his eyes.

Peartail really was mousebrained. "She already knows." He answered coldly, digging his claws in more deeply, raking another claw down Peartail's stomach, rolling his eyes as he whimpered in pain.

"What's going on?" Goldenblaze froze at the sound of Larkclaw's voice. Behind her, was Jaggedheart, covered in blood and scratches. Lakeleap poked her head out from behind Jaggedheart, ears flat to her head in fear, her pelt sticky with blood, just like Jaggedheart.

Peartail growled under his breath as he looked at Jaggedheart. "I'll never let her lie a paw on Lakeleap ever again."

"Larkclaw," Goldenblaze mewed cooly, giving his mother a nod. "I was just-"

He turned back to Vincent and Peartail, hesitating. Vincent looked betrayed, letting out a sigh. Then Peartail, still whimpering at the sight of Lakeleap's battered body and her terrified expression, which was slowly turning to disgust at the sight of Peartail. She felt betrayed by Peartail when he carried on training in the Dark Forest and letting her be beaten up. Should I really reveal Vincent and Peartail's plans to Larkclaw? Is it even my business?

"I was just showing Peartail a few moves," he corrected himself. "He said he wanted to practice some WindClan moves."

Larkclaw narrowed her eyes. "There are plenty of proper Dark Forest cats who used to be loyal to WindClan who he could have trained with."

Goldenblaze loosened his grip on Peartail a little. That meant countless WindClan warriors had died with darkness in their hearts, and a longing to get revenge on the Clans. Way too many.

Peartail gasped out, "Larkclaw, you were a WindClan warrior too, so why wouldn't you show me some moves?" he glared at her. "Is it because you don't believe I'm worth your time?"

Larkclaw backed away a little, looking quite surprised, "Excuse me-" She broke off, starting to growl as Goldenblaze freed Peartail, letting the small tom struggle to his paws.

Peartail was stalking up to Jaggedheart. "I'm a ShadowClan cat! I'm ShadowClan's deputy, and I will give up my life for my Clan!" he announced. "You're just a coward who believed that leading a life of darkness would make you strong, but what do you do? Torment others! Why didn't you see how beautiful the world is? Why didn't you just appreciate it for what it is? Jaggedheart, why are you such a mousebrain?" He spoke with courage, though at the final statement, he backed away, gulping.

Jaggedheart's face twisted into an expression of pure anger. "What?" She snarled, before letting out a roar. She flung herself at Peartail, and Goldenblaze watched in horror. He's dead!

Peartail was never hit. Lakeleap leaped straight over Jaggedheart's head, taking the hit. She gasped, struggling. The ground was stained with blood, but she simply turned back to Peartail. "Peartail. Are you okay?"

Peartail's eyes were huge, and he gave a nod and a smile in response.

Jaggedheart and Lakeleap began to wrestle, their movements matched eachother perfectly. They do this every night. All Lakeleap wants to do is break free of the Dark Forest's grip.

He turned to Larkclaw, who was making no attempt to separate the fighting cats. The expression on her face was one of pure fury. "You are not my son." She whispered to Goldenblaze.

Goldenblaze hesitated, the weight of Larkclaw's words hitting him like a rock. "But you will always be my mother."

It was hard to tell who was winning between Lakeleap and Jaggedheart. It was like they could keep on fighting forever, while the forest grew redder and redder with blood.

Lakeleap held Jaggedheart down by one of the back legs. Peartail stared at them for several moments, before padding over to them. Jaggedheart roared, trying to free herself, but Lakeleap held down another leg.

Peartail's fear scent was painfully strong as he flung himself onto Jaggedheart's back. He was staring at her neck. A few more moments. He dug his claws in, deep.

Jaggedheart collapsed, and Peartail was flung off of her. He gasped in surprise, flying straight into a tree. Vincent headed straight over to him, helping him up.

Lakeleap stared at Jaggedheart in horror. "No... Jaggedheart."

The she cat was starting to fade away, the trees visible through her fur. Her blood was spilling into the ground.

"Jaggedheart, it didn't have to be this way. You didn't have to be like this."

Jaggedheart turned to look at her. The Dark Forest warrior's eyes were huge and desperate. "You didn't have to be like this either."

Jaggedheart was gone.

Larkclaw turned to the other cats, looking stunned. "Just leave." She growled.

Goldenblaze didn't even spare Larkclaw more than one simple glance. His eyes swept over Vincent and Peartail. Peartail vanished first, and Vincent took the chance to murmur to Goldenblaze, "StarClan willing, I'll be back in time for the meeting at the twoleg nest tomorrow."

Goldenblaze gave a nod. "I pray you'll be back in time." Vincent vanished next, and Goldenblaze sighed. Truthfully, he just wanted Vincent to come back so that Mistyheart would be happy. She would be thrilled, so happy it would be hard to put into words, to see her brother happy, healthy and alive, and not even training in the Dark Forest anymore. "Thank StarClan!" He mewed, happy to speaking of his honourable, starry ancestors, even as he stood in the darkness of the forest.

Then he awoke.

I broke free of the Dark Forest. Now I'm truly a loyal WindClan warrior, and I'm ready to serve them as their deputy.