Slateheart watched as Leopardpaw and Shellstorm fled out of the camp and held his head high triumphantly. He was beaten by them once before, and he had refused to do it again. He had seen the fear in Leopardpaw's eyes, and shook his head. Stupid she-cat, I wasn't going to kill her. He thought, but he couldn't help but enjoy the fact that he was a feared warrior.
His wounds burned, they were far from fatal. He would keep fighting, he would make sure to drive out each and every cowardly MoonClan cat. His eyes scanned and he spotted the Clan deputy Swiftheart who was still wrestling with Nightheart. Her white paws were stained with his blood and Swiftheart had blood on his muzzle from biting Nightheart, both of them had wounds but neither of them looked exhausted.
He looked forward the younger AshClan cats in case any of the apprentices needed help, which they likely did. The first one he found was Otterpaw, the young apprentice was fighting Swanfeather. The white she-cat had blood splashed across her pure white pelt that glowed in the moonlight. Otterpaw was bleeding heavily from a wound on his shoulder and struggled to put any pressure on it.
Perfect. Slateheart charged forward towards Swanfeather and leapt forward, landing on her back. He was bigger and stronger than her so he toppled her easily. She landed with a squeak and Slateheart glared at Otterpaw. "Go to Blackstorm. Now!" He roared the command and Otterpaw skittered away in fear, vanishing into the crowd.
Slateheart turned his attention back to Swanfeather and raked his claws down her exposed flank. She hissed in pain and struggled under his grip. "Are all MoonClan warriors this pathetic?" He taunted, keeping her pinned as she flailed underneath him.
She managed to get a good bite on Slateheart's forepaw, causing him to yank it back and she squirmed out from under him, whipping around to face him. "Only pathetic warrior here is you!" Swanfeather hissed through her teeth.
The insult dug into his pelt and Slateheart charged at her, she jumped to the side but her he planted his back paws and twisted towards her, his claws digging into her flank and tearing through her soft white fur. "I've already driven off one of your warriors and your little apprentice."
Swanfeather snarled and lashed out, her claws barely missing Slateheart's muzzle. He drove himself forward, driving his head directly into her chest. She fell hard to the ground and looked dazed. He shot forward like an adder, sinking his teeth into her shoulder just as he did Leopardpaw.
She hissed in pain and struggled underneath him. He felt her claws sinking in his haunches and he let her go. She lashed out and her claws met his cheek, he hissed and jumped back. Swanfeather desperately got to her paws and ran off as well. "Too easy." Slateheart scoffed.
He looked around the battlefield, it was hard to tell which side was winning. He had sent off Leopardpaw, Shellstorm and Swanfeather, but he could tell a few AshClan cats were missing as well.
His attention was then caught by Graypelt who fought Brokenclaw. The older gray tom had blood welling from a deep wound on his leg and chest, his movements were becoming sluggish. Brokenclaw was well known to be the best fighter in MoonClan, and Graypelt's torn body was a sign of that.
Slateheart ran to him, not feeling any fear by fighting the senior warrior. As he sprinted towards the two toms he saw Brokenclaw tackled Graypelt to the ground, the AshClan tom's head hitting the ground hard and Slateheart realized how much blood he lost from the crimson stained stone beneath him. Slateheart grit his teeth and jumped onto Brokenclaw's back, raking his claws down his tabby pelt.
Brokenclaw roared in pain and reared up on his hind legs, dropping Slateheart to the ground. The tabby then slammed his paws down on Slateheart's body, he winced in pain and realized that there was a reason Brokenclaw was considered the best.
He still can't beat me. Slateheart felt adrenaline rushing into his body and he got back on his paws before Brokenclaw could attack again. He shot forward and sank his teeth as deep as he could into Brokenclaw's leg, ripping back. He felt blood splatter across his muzzle.
Brokenclaw stumbled pack, howling in pain. Slateheart looked over his shoulder for a moment to check on Graypelt only to find him unmoving. He turned his back on Brokenclaw for just a moment and suddenly met Graypelt's amber eyes. They were completely lifeless, glossed over and his body wasn't moving, he was perfectly still. He's dead.
Slateheart felt rage surge into his body. Hypocrites! He turned to face Brokenclaw who was readying himself to fight again. "You killed him." Slateheart growled and Brokenclaw's eyes suddenly widened.
"What?" He spoke, his voice slightly weakened by his panting.
"Who's the killer now?!" Slateheart launched himself forward, claws extended. He raked his claws down Brokenclaw's face, across his eye. Blood sprayed the floor and Brokenclaw roared in pain, stumbling backwards and blood dripped from his face onto the ground.
Another roar filled the air and Slateheart whipped his head around as he saw Violetstar and Riverstar locked in a battle together. Riverstar was bleeding from wounds on her face as she raked her claws down Violetstar's cheek, while Violetstar tore through her shoulder. Both leaders had blood covering their fur.
Slateheart looked around, he could see Leafdawn running from Tallsong and Breezetail, and Primroseheart limping from a deep wound on her hind leg. He felt conflicted, he didn't want MoonClan to win, but they had. They killed Graypelt and the AshClan forces were waning. He swelled his pride, knowing what he had to do. "Graypelt is dead!" He raised his voice, making sure both leaders could hear it.
"What?" Riverstar's eyes went wide and she shoved Violetstar away. Violetstar bared her teeth and hissed at the AshClan leader. "MoonClan is full of nothing by hypocrites! You call me a monster for killing a cat then you come into my camp and do the same thing!"
"We didn't mean to." Violetstar said, but her voice was clearly just mocking Riverstar, it filled Slateheart with a burning rage. "I told you, Riverstar! You had your chance to step down, any blood that gets spilled is on your paws! MoonClan! We're leaving!"
At their leaders call , the cats of MoonClan turned tail and fled the follow, vanishing into the snowy pine forest. Slateheart glared after them. Cowards. He lashed his tail as he saw Riverstar approaching Graypelt's body. She looked down, heartache and rage filling her blue eyes. "Who did this?" She asked Slateheart without looking at him.
"Brokenclaw." Slateheart replied. "But I sent him away with a permanent reminder." He thought about the wound he caused to Brokenclaw's eye, it wasn't something that would go away easily.
Her claws scraped against the stone floor. "Graypelt was one of my oldest friends...no matter what he did in the past, he was a loyal AshClan warrior through and through..."
Graypelt's past had never bothered Slateheart, he proved his loyalty to AshClan and that was all that really mattered. The cats of AshClan began to gather around Graypelt's body. Slateheart's eyes went to Harewhisker, Graypelt's son. It was clear that Harewhisker never forgave Graypelt for turning his back on AshClan, but as he looked at his father's lifeless body Slateheart could tell he was in pain.
"I'm sorry I never forgave you." Harewhisker's voice cracked as he touched his muzzle to Graypelt's fur.
"He will understand." Riverstar mewed. "He was always a forgiving cat, he loved his family more than anything."
"Tell me it's not true!" Speaking of family. Slateheart heard the agonized cry of Tetra as she raced from the nursery to her mate's body. Pain filled her eyes and she tilted her head back as a wail of agony split the air. She laid down next to him and buried her muzzle into his pelt. "How am I supposed to raise my kits without him?" She whimpered.
The scenario was all to familiar to Slateheart, and not just him. He saw his mother padding slowly up to Tetra. "You're not alone." Silvermoon's voice was low and pained, her blue eyes haunted as she seemingly relived losing Slateheart's father all over again. "I know the pain you're going through..." She breathed out.
"Your kits will be fine." Slateheart spoke without thinking, causing both Tetra and Silvermoon to look at him in surprise. "I know what it's like to lose a father as a kit, so do my sisters. We turned out fine, so will they."
Tetra's eyes shadowed over once more, she didn't respond but she buried her muzzle back into her dead mate's fur. "Violetstar has gone too far." Riverstar growled. "To take a life is one thing...I know how mistakes can happen, but to openly mock my dead warrior? She will pay for that!"
Slateheart looked up to his leader and her new very well that for AshClan and MoonClan, there was no turning back. Lives had been lost on both sides, and there was no stopping this war. "At the next gathering I will be informing the other Clans of Violetstar's hypocrisy. Maybe then they'll stand with us against Violetstar. I have apologized for the death of Shadowstar more times than I can count, and yet she mocked me when Graypelt died."
"She thinks her warriors lives have more value than ours!" Dustfall cried out.
"And they don't." Riverstar lashed her tail. "See to your wounds, then we will continue preparing for this blizzard as we were originally. Violetstar has caused unnecessary wounds during a time we're supposed to be preparing for a major storm, for both her Clan and mine. Next time we meet on the battlefield, we'll make MoonClan pay!" The cats of AshClan cheered, and Slateheart did as well.
While he usually felt like an outsider to his Clan with the way his Clanmates looked at him, in this moment he felt a sense of unity with the cats around him. Graypelt was a respectable warrior, and his life did not need to be lost. Slateheart had told Tetra that her kits would be just fine, and he knew they would, but he also knew the agony of so desperately wanting to prove your worth to your father, to have him at your ceremonies, but turning around and seeing nothing.
He looked towards the nursery, part of him hoped that when they were ready he could mentor one of them. Make another strong warrior like him, one that could take on three MoonClan warriors and an apprentice and come out stronger. "Slateheart." The voice of his mother pulled Slateheart from his dreams and he turned to face her, her blue eyes filled with concern. "You should go see Blackstorm, you're covered in wounds."
He had barely noticed the burning wounds across his pelt, but now they were starting to affect him, still he wanted to make sure everyone else was cared for first. "I'm okay." He told his mother, his voice bold. "Most of them have stopped bleeding."
"Please." He could see that his mother was struggling, Graypelt's death had clearly brought up her worst memory. Slateheart sighed, feeling a soft spot for his mother.
"Fine." He replied and walked away towards Blackstorm's den. He still didn't like the medicine cat, but he would put up with him. Inside the medicine cat den Otterpaw had been patched up and was being fussed over by Primroseheart who also had been treated.
Slateheart met Blackstorm's gaze and stepped inside the den. "Every battle you come to me absolutely torn apart." Blackstorm sighed, and Slateheart kept his tongue to himself. Blackstorm instructed him to sit down and he did, keeping a brave face as the stinging wounds were applied to his body. "Still," Blackstorm lowered his voice. "I know a strong warrior when I see one, during this war...your skills are going to help us."
Slateheart was a little shocked at the compliment, but just gave a nod. "Thanks, I guess." He replied and Blackstorm said nothing more. It took Blackstorm a while to patch up all of his wounds, but when he was finished and walking out of the medicine cat den, he could feel soreness and pain taking over his body. His pawsteps felt sluggish, but he had to hel p with any repairs around camp.
When he stepped back into the camp clearing he saw that Graypelt's body had been moved in preparation for the vigil. The vigil would be long and cold tonight, but lateheart would make sure to stay by him tonight, to honor his fallen Clanmates. He saw SIlvermoon in the medicine cat den and figured that she would be watching over the kits so Tetra could spend one last night with her mate.
Part of Slateheart wondered if Tetra would be staying, the only reason she was in AshClan was because of Graypelt, but she fit in well with the other cats and was one of the few cats that Slateheart could actually tolerate. They needed her during this time, they needed every warrior.
Not much damage had been done physically to AshClan camp and the stone hollow was stained with the blood of both Clans, but it would fade away in time. Slateheart helped make sure everything was secure before it was time for the vigil. He knew not every cat would be in attendance tonight, but Tetra was there along with Graypelt's sister, Lilyclaw and his song, Harewhisker. Nightheart was also at the vigil, Slateheart had heard stories of Graypelt and Tetra saving her and the SunClan medicine cat from being imprisoned by Echoheart.
Riverstar and Stormheart were also in attendance, watching over his body. "Graypelt always wanted what was best for AshClan." The leader began speaking. "And he made some bad choices, he only wanted to help and this cause him to lack faith in himself and his own choices. He was manipulated by Echoheart, but StarClan led him back to us. He has served us well during our time here, and he has brought us Tetra who has proven to be an incredible warrior. He leave behind three young kits, who will remember their father as a brave, valiant warrior who gave his life protecting his Clan.
Slateheart twitched his ears, he had been told the same thing about Ashblaze. It got really exhausting to hear after a while, but he remained silent. "Graypelt has joined StarClan tonight, but his spirit will watch over and protect us through this blizzard as well as into this war, a war that we will not lose."
Riverstar finished her speech and Tetra raised her head. "When I met Graypelt..." Her voice was broken and quiet. "He told me all about Clan life, and despite serving with Echoheart I knew he missed it. He talked lovingly about his family, about his son who he lost nod the one still alive." Tetra looked up at Harewhisker. "He never stopped loving his family or his Clan, and as I fell in love with him I realized there was more to life than being a rouge.
"He taught me how to hunt like a warrior, how to fight like a warrior and how to live as a warrior. It's been an honor living with this Clan, I hope that despite my mate being gone...you will continue to allow me to live here as a warrior."
Riverstar nodded. "You took the warrior's oath just as the rest of us did. In my eyes, you are a true Ashlan warrior, Tetra." She spoke boldly and Slateheart couldn't help but agree.
"Thank you, Riverstar." Tetra dipped her head. "I feel loyalty to each and every one of you, and I know he would want our kits to be raised as AshClan warriors, and I know that he still loves you, Harewhisker." She looked to the brown tom. "He was never mad at you for not forgiving him, he knew why and he understood, but I hope now you do forgive him, and will be a part of your half-sibling's lives."
"Of course I will." Harewhisker dipped his head. "I...wish I forgave him sooner. I was just blinded by grief over losing my brother, but I will make it up to him now."
The speeches were finished and the attending cats went silent. Slateheart looked down at Graypelt's body, cleaned of any blood and smelling of lavender to hide the scent of death, he looked more like he was sleeping than dead. He get why they did it, but he didn't like it. Why try and hide dead cats as anything but dead? Slateheart questioned silently.
He ignored his thoughts and just watched the stars, he had always been curious about StarClan. Was his father actually up there? Watching over him, was he welcoming him into the ranks of the stars? Or were they simply just that, stars. Under the night sky he couldn't help but feel like a kit again, staring into the shimmering darkness above, wondering if his father was looking back.
It doesn't matter now. Slateheart closed his eyes, lowering his head once more. He always felt conflicted about his own father, and he hated that three more kits would have to have the same struggles with their emotions. He was never one to show compassion or take care of other kits, but he really did want to help those kits understand, because he knew the pain of loss and he would never forget it. HIs claws flexed against the stone beneath him. And I'll make sure MoonClan doesn't forget either.