The Beginning of an End-Part1

Markstar watched the five newest apprentices, his kits, pad out of the Apprentice's Den. It had been four nights since their ceremony, and they loved it. Wanderpaw looked around for her mentor, Dreamsea. Was I right to choose Dreamsea as a mentor...? Markstar shook off the doubt, as he knew Dreamsea was capable. Markstar got up, and padded to the fresh-kill pile. It wasn't large, but large enough for each cat to at least get three bites. The prey was still running, but Markstar could feel a sharp change in the wind that day. Cold air and frost was coming, and they needed to stock up. Some warriors and apprentices were busy making holes to bury the prey in. It was a long process, as the ground was frozen. Markstar padded over to them.

"Just make it as deep as you can. Don't rip your claws out trying to dig in this, because if you have no claws, you won't be able to fight."

Markstar smiled. A few cat's had already had a torn claw from this job, so he didn't want to push it.

Markstar was about to pad out of the camp, when a cat flew at him from the tunnel. Then the whole patrol followed, their fur on end, and their eyes wild. Markstar shook out his fur, and stared at the leader of the patrol, Bluegaze.

"What's wrong Bluegaze!?"

He had never seen Bluegaze so terrified, he relied on the older, blind, warrior, as he usually could talk some sense into a situation. he was usually calm. But Bluegaze's sightless eyes weren't looking at Markstar, they were fixed on Everlight. Everlight's eyes were wide with fear. He heard Bluegaze whisper.

"It's happening... The destruction is here..."

Then Bluegaze's head snapped back to the entrance of camp, his eyes wide with terror. Markstar looked at the entrance. Nothing's there, so why is Bluegaze so terrified- Markstar was pulled from his thoughts as a snarling cat leaped on him. He yowled, and kicked the cat's belly with his hind legs, sending the cat flying. Markstar leaped up, his eyes wild. The clearing stank with the stench of BlackClan, but he had never seen these warriors before. Then, Fierystar's words rang in his head. I have more warriors then you can imagine, and they shall destroy LakeClan. Markstar looked around, searching in vain for his kits. They hadn't had much battle training, they would be killed with in the first moments of the battle!

Then Markstar yowled when he saw Wanderpaw was pinned down, a large tom biting into her neck. Markstar snarled and leaped at the tom, ripping into his shoulders and face. The tom looked shocked, then ran off. Markstar grabbed Wanderpaw's scruff. She was still breathing, but how badly hurt was she? Markstar ran to the medicine cat den. He saw that Nestflame had the secret room opened, and Markstar dragged Wanderpaw into it. Jayflight was inside, getting herbs ready, and he immediately leaped to help Wanderpaw. Markstar ran back out, and got his four other kits, and herded them into the secret room. Blazedpaw protested, saying he could fight.

"No! You'll be killed!"

Markstar threw them in, entrusting that Adder would guard the room well. Queens and kits were already inside also. Good. Everyone who can't fight is safe. Markstar then leaped into the battle, finding himself fighting beside Strongspirit. But where was Fierystar?

::---::

Erol stood in the BlackClan camp. He knew that there was a battle raging inside LakeClan, but he had to take care of business. He could feel it was time. Fierystar sat in the middle of the camp, listening. The whole clan sat around the perimeter of the camp, some scared and worried, others glowing triumphantly. Erol was one who sat in the circle, his eyes scanning the circle, taking into perspective where all of Fierystar's loyal warriors were. They all sat behind Fierystar in the circle, and Erol sat across from them. Erol then stood up, and walked onto the center of the camp, facing Fierystar, his claws unsheathed. Erol snarled.

"Your rule over this clan is over Fierystar! Step down, or I'll make you. I am leader now."

Fierystar snarled, then laughed.

"Never! This is my clan. And a weakling like you would never defeat me."

Erol looked down, shaking his head.

"I didn't want to have to fight... But if I have to, then I will!"

Erol snarled and he leaped at Fierystar as he said the last line. Fierystar was taken by surprise. Then regained himself as he felt Erol's claws dig into his shoulders. Fierystar flipped Erol over easily, and ripped into Erol's chest. Erol's body convulsed with pain as the skin was ripped away. But then he leaped up, but only half way, and sank his teeth into Fierystar's neck. Fierystar's eyes widened, and he tore himself away, blood flowing from his wound. Fierystar then placed his paw on Erol neck, claws digging in. Erol gasped for air, and Fierystar smirked.

"Any last words...?"

Erol snarled, and choked out a sound, blood trickling from his mouth.

"Y-ya. Hope your stomach gets better."

Erol snarled, and with all of his effort, kicked his back legs into Fierystar's stomach, claws tearing into the flesh. Fierystar's eyes widened as his body arched, and then gasped as he was flung across the clearing, a large gaping wound in his stomach. Erol stumbled and got up, his paws threatening to collapse beneath him. Erol felt light-headed as he was losing a lot of blood from his chest. Then he stumbled to his knees, his paws tucked underneath him. Erol watched Fierystar's breathing stop, then start again shortly after. Fierystar struggled to sit, blood still lightly flowing from his wounds, though they had been mostly healed by the Dark Forest when he had lost a life. Fierystar snarled, then looked around to see many cats baring their teeth, ready to attack. Erol choked.

"Leave. Or my warriors will kill you."

Then Erol looked at the large crowd.

"Anyone who doesn't want to stay, you better go with Fierystar. If I find any of his followers still here, they shall be attacked mercilessly."

A quarter of the clan got up and surrounded Fierystar, and then the group padded out of the camp, hopefully forever. Erol then let his head sink into his paws, his breathing ragged. Erol saw the medicine cat come up to him, and treat his wounds before Erol passed out. 

::---::

Ridgefeather blinked open his eyes. He was still in the cage, but he was no longer restrained, and no tubes were attached to him. Ridgefeather stood up shakily, and saw two Two-leg's staring in at him. They were talking, but he couldn't understand a word they said.

"So you jsut found him, almost dead in your back yard?"

The female nodded.

"Yes. he must be a wild cat. There are wild cat's in the forests back there."

The man in the white coat nodded.

"He's ready to leave. He'll be a bit shaky. If he's wild like you he is, take it slow. It'll be weird for him, especially with that cast. We were lucky to save that leg. It had been broken in seven places."

The female nodded.

"So I can take him today?"

The man nodded.

"Ya. Let me just get a carrier."

The female waited, and opened the door of the cage. Ridgefeather cringed backward, but didn't hiss. He was more scared then wanting to attack. The Two-leg's had saved his life, hadn't they? Did that mean he should be scared of them? Ridgefeather saw the white coat two-leg come back with a different cage, and he carefully grabbed Ridgefeather's scruff. Ridgefeather shook as he was gently put into the new cage. The female two-leg said some other words, then walked out of the Two-leg place.

Ridgefeather blinked at the brightness of the sky, and turned his head into the darkness of the cage. 

Ridgefeather knew he had fallen asleep, but he was awoken when he head a meow of welcome. Am I back home...? But when he opened his eyes he was still in the cage. Ridgefeather sighed, still feeling very tired. The cage he was in stopped bouncing, and he turned his head to looked out the entrance. Another cat was sitting there, her head tilted. 

"Why don't you come out! No one will hurt you. You're a wild cat, right? I used to be a stray... but not wild. My name is Maple. What's yours?"

Ridgefeather turned around, his eyes sullen. He slowly crept forward, and stepped out of the cage, his hind leg felt like a dead weight because of the cast. As soon as all four of his paws were out of the cage, his front feet slipped forward, and his back feet backwards. He yowled in surprise, and fell to the ground. 

"My name is Ridgefeather... I lived in a clan. "

Maple nodded.

"Want me to show you around? You live here now!"

Ridgefeather sighed, and shook his head.

"I just want to lie down. I want to go home."

Maple blinked, sincerity in her eyes.

"I know you do, but, you almost died. Here, you can live a safe life. Come on. You can lie down over here."

Maple padded away, and Ridgefeather padded after her, or more like clunked and slipped after her. he sighed in relief as he felt the ground change. This ground was easier to grip on, and he looked around. He had never been in a two-leg nest before, and it was huge. And warm. Then he heard Maple meow, and saw her sitting on a weird log.

"What's that?"

Maple laughed.

"It's a couch! It's superrr soft! Come on up!"

Ridgefeather judged the height, and tried to jump up, but couldn't because of his leg. He turned his head when he heard someone come in. He saw the two-leg standing in the entrance of the area, a slight frown on her face. She then walked away, and soon came back with some boxes. Ridgefeather stared at the devices, not sure what they were.

"Come on. They're to help you get up."

Ridgefeather stumbled onto the first box, and shook with uncertainty, but finally he was on the couch. The couch was soft, softer then the moss that he used to sleep on. He sighed and curled up in a ball, feeling lonely. Then he lifted his head in surprise when he felt Maple curl up beside him, but he was too tired to object, and he drifted into sleep.