Chapter 19 - Blood Runs Cold

Allegiances






ThunderClan:






Leader: Downystar: a handsome black-and-white tom






Deputy: Eagleheart: a ginger warrior with black paws, and a strong and sturdy young cat who lives up to his name






Medicine Cat: Bladestorm- a young golden tom






Warriors:






Crimsongale-a deep orange tom with piercing aqua eyes






Cattail- wise and young she-cat tortoiseshell with a dark brown colour on the end of her tail






Crowdance-a large, sleek, shiny black tom whose fur glows like a crow's






Gorsepelt- young black tom; sturdy and thickset






Tenorvoice- A large and sturdy white tom with equally white eyes.






Glasseyes-A small and adventurous she-cat; black and brown






Manglepelt-a gray and blue mottled furred she-cat; her body is permanently cracked to one side













Queens:






Gloryheart- A pretty roan she-cat, white paws.













Gloryhearts Kits: Dapplekit






Truekit






Wolfkit













Crippledjaw-a white, strained she-cat whose back has a cripple, only Crippledjaw also suffers from a permanently dislocated jaw.






Crippledjaws kits: Smokeykit






Owlkit






Elders-






Embersnout-a once-handsome, old but experienced ginger tom






ShadowClan






Leader: Ragingstar-rusty coloured tom with a sixth claw on each paw






Deputy: Boldstripe- A she-cat on the edge of retirement to the Elders; completely black pelt with one white, splotchy stripe going down her back






Danglepaw-Boldstripe's apprentice; a large gray pelted tom






Medicine Cat: Taintedheart-a tortoiseshell she-cat with a large scar across her belly. Long scars go from her temple to shoulders






Warriors-






Soilear-a pale nutmeg coloured she-cat with twin tabby ears






Frisklegs- a black cat with white ears and white on the tail






Redpaw-Friskleg's apprentice; a small, bright roan tom with yellow paws






Smalleye- a ginger, tom with long dangerous claws. Enormous paws on sturdy legs. Tiny eyes, hence the name






Pouncepelt- a sleek, brown tom with large hind legs






Whitefoot- a black senior warrior tom with completely white paws






Scringeclaw-a large tom with gnarled claws and a twisted leg






Apprentices:






Redpaw-a small, bright roan tom with yellow paws






Danglepaw-a large gray pelted tom






Queens:






Daisypelt-a beautiful she-cat with strong and muscular paws, nursing three kits






Elders:






Drowzytail-a black tom with a tail that seems broken






Gracelegs-a ginger she-cat with long, elegant legs, white face






Frownface-a white she-cat with blue eyes, she is deaf






WindClan-






Leader: Azurestar- a shiny, blue-gray pelted tomcat, with black ears






Deputy: Tiptail- a gaunt, black tom with part of his tail missing






Claypaw-a sturdy black tom with one white paw






Medicine Cat: Fuzzpelt- a golden she-cat






Warriors:






Ripclaw- a large tortoiseshell tom






Blinkpaw-a shy and generous white she-cat with two black paws






Queens:






Elders:






Threelegs-a tortoiseshell she-cat with only three legs






RiverClan-






Leader: Wildstar- a white, wise and generous tomcat whose name is the opposite of his calmness






Deputy: Foresttail- a young orange tom






Medicine Cat: Rabbitleaf- a quick-witted, old golden furred cat, forest green eyes






Warriors:






Redspeck- a roan tom






Caimanclaw-a young but determined black warrior






Apprentice, Demonpaw-a gorgeous silver tom with darker speckles






Queens:






Elders:






Loners/kittypets:






Bloodclaw-a traitorous roan tom; formerly of ThunderClan






Madclaw: an insane black lone cat






Scruffy- a young black and white kittypet






Rogues- a large band of rogue cats




















Chapter 19: Blood Runs Cold













The roan she-cat nearly yowled in fear and leapt out of her skin when the harsh, dangerous voice of a tomcat resounded behind her, and she dared not move.






She watched the cats on RiverClan territory carefully, but breathed relief when she noted that they had not heard any commotion on the other side of the river-yet.





Clearing her throat gently, she stood tall and spun around to face her opponent, fur bristling and her face distorted in the motion of a fierce snarl.





The tom, big and burly, was completely black, only with the exception of a white paw on his right front.





It was obvious by his slight sign of submission and size that he was still apprenticed, and his scent reeked of WindClan. Making sure to stand higher than he did and using the useful commanding air, she snorted in his face, The same I should ask of you? You had to have crossed ThunderClan territory to get over here. I wonder how the patrols hadnt caught& but she stopped, glancing awkwardly back to RiverClan to remind herself that all the patrols were there and none of them had actually patrolled the borders.





Smirking disdainfully, the tom sighed and nodded, and asked, What are ThunderClan cats doing over there? That must be almost all of your clan!





Not wishing to reveal the weakness of ThunderClans camp, and surely not wanting to show how little of the gathering she knew about over there, she sniffed daintily and replied, What goes on in ThunderClan is of no business to WindClan nor ShadowClan.





The apprentice took offense and spat in outrage, I see where this is leading! RiverClan and ThunderClan have an alliance! Just wait till Azurestar hears- but that was all he said.





The she-cat stood on top of the WindClan cat, her shimmering eyes wide in fear as she thought of what she could have done.





Azurestar probably would have raided ThunderClan, because he may think RiverClan and ThunderClan were teaming up. That was close.






His body lay still, and the hot stench of fresh blood soared up her nasal cavity. She gagged and hopped off the apprentice, snorting out as the horrible flavour of blood met her tongue.





The apprentice was only unconscious, but she made sure to cover up and dragged his body across the border to Thunderpath, causing her body to shudder.





After a while later, when sunhigh was nearly sundown, she arrived back at the borders of the river, to see the assembled cats there still talking attentively.





She climbed forth and overheard pieces, & Hes dead we can take over. Soon the&





She growled at the strenuous effort and tried again, & And that means Wildstar can have the rear half, leaving Eagleheart with&





She widened her eyes as she heard the confusing array of words, and stopped her increasingly fast breathing, & Which means RiverClan and ThunderClan unite. It will make& As long as the Clan works&





She shook her head, shocked, and thought upon these things.





Almost as soon as she looked up, she saw the ThunderClan cats swimming uneasily through the river towards her and the border, being escorted by& No! Not escorted! Driven away by RiverClan!





Almost at once she noticed the bluff-They were mock chasing them. It was going for ThunderClan.





Breaking cover though not being seen, she fled as fast as she could, her stomach paining her, and she met the gorse tunnel right through.





Once she entered it she yowled at the top of her lungs, Attack! Raid! Ambush! Our own ThunderClan cats have turned against us! RiverClan and ThunderClan-Attack!





She was gasping for breath, and the few cats left, young and old, stalked out grumpily, mumbling, Whats she talking about?





Gorsepelt, Crimsongale and Bladestorm came up to her, beginning to comfort her when yowls of battle and a howling war cry resounded about the clearing.





Suddenly the area was filled with a heaving mass of cats in all sizes.





She screamed out in fear and dove for the nursery, grabbing her three kits, which were frozen and unblinking, and shoving them inside the den with Crippledjaw. She mewed urgently, Stay here. I will guard the nursery. Keep our kits safe!





She backed out of the den and attacked the nearest cat, and stopped in disbelief as she saw it was Manglepelt, who hissed and leapt unto her without second thought.





Scrabbling beneath the crippled she-cats weight, she meowed in uncertainty and shock as the traitor sliced her claws across her shoulder. Kicking dirt up and finally able to smack a paw with sheathed claws across Manglepelts face, she got free and looked about the clearing-there were only two of her sides cats left.





Tenorvoice and Bladestorm, who was only able to try and heal cats, were backed against Highrocks left side, while Downystar was in front of his den; back arched and neck fur bristling.





Crippledjaw was out of the question, shaking in fear beneath the ground inside the den with the kits, while Gloryheart spat fiercely at the next cat she saw: Glasseyes.





Her face became hard as steel, and her eyes shone like the blade of a sharpened sword.





Gloryheart was ready for battle.





Not wasting a moments breath, she yowled fervently, pounding the earth with her paws every step of the way, carrying herself across the clearing in leaps and bounds, until she met her former friends unsuspecting side with a sickening thud; Glasseyes went over tail and cracked into Highrock with a few broken ribs, while Gloryheart shook her aching head.





Every cat stopped to watch as Downystar made his first move.





He stepped forth, glaring and halted a few fox-lengths away from Highrock, right in front of Eagleheart.





Wildstar sat beside the deputy, along with his own deputy of RiverClan, Foresttail.





All three cats glowered, and Eagleheart met his leaders gaze boldly and spoke in the deep, treacherous voice, Your time has come, O leader of the Nine Lives. Now it is time to give those lives to me. I shall be Eaglestar, Leader of EagleClan.





And I, the RiverClan leader began, raising his chin proudly, Shall be full Leader of all Clans. WildClan will rule all.





Horror cascaded down the faces of the remaining ThunderClan cats, but Downystar replied firmly, Why must you attack ThunderClan in order to get your ambition, Wildstar?





The RiverClan tom replied coldly, In order for WildClan to rule all, it would need a cat willing to rule under him. Eagleheart could lead EagleClan well, and so, that is why your time has come. Greet StarClan for me, four hundredth-and last- leader of ThunderClan!





The two bowled over in a fumble of claws and teeth, though most of the fur being scraped out was plain white fluff from Wildstars plumy body.





Eagleheart and Foresttail just sat there, watching almost boredly, as though Downystar had no chance to win.





Gloryheart could stand no more, and she leapt forth.





Before Eagleheart could turn and see what was coming for his back, she collided with him and brought him down to the ground.





The largest tom in all the clans heaved himself up, throwing her easily off his back and whirling around, slashing out an extended forepaw with elongated claws towards her face.





Immediately, she remembered that move. It took her first leaders eyes, and now it nearly took hers, before she ducked. Ebonfur used it!





Feeling a new energy well inside of her, the she-cat weaved over to the left to bring her long claws down his side, scoring through his thick pelt and into the bone.





Before his reaction of a long upward swipe could reach her, she crouched low, completely missed, and crashed into his exposed underbelly.





For once, the wise, revered tom was outmatched.





Ginger pelt being torn by roan pelt, white pelt being torn by black and white calico, the clearing once again went into a frenzy. All remaining cats joined in, to strive for their Clans survival.





A horrid yowl echoed about, and every cat, even the tussling, tackling Gloryheart and Eagleheart, stopped to see what it was.





Underneath the sagging, breathless white pelt of pure white, was the motionless body of Downystar.





A low wailing, creepily rising into a higher screech, howled lonely about the earth. The creator of this sound was Embersnout. He stalked forth, mewing pleadingly, ThunderClan will break camp. You will leave us in peace. We shall leave forever, and& And you can have your EagleClan and WildClan. New hierarchy reins.





As the accepting nod from Wildstar was seen, he sidled nervously forth and grabbed his leaders scruff in his teeth, pulling it out from under the RiverClan warriors grasp.





Growling angrily, Eagleheart glared at Gloryheart, Ill see to you next time. If I catch you on EagleClan territory, youll be crowfood!





Shaking with shock and exhaustion, she wearily sought out her kits.





Crippledjaw followed her out of the nursery with the five kits, which were oblivious to the warring cats, and they kept them close.





Once Gorsepelt, who was severely limping, Bladestorm, who was silently weeping, Tenorvoice, silent as ever, Crimsongale with one ear left, Embersnout, carrying Downystar and the two queens, with their kits, walked through the gorse tunnel for the last time, she felt broken hearted.





Bye, ThunderClan. What could I have done without you?

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