Quail'Star walked slowly across the bridge back to his territory, staring down at his feet. He could still smell them, the scent of Dream'Thorn and Red'Talon by the gorge edge. The other rogues walked silently behind him, letting him lead the way. His whole body ached from the fall but he was too numb to care, he needed to get home. Dream'Thorns face when he fell replayed on loop, what did she tell the kits? He wasn't mad at her, he wasn't mad at all. He didn't know how he felt, he just knew something was drawing him back to camp. Rain hammered into his pelt, small strikes of lightning illuminating the sky. It was close to moon high, sounds of chatter and movement could be heard from the camp. A smile crept onto his face as he neared the camp entrance. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Venus whispered to Quail'Star, taking a step towards him. Without looking up he shook his head, giggling. "This may be the best idea I've ever had" Quail'Star purred, He wanted his clan back, he wanted them to pay for what they've done. He wanted to weed out the traitors and leave only the most loyal warriors, they didn't all deserve to die. "Stand here, I have something to do first" He said, Turning his head slightly back to the other rogues. With a quick pace Quail'Star raced to the med den, His face lighting up when he saw his sister. "Drift'Stream" He whispered, poking out his head from the bushes. "Quail'Star?!" She gasped, Looking as though she had seen a ghost. "Ssh, I need you to listen to me and do as I say" Her face turned to concern, His face grew serious. "I need you to get Dusk'Kit and Hawk'Kit and get them out of here now, Find Dream'Thorn and run." He commanded in a hushed voice. "What? Why?" She matched his pitch, moving herself so he was covered from the rest of the clan, this is when he noticed Red'Talon sat on the wet rock, speaking happily to the clan. "Just do as I say, you don't want to be around when It happens". "Quail you are scaring me, What is going to happen?" She trembled a little, looking to the nursery where she found her brothers kits sleeping peacefully without Dream'Thorn. "Don't make me regret this..." He hissed, Drift'Streams eyes opened wide, realising what was going to happen. She turned and slowly walked to the nursery, nudging the kits. Quail'Star shook a tear from his eye, readying himself. Quail'Star rushed back to the rogues. "It's time" He nodded, He knew his sister, she wouldn't betray him.
Lotus nodded to Nikita and Ark, who each took a group of rogues to cover the other entrances. Quail'Star sighed, watching Drift'Stream slip out of the camp with Hawk'Kit and Dusk'Kit and flee towards Thunder Clan territory. Quail'Star glided through the water surrounding his camp, climbing up on the other side and gazing into the camp. A sudden large strike of lightning struck in the distance, Lighting the night sky and revealing the masses of rogues. Red'Talon looked at Quail'Star in disbelief, how could he have survived? The odds of a cat surviving a fall into the gorge are slim to none, If only Red'Talon had considered Quail'Stars quick thinking. Maybe he would have realised Quail is smart enough to straighten out his body, diving into the water and breaking few bones instead of falling in and losing his final life. "Hello, Red'Talon" Quail'Stars voice drew the clan cats to him like a moth to a flame. His other litter mates gasped. He looked around, pointing with his nose to each and every cat who was in on the plan to kill him. "Did you miss me?" The camp was dead silent, Quails parents watched in horror, realising what had been done. "What? Too shy to welcome back your leader?" He walked a bit further into camp, Lotus and Axel stood behind him at either side. "How's It been Red'Star, Was It worth killing me for? Being leader?" Quail'Star smiled, finally reaching ground level. Red'Talon smiled. "Definitely worth it, just sad I didn't do It sooner, before you had kits with her..." Red'Talon laughed, Quail'Stars mind snapped. Moon'Fall and Stone'Heart stood, Ready to fight. "Kill them all, Leave no survivors" Quail'Star yelled to the rogues. Keeping his eyes on Red'Talon as the rogues ran into camp, tackling the many clan cats.
Quail'Star panted as he threw off Moon'Fall. "When did you get so righteous?" Quail'Star hissed, standing with a small whine. Moon'Fall stayed silent, jumping at his brother with claws unsheathed. "Sorry about this, Brother" Quail'Star used all his strength to knock his brother off again, cracking his spine. "But you deserved this" Quail'Star raised his head and looked around camp. He spotted Stone'Heart fighting with a rogue, he let a small smile creep onto his face again, giggling softly under his breath. He turned to the elders den, wanting to see his parents one last time.
He sat softly on the ground outside the elders den, His father lay by his mother, who was not moving. Raven'Call smiled slightly, not happy but just... okay. "She... she isn't breathing anymore Quail'Kit" He said, looking to Quail'Star. Quail'Stars heart sank, being called by his first ever name hurt him, it reminded him of a good time where betrayal was just a dramatic part of a game. "She passed out when she saw you enter the camp" His voice was sad, heavy as he gazed between his mate and his son, both laying lifeless. "I'm glad... We get to rest in star clan now. I'm sorry son, this shouldn't have happened" Raven'Call said, laying down next to Dusk'Fang. Quail'Star touched noses with his father. He had never felt so close to him. He watched as his father drifted off to sleep, glad his father was happy with this outcome.
"Quail'Star!" Lotus rushed up to him, Panting and soaking wet. "Red'Talon is getting away!" His eyes widened, a manic laugh leaving his lips. He glared to the four remaining clan cats, fighting desperately for their lives. He knew there was a patrol out, Sun'Blaze, Dream'Thorn, Bee'Paw and Grey'Paw were still unaccounted for. "Show me where he went, Tell Ark, Venus, Nikita and Axel to start heading back with the other rogues when they are done, Hail will need to treat all their wounds" Quail'Star instructed, Lotus nodded and pointed her nose towards the gorge. "Perfect, thank you" Quail'Star bowed slightly, taking off running towards the gorge. "Were you feeling nostalgic?" Quail'Star asked, Walking slowly towards a wounded Red'Talon. "You had everything I wanted... everything." Red'Talon cried, looking over his shoulder to Quail'Star. "The shadow you cast was so big you blocked out the sun" The dark red cat sobbed into the the ground. Quail'Star smiled, unsheathing his claws as he slowly walked towards the crying cat. "How... how did you survive..." Red'Talon mumbled, tensing his shoulders. Red'Talon stood, now obviously furious. "YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE HERE, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE THE POWER YOU HAVE!" Red'Talon screamed, Arching his back in an attempt at intimidation. "I guess Im just lucky" Quail'Star said coldly, taking the chance to charge at his old friend. "STOP" A voice yelled as Quail'Star pounced into the air. He was met with a sudden force, his path blocked. When he fell to the ground, so did another cat. A nice grey pelt, with a white stomach and white spots all over. Dream'Thorn. "NO" Both toms yelled, looking to the bleeding, wounded Dream'Thorn. Quail'Star crouched down to Dream'Thorns eye level. Tears streamed from his eyes as he begged for her to wake up.
"You..." Quail'Star stood up slowly, covered in the blood of his beloved. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" Quail'Star yelled, Tears still streaming from his eyes as he roared to the other tom. Quail'Stars entire body was trembling, his eyes darting around and his tail swishing constantly. Quail'Star jumped over Dream'Thorns body and threw Red'Talon to the floor, pinning him down. "No... Quail... This is your fault" Red'Talon spat, seeing the distress and rage on Quail'Stars face. "You did this, You killed her" His ears twitched, his entire body over flowed with rage, now fuelled by the desire for revenge and the grief for his love. "You... are the monster" Red'Talon sneered. Within seconds a splash was heard at the bottom of the gorge, Quail'Star panted as he collapsed to the floor. He watched as Red'Talon floated down the gorge, clearly dead. "I... am not a monster" Quail'Star cried, Crawling back to Dream'Thorn.
He sat under the copse beech tree, He placed a bundle of blue flowers on the ground, crying into the dirt which now covered Dream'Thorns body. He mumbled apologies Into the dirt, begging her for forgiveness. Dream'Thorn was a peaceful cat, only wanted the world to be at peace. He sat up, holding in his tears as the sun began to rise over the plains. The rain continued but it was light now, The other rogues all went back to the barn to receive treatment for their wounds. Quail'Star looked down to her grave and smiled lightly. "I will make this forest a peaceful place, no matter what it takes. No more clans, no more hunger for power" He whispered. He left her graveside and trotted into the camp. Quail'Star jumped up onto the wet rock and smiled. "Quail'Star, the leader of no clan" He looked around at the camp, covered in blood and dirt. This was no clan now, Quail'Star no longer ruled a clan, He was no longer a leader. He climbed off the rock, Nodding his head with a smile. Quail'Star had died, despite the evidence to deny that claim. The real Quail'Star died that day in the gorge, This cat... This one is the vicious, remorseless rogue leader, Quail'Song.
