Warriors #2 - Attack of the Clones

A Leader's Agony

Hazeldusk, Skypaw, and Heathersun landed at the entrance of the cave.

A cold wind blew against their fur despite the blazing heat of Geodeclan.

"Why do I feel we're walking into our deaths?" Heathersun muttered, pelt bristling as they walked into the gloom.

"She's not wrong, you know." a new voice made them all jump.

"Frostshard." Hazeldusk bared his fangs as the leader of the Separatists emerged from the shadows.

"That's the cat who beat you up?" Skypaw raised his eyebrows. "Seriously, Hazeldusk, he's an elder, for Starclan's sake."

"I bet I could slap him to the moon with a paw."

"Do not underestimate him." Hazeldusk snapped, not taking his eyes off the white cat, who stared back at them with a bored expression.

"I agree, Sky." Heathersun hissed at him. "Look at all the damage he's done!"

"Well, that's the last act he's gonna do after I'm done with him." Skypaw snorted.

"Look at you three, bickering like monkeys," Tyrantturn smirked.

"Shut up!" Hazeldusk and Skypaw yowled.

"You're going to pay for all the lives you took today, dungface." Skypaw arched his back and unsheathed his Kyberclaws.

"Try me." Tyrantturn bared his fangs.

A blast of force sent Heathersun flying out of the cave's entrance, she landed hard on the rocky ledge and did not move again.

"Heathersun!!!" Skypaw shrieked with alarm before facing the white cat with anger smoldering in his eyes.

"Skypaw, no!!!" Hazeldusk yowled as his apprentice lunged for Tyrantturn, screeching.

Too late, a burst of lightning threw him toward the jagged walls, and he slid limply down with a shower of debris.

"You-" Hazeldusk bristled as Tyrantturn stared at Skypaw's unmoving body, then began grooming the fur around his throat.

"My powers are far beyond yours." the Count meowed calmly.

"Last chance, Hazeldusk."

"Take your Padawan and leave."

"No."

Pinpointing the white cat's direction, Hazeldusk leaped for him, yowling.

"Really. You're in no state to fight." an invisible force seemed to wrap around his throat, and he thrashed wildly, struggling to free himself.

The squeezing became tighter until he couldn't breathe, it was like having a rock being pressed down his lungs.

Hazeldusk could only feel pain before his vision went black.

Tyrantturn stared at the unconscious bodies of Hazeldusk and Skypaw.

The tip of his tail twitched, and his eyes narrowed when he heard a familiar growl.

"Count Frostshard."

An ancient green cat faced him, silvery white mane bristling.

"Horizonstar." Tyrantturn unsheathed his claws, red like freshly spilled blood.

The leader of Dawnclan merely glared at the white cat sternly.

"Tell me," Horizonstar growled.

"How does it feel, working for the cat who murdered your apprentice?"