Confusing Twists | A Warrior Cats AU

Chapter 20

: Invasion :

Ashfur was sitting beside Brambleclaw.
“So, are you ready to talk about it?” Brambleclaw asked gently.
Ashfur slowly nodded. “Yeah. . . Yeah I can talk about it.”
Brambleclaw pressed himself closer to Ashfur. “Go ahead. I'm listening.”
Ashfur took a deep breath. “Ok, I am. . . Really insecure about my scars. . . I feel like I'm just burdening the clan because I'm having such a hard time hunting.”
Brambleclaw listened intently. “Ashy, Brightheart only has one eye and she can hunt perfectly fine. You just have to practice.” he assured him.
Yeah but Brightheart is better than me. Ashfur thought miserably. But he didn't say it out loud. “I feel like everyone would just be better if I wasn't here.” Ashfur continued.
“Now how does that make sense? How would my life be better without an amazing cat like you in it?” Brambleclaw asked.
Ashfur looked down. “You don't really mean that. . .” he muttered.
“You’re being ridiculous, why would I lie about that. Not to mention I can't lie if I'm telling the truth.” Brambleclaw’s sensarity won Ashfur over.
Maybe I'm not as terrible as I think. . . Maybe I can get better. . .

A shriek of terror split the night.
Ashfur shot to his paws. Thornclaw! He rushed out of the warriors den.
The golden tabby tom was being pinned down by a black she-cat.
Ashfur let out a snarl and launched himself at the she-cat. “Get away from him!”
The she-cat was taken by surprise and fell to the ground. Ashfur slashed his claws along her side. The she-cat sprung up, she managed to catch Ashfur off guard, clawing the ear on his blind side. Ashfur let out an outraged snarl and bit down on the she-cat’s front leg. The taste of blood filled his mouth. The she-cat yowled and raked her claws across Ashfur's left shoulder. Ashfur jumped away from the she-cat, his blood dripping onto the ground.
The she-cat hissed and scurried away.
Ashfur looked around, he saw Thornclaw and Cloudtail fighting side by side. Thornclaw didn't look to badly injured, he had three wounds along his side but they weren't bleeding anymore.
Ashfur’s ears pricked as he heard a firmiliar voice, it was one of the cats from earlier, Darktail. The black and white tom was attacking a large brown tabby tom.
“Why are you doing this?! The clans never did anything to you!” Darktail dodged as the brown tabby tried to claw his throat.
“Why are you defending them?! You idiot! Why would you defend the clans after what your father did?!” The tabby tom snapped back.
“My father's actions have nothing to do with the other clans! Or the clan he is in!” Darktail snapped back.
What?! Did a cat from one of the clans have a kit with a rouge?! Ashfur didn't have time to be shocked, he had other things to worry about.
He saw two rouges sneak over to the medicine den.
Oh no you don't! You are not getting anywhere near Jayfeather! Ashfur felt a rush of protectiveness and bolted over to the medicine den.
One of the rouges had attacked Leafpool while the other disappeared into the medicine den.
Ashfur quickly snuck past the first rogue and slid into the medicine den.
Inside the second rouge had Jayfeather pinned down, Jayfeather hissed and swatted at the cat, leaving claw marks.
“Is that really the best you can do?” The rogue tom taunted. “A kit could fight better than you.”
Ashfur let out a growl. The rouge was too distracted to notice him.
“I can still drive your mangy pelt off! You are not touching our herb stores!” Jayfeather snarled.
The rouge raised a paw to strike, but Ashfur was quicker, he lunged at the rouge and knocked him away from Jayfeather. “You come into my camp, you attack my clanmates, and then you have the odacity to think you can attack my mate’s kit! You've got another thing coming!” Ashfur snarled, biting down on the tom’s hind leg.
The coward shot up and rushed away.
Ashfur was acutely aware of Jayfeather staring at him, even though Jayfeather was blind his gaze was so piercing it was like he could see him.
The two tom’s did the equivalent of staring at each other for a long time. Before Jayfeather finally spoke. “I won't tell anyone, now go! There's still a battle to fight.”
“Right.” Ashfur quickly left the medicine den.
Ashfur was greeted by a yowl of pain, he turned to see the large tabby that had been fighting Darktail had Rain pinned down. Blood was pouring from the fluffy grey tom’s eye. The large tabby was looking at Darktail. “This is what happens to cats who betray me.” he growled menacingly.
Darktail glared at the tabby. His gaze was full of outrage and hate. But also fear and concern for Rain. “Get away from him.” he said calmly, but a threat was clear in his voice.
“Or what?” The tabby asked mockingly.
“Or I'll tear your pathetic throat out. And no one is going to stop me because they're too busy fighting this unjust battle.” his voice gradually rose. “You betrayed your son! You betrayed me and you betrayed Rain! You are as low as dirt, and I'm done with your existence.” his voice lowered again. After a second Darktail had tackled the tabby to the ground.
Ashfur wasn't able to see what happened because he heard Hollyleaf shriek with pain. Ashfur was at her side in an instant, digging his claws into her attacker.
Hollyleaf blinked in surprise and then returned to the fighting.
Ashfur lashed his claws along the rogues throat. The rouge yowled with defiance and stumbled away, blood pouring down onto their chest.
Hollyleaf turned to Ashfur. “Thanks.” she mewed curtly.
Ashfur nodded. “It was nothing.”
“Reatreat!” The large tabby rouge yowled, apparently having escaped Darktail.
All the rouges rushed out of the hollow, aside from the ones who had helped ThunderClan.
Darktail was crouched beside Rain, the fluffy grey tom was unconscious but alive.
Ashfur was suddenly weak, the adrenaline wore off and he slumped to the ground.
Brambleclaw rushed to his side. “Are you ok?”
Ashfur nodded. “Yeah. . . I'm just tired.”
Brambleclaw sat down beside him. “I saw you fighting, you did great.”
Ashfur nodded. He rested his head on Brambleclaw’s shoulder.

Vixen shook out their fur, easily keeping their balance on the branch they were sitting on. “Well that was certainly an eventful day.” they said.
Then Vixen sighed. Why did I get a memory of that day. . . I didn't kill her, he did. Vixen shook their head.