StarClan isn't real..

Chapter 25

Finchpaw peered through the undergrowth, glimpsing white, starry pelts between the ferns. StarClan escaped? But that's impossible! She stared at the lights, wondering if she ought to fight them. I don't even know what side I'm on now. Logpaw was on his paws, looking excited. Should I get away?

As the StarClan cats launched themselves into battle, Fallowpaw appeared. One of his ears was torn and his shoulder was bleeding, but other than that he looked okay. "See, Logpaw? Fallowpaw is fine."

Oops. Logpaw seemed to remember why he was yelling at her, and he spun around, hissing. "He's okay now! But we still don't know what we did to him!"

His yelling seemed to attract Fallowpaw's attention, and the black and gray tom bounded over. "Finchpaw?" He hissed, his voice edged with a bit of nervousness and fear. "What are you doing here?" Glancing at Yellowpaw, who had been waiting behind Logpaw, Fallowpaw added, "And you! Why are you guys fighting!"

"She's a traitor," Logpaw spat, glaring at Finchpaw.

Fallowpaw's tail flicked. "I know that," He growled. "But why are you guys fighting? Shouldn't Finchpaw be in the battle with her friends?"

"I'm trying to convince this mousebrain to switch sides!" Finchpaw spat, glaring at Logpaw. "Even with StarClan, the Clans will be destroyed. I tried to help Fallowpaw, he didn't listen. I thought you were reasonable, Logpaw! But no, you're so determined to die! Why can't you understand? The Dark Forest will kill us all!"

Logpaw's tail flicked. "At least I'm going to try."

Finchpaw felt rage surge up in her belly. "If the Dark Forest loses," Yellowpaw spoke up, "Then you'll never be able to go back to the Clans. I'm not sure Applestar will allow that, and if he does, you'll be treated like a rogue among clan cats."

"You're one to talk!" Finchpaw spat, her fur bristling. "And I just saved you a few minutes ago, didn't I?"

"Whaaat?" Fallowpaw mewed.

Yellowpaw sank her claws into the ground. "And I don't know why you did that. I thought you hated me." Her eyes shone with frustration. "Finchpaw, you have to understand- the Dark Forest cats aren't right in the head! They killed Stormcloud. Twice," She added, to Finchpaw's shock. "They'll brainwash you. And if they haven't already, they will." Her tail lashed. "Join us, Finchpaw. We need you."

Finchpaw felt the earth shift beneath her paws. "What is that supposed to mean?" She snapped. "Why would I join you if you won't even consider joining me?" Her tail lashed. "I'll die. You are all going to die!"

"Finchpaw!" Logpaw snapped. "Are you completely mousebrained? With more help, we could win! And if we don't win-"

Aware of a presence behind her brother, Finchpaw let out a hiss. "Watch out!"

She lunged forward, just as silver claws hurled towards Logpaw. Instead of her brother's fur, they connected with her own, tearing her ears. Yowling with pain, Finchpaw shoved the Dark Forest cat away. She flinched as the warrior's claws shot upward, and pain exploded beneath Finchpaw's eyes. Yowling with pain, Finchpaw sank to the ground.

The Dark Forest cat grabbed her scruff and tossed her across the clearing. She landed hard on a tree root, the breath knocked out of her.

Yellowpaw hissed and leapt onto the Dark Forest warrior, clinging onto it's shoulders. Did Finchpaw just help us? She didn't understand anymore. She dug her claws into the warriors' shoulders, feeling blood pour onto her paws.

The warrior hauled her off, and Yellowpaw tumbled to the ground.

A paw clamped down on her chest. Choking, Yellowpaw struck out with her hind paws, but her blows seemed to only make the warrior stronger. Dark speckles started to spot Yellowpaw's vision. No! She couldn't die, not now. She kicked harder, shifting around to try and unbalance the warrior.

Nothing worked. Yellowpaw prepared for her last breath, before Logpaw pounced, tackling the warrior and slamming them to the ground.

With a gasp, Yellowpaw scrambled to her paws, just in time to see Logpaw bite down hard on the warrior's throat. The Dark Forest cat let out a gurgly shriek, then went limp. Logpaw took a step back, and the warrior faded like mist in a breeze.

Finchpaw hobbled over, limping and grunting with pain. Her eyes were scratched, but they didn't look blinded.

"The Dark Forest cats are fleeing," She hissed. "I won't join your side, but I won't fight you."

With that, she whipped around and fled towards a shard of moonstone that poked out of the ground, vanishing inside of it with a flick of her tail. Yellowpaw nodded to Logpaw and Fallowpaw, who blinked back at her, and the three headed towards the stone. Yellowpaw placed her paws on it, but couldn't get through. We need a spirit cat to open it, She realized, panic scorching through her.

Then one of the starry warriors appeared. "We can't help out there, in the living world." They murmered. "But we can get you in there."

Still confused by the spirit cats, Yellowpaw watched as one of them placed their paw on the shard. Diving in, Yellowpaw found herself back in the moonstone cavern. Logpaw and Fallowpaw flopped in after her.

"The Dark Forest cats have fled to the moor," Logpaw hissed.

Nodding, Yellowpaw rose to her paws. "Let's go!"

***

Applestar lunged, tearing at the pelt of a Dark Forest warrior. He could hardly believe that his own warriors had betrayed him- Finchpaw? And Fallenthroat? Specklebird was far too loyal, but Applestar wasn't stupid. Specklebird had gone missing at the exact same time as the Dark Forest cats, and had been there in the battle. But Fallenthroat had attacked him, so maybe he was just faking?

It doesn't matter. For now, Applestar had to trust him.

Spotting Specklebird at the edge of the clearing, watching the battle with an unreadable expression, Applestar yowled, "Specklebird! Send more cats to protect the camp!"

Specklebird's ears pricked and he looked at Applestar, but didn't move.

"Specklebird!" Applestar snapped.

The deputy picked his way across the moor, past the yowling storms of warriors. His eyes were determined and had something like bloodlust. "I don't follow your orders anymore, Applestar." He purred, thrusting his muzzle in Applestar's face. "These cats, Applestar, my new warriors- follow me."

Applestar bristled and dug his claws into the ground. "Excuse me? Specklebird, I trusted you!" He felt betrayed.

"Big mistake."

With that, the two cats erupted into a whirling storm of claws and fur. Applestar tore and shredded at his deputy's pelt, taking blow after blow of heavy paws. He couldn't believe the deputy he had trusted, for so many moons- so long that he had picked him as deputy- would betray him, and the whole Clan, like this!

The Dark Forest cats ruined everything, Applestar thought.

As the two fought, Specklebird suddenly jerked away from Applestar and looked up. Following his gaze, Applestar shrieked with horror.

Instead of the normal, peaceful silver of the moon and stars, they were red with blood. Applestar blinked and blinked to clear his vision, bit it was no trick.

Blood was flooding the sky.