The Light Within
The cavern pulsed with darkness, Nightshade's form looming like a stormcloud. Emberfang stood alone, her chest heaving, but her resolve unshaken.
"You think you're the first to stand against me?" Nightshade hissed, its skeletal maw grinning. "I have devoured warriors greater than you, Emberfang."
"Maybe," she growled, claws tearing into the ground. "But I'm not fighting for myself. I'm fighting for the clans—and that's something you'll never understand."
Nightshade roared, its shadowy tendrils lashing out like vipers. Emberfang charged straight into the storm, weaving between the strikes, her claws glowing faintly—Starclan's light burning within her.
She leapt at Nightshade, slashing at its chest. The spirit howled as her claws raked through its shadowy form, leaving trails of light behind. The cavern shuddered, cracks forming in the walls as the shadows recoiled.
"You cannot destroy me!" Nightshade shrieked, its voice filled with rage and desperation.
"I don't need to destroy you," Emberfang panted, her amber eyes blazing. "I just need to send you back to the Dark Forest where you belong."
Summoning every ounce of her strength, she drove her claws into the ground, unleashing a blinding surge of light. The cavern filled with the brilliance of Starclan, the shadows screeching as they burned away.
"No!" Nightshade bellowed, its form unraveling, pieces of it scattering like ash in the wind. "This is not the end!"
The spirit's voice faded as it was consumed by the light, leaving the cavern silent and still. Emberfang staggered, her legs trembling. Blood matted her fur, and her breath came in ragged gasps.
She glanced toward the cavern entrance, where faint pawsteps approached.
"Emberfang!" Ravenpaw's voice rang out, followed by Willowmist and Stoneclaw rushing to her side.
"You did it," Willowmist whispered, awe and relief in her gaze.
Emberfang managed a weak smile. "Told you... Starclan's light was stronger."
Her legs buckled, and Stoneclaw caught her. "You're hurt. We need to get you back to camp."
"No," she murmured, her voice faint. "The clans are safe. That's all that matters."
Her vision blurred as she looked toward the cavern's roof, where a faint shimmer of light lingered—the blessing of Starclan.
