Ghosts of the Clans (COMPLETED)

Chapter 28

Injured cats littered the clearing as small skirmishes surrounded it. Redwillow watched coldly as Pinenose wailed over the body of Weaselkit- Grasskit was nowhere to be seen. Tawnypelt wove around her, her green gaze sharp with horror. Silverhawk, Dappledtooth, Mousepelt and Stripedfang paced at the far end of the camp, watching the Clan.

A ragged line of warriors faced them, looking battered. Emberfoot, Gorsetail and Furzepelt stood with Tawnypelt and Ratscar, another betrayer. Robinwing and Petalfur swelled their ranks and Redwillow smirked at the absence of Hollowflight.

Snowbird, Oakfur, Smokefoot, Lionblaze and Graystripe scrambled inside, but no cat cared to stop them. With or without the five warriors, ShadowClan was probably lost.

"Cedarheart! Whitewater! Find cobwebs, there are wounds to dress!" Redwillow heard Graystripe call to the two elders, and Redwillow heard Flashpelt let out an ominous growl, crashing through the ShadowClan line and hurling himself towards Graystripe.

However, the dark gray ThunderClan tom met him with a swipe that slammed Flashpelt backward. "You'd better wait for backup before you try taking us on," Graystripe growled. Backup? We don't need that. We're waiting for Blackstar to emerge and surrender!

Flashnose glared at Graystripe, but slunk back toward the Dark Forest members.

The ShadowClan line began to move slowly, and Redwillow unsheathed his claws. If ShadowClan attacked, it would be a fatal mistake. He knew that Blackstar had already lost a life, anyway.

Paws pattered towards the ShadowClan camp as more Dark Forest warriors appeared, charging into the ShadowClan camp. Ivytail let out a shriek as Shredtail barrelled into her, claws flashing and teeth biting.

Tallpoppy dodged past Dappledtooth as the pale tabby tom's claws sliced towards her, picking Weaselkit up and nudging Pinenose to her paws. Redwillow ducked through slashing claws and knocked Robinwing's paws from underneath him, raking the pale tortoiseshell tom's belly viciously as Robinwing batted at Redwillow with his forepaws.

Paw steps sounded beyond the camp wall. We don't have more reinforcements! While Redwillow was distracted, Robinwing struggled out and hared away to help Petalfur, who was being tortured by Flashpelt and Mousepelt.

The brambles trembled and collapsed as a patrol of bristling warriors burst through. Their pelts were transparent, and Redwillow could practically see through them. Who are they? Not real warriors... who can they be?

The ghostly warriors streamed among the Dark Forest cats. Redwillow stumbled as one lashed at his shoulders, and he kicked at his attacker, an orange tabby she-cat. 

Just as he was recovering from the surprise, a massive creature crashed through the remains of the camp wall- a badger! Redwillow fled from its path, terror lighting his eyes. "The badger is an ally!" He heard Graystripe yowl, and inwardly groaned. Just great.

With a roar, the badger plucked a Dark Forest warrior by the back of his neck and tossed him away like a piece of prey. Redwillow's fear intensified. It could kill all of us with one swipe!

But he wasn't going to give up yet. With a mighty pounce, he leaped onto Dawnpelt and raked her muzzle with his claws, hearing Ratscar beg Shredtail for mercy behind him. While her blue eyes were wide with shock, Redwillow dragged Dawnpelt across the clearing by her scruff.

"Redwillow." As soon as he heard Shredtail's snarl, Redwillow spun around and let go of Dawnpelt. "What are you doing, mouse-brain? I'm not the enemy!" She howled at him, eyes wild with fury.

"Come here, Redwillow," Shredtail called. "What is it?" Redwillow raced toward Shredtail, his eyes glittering with excitement. "How's the battle going?" Shredtail tipped his head as if they were just having a friendly chat.

"Great! At last I can fight properly. You're right about the Clans being weak and lazy. This is easy. They're so obsessed with being honourable and sticking to the warrior code, I can pick them off like mice!" He glanced back towards the action. Can I get back now?

Snowbird lunged at Redwillow, flinging him backward and dug her claws into his throat. "The warrior code is more important than any cat's life! I'm going to kill you."

"Stop, Snowbird." A voice trembled, and Blackstar limped towards the group, the scent of death still on him. Snowbird backed away. "But he's a traitor!"

"I'm loyal to my new Clan! Your time is over. You're nothing but an elder growing old over and over. Why don't you just give up and die?" Redwillow jumped to his paws and snarled at Blackstar.

Blackstar padded closer. "I am still leader of this Clan. And you have betrayed us all." He growled. Without warning, his paw flew out and slashed deep into Redwillow's chest. Blood gushed out of the wound, and Redwillow stared in astonishment, feeling his legs buckle. No... it can't be...

A forest shaped around him, rotten and glowing in an eerie half light.