Shadowstripe's Treachery

Epilogue

((Cat above is Dappledtree))

Many seasons and generations had gone by since the defining moment when Shadowstripe started his plan to get revenge. Since then, he had become a somewhat respected and feared cat among the dark forest ranks. Every single generation had gone exactly how he had planned, and when a cat from Larkstar's family had become completely insane, the dark forest cats would celebrate with him, especially now that more cats had joined them.

Nightstorm had become fairly distant from the others, except when she was helping Shadowstripe with dreams, and he had assumed it was because the cats back in the lake territories had quickly started to forget about her. Her predictions had sadly come true, and whenever a cat told a story about Jaystar, they would never mention her name. They just called her the cat in his way. She had become highly depressed since then and had preferred not to socialize with the others while they celebrated Shadowstripe's victories.

Shadowstripe, on the contrary, had become one of the most famous dark forest cats in IceClan history and his story was constantly told by the elders and the queens to the kits. Sometimes cats from other clans would even tell his story. The prophecy had finally been fulfilled, and he knew for sure who had become the raging fire. The MountainClan cats never reported to IceClan what had happened that day to Larkstar, and the IceClan cats never asked. Meadowstar took over and was ten times better then Larkstar at leading the clans in Shadowstripe's opinion.

"You did it again, Shadowstripe." Purred Nightstorm, nodding her head in respect.

Shadowstripe smiled pridefully, his bright amber eyes filled with satisfaction. "I know. Dappledtree didn't stand a chance after Oakfoot died." He snickered. Dappledtree was one of the easiest cats he had manipulated, and after her mate, Oakfoot, died she completely cut herself off from the rest of the world. Gorsepelt had informed Shadowstripe that she would die once she threw herself off a cliff that was far away from IceClan territory. She's going to die a rogue... ha!

"Too bad she had kits before she lost it..." Nightstorm sighed, seeming tired. "We could've been done with this whole revenge thing..."

"I thought you enjoyed getting revenge!" Shadowstripe snarled, stepping back.

"Yes, I do. But don't you ever get tired of doing the same old thing generation after generation?" She yawned.

"Well, sometimes... but it's all part of the plan to end-"

"Yeah, I know. To end your family line so you can finally have your peace or whatever... but just think about it, Shadowstripe." She sighed deeply, doubt showing in her eyes. "What if it doesn't end?"

Shadowstripe looked down at the ground for a moment, but then brought his head back up with a calm stare. "Look, I have a feeling about this one. Don't you see? I have been successful for four generations. This will be the fifth, so it's a pretty big deal. I don't want any doubt from anyone, including you. Is that clear?"

She narrowed her eyes in anger, "Just because you've become popular over the seasons doesn't mean you have authority over me. I can have my own opinions!" She hissed in a harsh whisper, turning and padding stiffly away.

"Whatever," he flicked his ear casually, "I can do without her anyways. I've learned so much about dreams over the time that I've been here that I probably know more than she does!"

"I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you..." he heard Gorsepelt come in from behind him. "I wouldn't want a cat like Nightstorm to turn against me if I were as scrawny and small as you. She'd turn you into crowfood."

"Hello to you, too, Gorsepelt." He growled, rolling his eyes.

"Well are you ready? We don't have all day." She lashed her tail impatiently.

Now that he was successful with Dappledtree, it was time for him to go back to his old home and choose which cat to haunt next. Gorsepelt had always helped him choose since she had the power to see how cats died. "Yep. Let's go." He nodded, taking in a deep breath. This one had better not go wrong or I'm going to be humiliated for the rest of eternity... he thought, a flicker of doubt starting to enter his mind.

***

Once they had reached IceClan territory, they padded silently into the camp. Shadowstripe would still sometimes forget that he was invisible, and it made him very uncomfortable to be so close to the cats he hated. Over the years, all of the cats from his generation died out, but he still found reason to hate every cat from the new generations as well.

"Here we are..." Gorsepelt sighed, "Let's get this over with.

They walked hastily into the nursery and saw Dappledtree with her four kits. One was grey, two were black and white, and one was white with orange spots. They were all she kits, and Shadowstripe narrowed his eyes.

"Okay, so how about this one?" He asked, looking down at the large grey kit.

Gorsepelt paused for a while, taking time to survey each kit. "That's Ashkit. She will die of old age in a place I don't recognize. I believe it is a twoleg nest."

He wrinkled his nose, "A kittypet?! Definitely not her." He turned his head to the speckled orange kit. "And her?"

"Speckledkit will die young of an infection." She nodded.

He narrowed his eyes, "Just like Littlestep." He growled. "I won't choose her."

She sighed, "Okay. Both of these kits will die of old age."

He nodded, "Okay, so I will choose one of these two cats. What are their names?"

She looked at the kit who was mostly white with a few black spots on her head, "She is Willowkit." She then turned her head to the tiny kit in the corner, "And she has not been named yet."

"Why not?" He asked.

"Don't you remember? She's the kit who Dappledtree neglected since she was born when Oakfoot died. Don't you ever watch the outside world?" She hissed.

His eyes lit up, "So if she doesn't have a parent to love her or look after her, she's bound to be mentally unstable, right?"

Gorsepelt looked unsure, "Uh, well I guess, but-"

"Then I'll choose her!" He purred with satisfaction.

She narrowed her eyes. "Shadowstripe, I don't think it will be as easy as you think..."

"I'm up for a challenge. I've been doing this for four generations already. It will be easy."

"Okay, it's your mistake. But if I were you, I would choose Willowkit." She shrugged, disappearing back to the dark forest.

"I can choose whoever I want!" He snapped, but she was already gone. He took in a slow, deep breath and stared at his future victim. The little kit shivered as Dappledtree constantly pushed her away from her warm fur.

"You know, you're even smaller than Littlestep." He meowed to the sleeping kit, though he knew she couldn't hear or understand him. "And he was a puny little runt. He couldn't even survive one greencough epidemic. Gorsepelt was obviously wrong about this one... I mean, how hard could it be?"

((Yayyyyyyyy!!!!!!! My second book is complete! Thanks everyone so much for reading it; it means a lot :333

So what did you think? Favorite scenes or characters?

And yes, I kind of left it at a cliffhanger, but if you want to know what happens next, it's in Dawnstar's Decision. And if you want more about Shadowstripe, I am writing a human AU book about him as a person. Soo yeah... that's all I really have to say :3

Now for the credits!!!

Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter

Redberry and Gorsepelt belong to EvilKittypet

Snowsky belongs to @Ravenwolf37

Shadowstripe, the other characters, and IceClan belong to me :3

Thanks again for reading! Hope you enjoyed. :DDD))