Warriors: Echo of Darkness

Chapter 6

The mutt grabbed my chest and whipped me up and down. I let out a yowl of frustration as I was tossed around like a leaf on a windy day. I raked my white unsheathed paw across its narrow face. It barked and dropped me down harshly. I scrambled to get on all fours and lunged at it. The dog slammed me to the ground with a single paw. It's claws dug into my neck and collar. The only thing I could do was struggle for my life and hope that Ranger would find me soon. I noticed my badger claw pendant to the right of my muzzle and I grasped it in my mouth. I shoved the claw into its right paw and it howled in pain, "That's what I thought!"

It gave me a deathly glare as blood welled up on his paw and face. It started to charge at me, but something flung at its face, "Ranger!" I purred. 

"Not the time for a happy reunion kit!" He hissed as he clung to the doberman's face.

I lunged at it and clamped down on its neck. I viciously dug my claws in and out of it. He howled and tried to shake me off but it was no use. I slashed a final claw at its eyes before hoping off. Ranger didn't give up so easily, he refused to let go of it.

"Ranger that's enough... Ranger!" I hissed. The tom reluctantly let go and jumped to my side. The dog's eyes were scratched to the point where we blinded him. He started stumbling back to the hill where the ThunderPath was located.

We stepped out of the field, blood was trickled from my chest and I took a sigh. Ranger looked at me, "This isn't over yet, we have to go get Morgan."

I sat down and started panting, "Yeah I...I know." I huffed. I saw the dark figure of Riki's mother start to slip out of the barn with her two kits following. She kept heading East but I shook my head, "Riki is back that way!" I called. The she-cat looked at me, than continued East.

"What is wrong with her?" I growled, "Did she not hear me?" 

Ranger looked at me from the corner of his eye then back at the she-cat, "I'm sure she did, when she only had enough prey for her and her other two kits, she easily gave Riki up to Morgan." 

I stared at him in astonishment, "So you mean.... she is just going to abandon Riki?" I whispered. My claws dug into the dirt, "She doesn't deserve to have kits!"

"She was thinking about survive of the fittest. If she had fought for Riki I wouldn't have had to, maybe it's for the best they separate."

I saw the she-kit run down the hill, "Mother! Mother wait I'm here I'm alive! Juzo! Ken! Wait up! She wailed running after them. They only quickened their pace until they vanished into the other forest. Riki just stood there, dumbfounded. My sister padded up to her and rested her tail on the kits shoulder.

"Let's regroup then find Morgan." I ordered then ran to the she-cats. Riki had flattened ears and tail tears were streaming down her face, "They will come back for me...."

Eve licked her face but said nothing, the three of us knew the truth. "Brother, I saw the mean brown tabby start to go the tree Ranger was tied up to."

Ranger had a grin on his face, as did I. "Let's go, wait here with Riki until we get back." I meowed then started to run towards the tree. 

There was silence between us until Ranger finally spoke up, "I want to kill them, but only if you allow me to Nightmare."

I thought for a moment, "We gave them a chance... Do as you wish." I replied coldly. Ranger nodded in approval, "I don't typically like killing cats, but Morgan is not worthy to be called a cat."  

"I know..." I sighed. My mother raised me to be kind and forgive, but they were murderers and deserved this fate. My fathers words rang in my ear, "There is no such thing as good or evil, cats must do as they must."