Warriors: Ashfur's Insanity

Chapter 13

Ashstar padded around in the medicine den. "Stupid Spiderleg and Birchfall! I'll kill them next time I see them!" He swore. "I have no medicine cats to heal this infected throat wound!" He pushed all the herbs off of the shelves of the medicine den. "But death is only for the weak!" He unsheathed his claws, laughing with a deep rasp in his throat. 

Blood gurgled in his mouth as a ghostly spirit came from him.

"Tigerstar," Ashstar slumped on the ground. "I-I can't do this anymore.."

"But power is what you wanted right?" Tigerstar growled. 

"Every cat hates me because of what I've become. They're leaving my Clan," Ashstar rasped. "I don't want power anymore, make it stop!"

"If I leave you, no cat will change, Ashstar," Tigerstar informed. "With my power, every cat will soon see."

Ashstar stood. "I said I don't want your power anymore!" He hissed.

Tigerstar stood. "You want a battle? Well come into the forest for one!" His spirit faded away.

Ashstar stood. Great, he's gone. Tigerstar made me kill all those cats. He twitched an ear and padded out of the den. I don't want to battle, but to settle things out, I will.

By the moment Ashstar was in the forest, he was knocked over. Instantly, he lashed out and hit Tigerstar. Both of the cats got up, shaking their pelts.

"Alright, let me just finish you," Tigerstar sighed. "I'll make your death slow and painful. I hope you've lived your life well."

"I don't think I have, thanks to you!" Ashstar leaped on the dark tabby. He sank his teeth into Tigerstar's throat, but the tabby landed a hard blow to the side of Ashstar's face. Ashstar bit harder and let go. 

He stood and Tigerstar, as fast as lightning, darted forward under Ashstar's belly, slicing it open. Ashstar slumped to the ground, feeling his blood pool underneath him.

Tigerstar turned him over and placed a paw, claws unsheathed, on his throat. He sank them in, but they barley cut into Ashstar's skin.

"I told you I'd make your death slow," Tigerstar laughed, pushing his claws in a bit deeper. "Now just relax as your first life ebbs away."

Ashstar struggled under Tigerstar's grip, then fell still. No, I can't waste my energy. He felt Tigerstar's long claws sink deeper in his throat. Now blood oozed and Ashstar's breath was getting weak. Oh StarClan, help me!

Tigerstar seemed to be reading his mind. "StarClan won't help you now. They're just a foolish group of cats who read the stars."

"How can you say StarClan are foolish? You got your lives from them!" Ashstar meowed.

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes. "Well..." He began. "Stop trying to trick me!" 

Ashstar felt his claws sink deeper, and now he was struggling to breath.

"Hey! Stop!" A voice yowled. A small gray apprentice darted out of the bushes and jumped on Tigerstar. She landed on him and sliced at his eyes and muzzle, then aimed a final blow to his nose. While Tigerstar was stunned, she walked over to Ashstar.

Ashstar got up, looking into her blue eyes. "Jaypaw...."

Jaypaw looked up at him. "I saved you. Now all you do is stare?" Jaypaw hissed.

"Jaypaw, all of the things I've done wasn't my fault," Ashstar began to explain everything. 

"So that's why you made us leave," Jaypaw then bristled. "He's getting up!"

"Do you think I would let an apprentice beat me?" Tigerstar rasped as he got up. "Think again, stupid apprentice!"

Ashstar stood in front of Jaypaw, his tail lashing. "Don't lay a claw on her, Tigerstar."

"Look what she did to me!" Tigerstar hissed. "I can't see with all this blood dripping into my eyes!"

Ashstar leaped on Tigerstar, sinking his claws in his shoulder. Tigerstar lashed out and hit Ashstar's throat. 

Ashstar gasped with pain and staggered back. He fell on the ground, blood pooling from his throat. Tigerstar can't hurt Jaypaw! 

Jaypaw leaped on Tigerstar, sinking her claws and teeth into his neck. His struggles and blows became weaker as she chomped down harder.

"This is what you get!" Jaypaw hissed. 

The dark tabby finally fell limp in her grip. She stepped away, but Tigerstar faded into the air.

Jaypaw was confused when he faded, but she thought nothing of it. She ran over to Ashstar. He won't fade away, will he? As she reached his side, Ashstar lay still, blood pooling from his throat and belly. Jaypaw sunk her teeth in his scruff, and dragged her father in the grass. 

Ashstar opened his eyes. His wounds felt better, but he was with Jaypaw, Stonepaw, and Cinderheart. He tried to lift his head, but a white paw pushed him back down. 

"No, no, lay down and rest. You've lost your first life," Brightheart was meowing.

"C-cinderheart.." Ashstar rasped. 

Cinderheart stepped closer to him and crouched beside her mate. "I wish I could've seen the other side of you before. I'm sorry."

"It's ok," Ashstar meowed.

"Every cat get out of the den so Ashstar can rest. Since his fine side has returned, I guess we'll be going back to the Clan. Isn't that right?" Brightheart looked down at him.

"Yes. Every cat in this group will be going back to the Clan with me," Ashstar meowed. 

Cinderheart stepped out of the medicine den with Jaypaw and Stonepaw close to her side.

Then Squirrelflight stepped in. "So, Ashstar. It's time your bright side revealed?" She snarled.

"Didn't Jaypaw tell you the story?" Ashstar demanded. "I was being controlled by Tigerstar!" 

"Controlled or not, I still blame you for Hollyleaf's, Jayfeather's, and Lionblaze's deaths," Squirrelflight turned and padded out of the den. 

Ashstar set his head on his paws. I guess I killed those three cats by myself, but now Squirrelflight doesn't like me.

"Ashstar, just rest, don't think about the past," Brightheart meowed.

"I guess you're right," Ashstar meowed as he curled up for sleep.