Warriors: Empire's End ~Book 5 Series 3~

Chapter 1

NoName's POV:

The crimson furred she cat sat calmly at her den entrance, watching over her camp in silence. Her Dark Forest warriors ignored her, focused on their duties. It was a warm day; the sun was out and the sky was a beautiful clear blue. NoName smiled faintly, but her mood remained gloomy. 

Two attempted murders. Two times NoName had been on the verge of death. First Flamestar and then Blossomfur. She wasn't sure if she could handle a third.

Blossomfur... The red she cat sighed to herself. Of all cats... Why her? She was her son's mate, she was a loyal Dark Forest warrior- or so she thought. 

Her chest wound stung; a painful reminder of th experience. Blossomfur would have killed her. And for what? To take control of the Shadows? NoName was starting to realise that she might have to put herself under further protection. What if other supposedly 'loyal' cats thought they could steal her Shadows from her? It had never occured to her before that cats could be so power-hungry. 

Her pure white eyes glanced across the camp once again. Was it all worth it? All the lives lost? All the time wasted in capturing LightClan's camp? Forcing the four Clans into being the Dark Forest's Prisoners? She was starting to have some doubts. 

Perhaps if she made an example of Blossomfur to show everyone that she was not a force to be reckoned with.. But what could she do? Blossomfur had been killed- twice! She had no parents- she was a rogue who had been picked up as a kit.. and NoName would never harm her Grandkits, they played no part in this turmoil. She wasn't that hungry for spilled blood. Yet. 

What about Shadeheart? NoName wondered. He was her son, yes, but that hadn't excluded him from harsh punishment before. Why should that change now? He was a grown tom cat, he could take some discipline. He may have saved her life by killing his own mate, but currently he was the only cat she could think of that could be used as an example for Blossomfur's crimes. She didn't want to bother killing one of the Prisoners, what would that achieve? Her warriors needed to know that she wasn't afraid to punish anyone who deserved it. No one was safe from her wrath.

All that NoName needed to do was show her warriors and the Prisoners that there would be consequences to those who attempted to harm her. It was simple.

The red she cat looked around, her pale pink nose twitching as she immediately picked up her son's scent. He was in camp. Good. The black tom was probably still drooling over Bluesnow somewhere- only three days had passed since Blossomfur's death and he had already latched onto another she cat. NoName's thick crimson tail lashed in faint disgust. She didn't approve of his relationship with Bluesnow. She should have killed their kits when they were born, it would have ended her son's rebellious nature. 

She sighed. There was no point in focusing in the past. NoName needed to move forwards and secure her army once and for all. Shadeheart's punishment would be first, and she'd move on from there. 

Rising to her paws, NoName strode across camp and around the back of her den, taking the little pathway to the small meeting clearing under the shelter of a large willow tree. The red furred she cat bunched her muscles and leapt onto the rock, scrabbling to pull her little body over the lip and onto the flat surface. Once she was safely atop the boulder, NoName started the call for a meeting, making sure her voice rang loud and strong. "All Dark Forest cats, gather for a meeting!" Her shrill voice was carried by the wind, reaching all corners of the main clearing. She smiled to herself as Strike and Tyler were the first to respond to her call, flying up and over her den to land before the rock.

"You called?" Strike grinned up at his sister, as he tucked his deep red wings away. 

NoName's smile didn't falter as she met her brother's crimson gaze. "It's time for another punishment." 

"Who is it this time?" Tyler asked, his blue eyes glancing around the small clearing as more cats started trickling in. 

"You'll see soon enough." The she cat promised, tucking her thick, red tail neatly around her paws, shielding them from the cool Leaf-fall breeze. Her brothers fell into silence, leaping gracefully onto the rock with a single stroke of their wings and taking their places at NoName's flanks.

Soon, everyone had gathered to hear NoName's words. The red she cat spotted Shadeheart sitting near the edge of the crowd, his golden gaze hovering around her. Her son seemed curious about the meaning of the meeting. She smiled softly, trying to imagine the look of shock that would soon cover his face when she announced his punishment. 

"As you all are aware of," NoName began, "Blossomfur attempted to take my life a few days ago. However," she let her piercing gaze travel over her warriors, her voice sharp, "she was unsuccessful and has been killed." 

The cats below her murmured in understanding, their gazes flickering around the clearing as they searched for the point of the speech. Impatient, all of them.

"Now, I have decided that killing Blossomfur was not enough to make you all understand that there will be terrible consequences to anyone who tries to follow in her traitorous pawsteps." NoName let a wide grin fall upon her face as she looked at Shadeheart. "My son. You shall take the burden of your mate's wrong doings. Stand before me and accept your punishment. Resist and there will be consequences."  

A collective gasp filled the clearing, and Shadeheart stood frozen in shock as he processed his mother's words. NoName forced down a chuckle before turning to Strike and Tyler. "Bring him to me." She ordered; it seemed her son was too surprised to move on his own.

The two winged toms dove from the rock, ploughing through the crowd to get to the frozen Shadeheart. The black tom didn't move a muscle and his golden eyes were stretched wide. His jaws parted in an attempt to voice his confusion and anguish, but all that came out was a soft mewl. Tyler and Strike grasped Shadeheart's scruff and between the two of them, dragged the stiff tom to the foot of the rock. 

NoName looked down, judging the drop from her spot before letting her forepaws slip over the lip of the rock, her body clumsily following as she dropped down onto the ground to meet Shadeheart. Some faint snickers of laughter reached her ears, and NoName bared her teeth at her warriors, making them flinch in fear. I'd throw them all off the side of The Cliff if they weren't my only line of defence!

She turned to Shadeheart just as the black tom murmured, "Why?" 

"You need discipline." The red she cat meowed, "For too long you've been thinking that you can do whatever you want, and side with whoever you please just because you are the son of the leaders. I even made you an Enforcer, but you can't even handle that responsibility. Well, it's time you learned that you are not in charge, Shadeheart. No one is safe from punishment. Justice will always serve." 

"I-I didn't do anything wrong!" Shadeheart cried, cowering before his mother. "I saved your life! I killed Blossomfur for you!"

NoName nodded. "Yes, you did, and I thank you for that, but that doesn't mean you are innocent." 

Meanwhile, the crowd was murmuring between themselves. They seemed conflicted over her decision. NoName didn't have the energy to shut them up again, so she let it happen. She would get the point across, they couldn't avoid it. 

"How does punishment with the shadows sound?" NoName meowed to her son, watching him squirm in fright. "Relax, it won't be for long. I can't keep these cats entertained all day." She looked up at the crowd, who were still chatting amongst themselves. "Can't even hold their interest now." The red she cat gave Shadeheart no time to react before her shadows swarmed his body and he was sent into the depths of his darkest fears.

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