Do or Die (A Warrior Cats Fan Novel)

chapter 4

"What. The. Hell." Saturnpaw said. She stood up from her sitting position immediately. "You can't do that. That's not part... of the rules."

Rubystar also stood up. "Watch your muzzle, sweetie. I am the one who gets to decide the rules, don't even try to go up against me. I will rip. You. Apart."

Saturnpaw immediately remembered the gathering. Dear StarClan, she was more similar to her mother than she liked. Instead of shrinking back and fleeing, her wild-cat instinct took control and she stood taller, beginning to size her mother up.

"Don't get too cocky," Rubystar said, padding forward. Saturnpaw padded backwards, until they were on the highledge.

"You don't tell me what to do," the apprentice declared, voice shaking.

"Don't you dare get smart with me, little kitty," Rubystar chuckled. "I'm the leader of this Clan for a reason.

"W-well, what if I want to be leader?"

The crowd that had began to gather gasped simultaneously, then an eerie silence blanketed the clan.

"You'll have to kill me before I pass over my rank to you."

Saturnpaw froze. Is that what spar meant? That she had to kill her mom?

"Then..." she looked down, then back at her mother.

"Fine then. I challenge you for the leadership of this Clan."

~

A space had been cleared in the middle of the Clan. The decision was made. There was no turning back. Orchidpaw approached Saturnpaw, who was sobbing.

"What happened?" he whispered. "As soon as I got back I had to go on a patrol."

"I did a reckless thing and now Mother is going to literally slit my throat."

Orchidpaw smirked and said jokingly, "Did you challenge her to a fight?"

Saturnpaw looked him dead in the eye and sobbed once.

"No way. What did you do!?"

"I DON'T KNOW YOU'RE MAKING THIS WORSE," Saturnpaw let out another pathetic cry, and Orchidpaw couldn't help but pull her into a bear-hug.

Waves of sympathy washed over him. He'd had to comfort his brother, Rosepaw, like this when Rosepaw and Mistralpaw broke up. "Shh. It's okay. You can do it, I believe in you."

Saturnpaw squished her face into his fur. "No I cant. I'm only eight moons old. Mother is seven years old. She'll kill me. She'll tear my pelt off. She'll-"

The entire clearing fell silent. Everybody was staring either at Orchidpaw and Saturnpaw or Rubystar, who was facing the two.

"Do I have to kill both of you?" she snapped, and Orchidpaw shrank back, merging into the crowd. Strike four.

Saturnpaw whipped around, trembling. She couldn't even cry due to the immense fear that had formed in her chest.

"Good. Just my little dog-shit of a daughter." Rubystar's eyes darkened, and she circled Saturnpaw, who had never had a minute of battle training. Rubystar was an experienced killer.

-Saturn POV-

If I turn around, Mother will keep circling me. It wont start. Act unaware. Then run. 

Run. 

RUN.

Just as I rise to my paws, Mother flies on me. She is no longer my mom, but a hyena, ripping into my throat with intent not to scare, not to hurt, but to kill to prove her point that she is leader.