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

Chapter 10

Silvershy's POV:

Staggering to her paws, Silvershy looked up to see the white furred tom staring at Ebony and Speck in faint surprise, but he didn't seem too upset by the sudden turn of events. It was three versus four, he still held the advantage, especially with Silvershy bleeding out onto the ground.

"Are these your kittypet friends?" The white tom hissed, storming right up to Silvershy. "Hm? You think you can beat us with your foolish tactics?" He let out a low laugh, turning to the ginger tom laying at his paws. "Fire, get up now and kill this kittypet!" He gave the young tom a harsh kick, causing him to squeal and leap to his paws. "Kill her!" The white tom ordered again, his grey eyes burning with anger.

Weak from her wounds, Silvershy could only stand there and wait for their attack. Hopefully she would be able to defend herself long enough for Speck and Ebony to beat Dove and the old tom.

The young ginger tom lunged for Silvershy. His attack was predictable, and it took a simple step to the side to send him reeling past her. But with his youth burned endless energy, and he attacked her haunches the moment he reached her again. Silvershy spun around, claws out and ready, but he had already danced out of the way to allow the white tom to strike her with a hard blow to the head. The silver she cat staggered and stumbled to a low crouch, coughing blood onto the ground. StarClan give me strength! She prayed, rolling out of the way as the ginger tom jumped for her again.

There was a screech of pain behind her, Speck had been beaten down by Dove. "No!" She cried, watching helplessly as the pale grey she cat struck the injured tom with the killing blow, and his body went limp, lifeless.

"Speck!" Ebony's cry was the loudest, and Silvershy watched as the black furred she cat slashed open her enemy's chest with her claws before darting to attack Dove. "You'll pay for what you've done!" The lithe she cat promised, attacking the enemy rogue with a series of vicious jabs and slices.

The white furred tom growled and scored his claws across the soil. "Fire, get Twig and yourself to safety. I'll deal with these two kittypets myself!" He strode over to Silvershy, his patience completely wiped away.

Silvershy growled angrily. "For the last time, I'm not a kittypet! I'm a warrior!" She launched herself at him, feeling a new strength within her that she hadn't felt before. She swiped at the tom's face, darting away from his attacks before going in again, catching his shoulder with her claws. She dug in deep and he howled into the night air.

"You filthy-" He was cut off from his insult as Silvershy tore open his muzzle with her claws, feeling the hot spray of his blood splatter against her silver pelt. As he swiped for her again, Silvershy spun behind him and gave him a hard shove. The white tom staggered forwards, and with a second push from Silvershy, he fell. "What kind of moves are these?" He spat at her, struggling to get up again.

Silvershy didn't let him. She tore at his stomach mercilessly, bloodlust burning deep within her. "Clan warrior moves!" She hissed.

"C-Clan?" He choked, his grey eyes widening in shock and a sudden fear. He had obvious heard about the tales of the war-obsessed warriors of the forests. "There's no Clan here!"

The silver she cat smiled and leaned back, watching him bleed out onto the ground. "Well here I am. Now get going."

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The enemy rogues had fled the scene, leaving Silvershy and Ebony to sit in silence beside Speck's body. It was nearly moonhigh. Silvershy wondered if Java had sent out a search party for them yet.

Ebony was trying to hide her emotions, but Silvershy could see right through her daughter. She was hurt, upset, mournful.. She had liked Speck too. And he died thinking she hated him. Silvershy swallowed thickly, feeling tears of her own well up in her eyes. It wasn't fair, all three of them should have survived that. Speck was still so young, with a full life ahead of him...

"Let's take him back home." Ebony murmured. "I'll carry him, you're too injured." The black she cat lowered herself down to carefully ease Speck's body onto her back to begin the long journey back to the Nest.

Silvershy rose to her paws, feeling the sting of her belly and neck wounds remind her about how lucky she was to be alive. The bleeding had finally stopped, thank StarClan, but they still ached painfully. Hopefully Wind would have some herbs to help treat them when they got back home.

The two she cats limped in silence, their pace achingly slow. They would be lucky if they reached the Nest by dawn. Silvershy wondered if she should make conversation, or simply leave Ebony to mourn in silence.

She decided to remain quiet, her daughter needed time to heal. 

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