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

Chapter 25

Shadeheart's POV:

Shadeheart sprawled across the ground, gasping from the harsh shove, but he composed himself within a heartbeat and was ready to leap to the rogues' defenses. "Maple!" He called out as Strike's claws caught her cheek...

He expected blood to splatter onto the ground, and for the red and black she cat to howl in pain, but Strike's claws only picked up a single tuft of russet fur. Maple had ducked out of the way just in time, her eyes narrowed and focused. A kind of feral aura surrounded the rogue she cat as she took a few safe steps away from Strike, her ears flattened. Tiger tried to take up a protective stance in front of her, but she moved him aside with a low growl. Maple was obviously an experienced fighter from the looks of it.

Strike glared at his claws in annoyance, apparently finding it hard to contemplate the she cat's quick actions. Shadeheart was impressed by Maple's sudden spurt of life. The limp from her apparent fall in the earlier chase was nowhere to be found. Had she faked it to lull them into a false sense of security? Where did she learn all of this?

But then Strike shook himself out of his phase and snarled. "I'll kill you!"

"Run!" Shadeheart shrieked, launching himself in Strike's way as the red and black tom advanced on Maple and Tiger. Tyler darted to block the two rogues but he couldn't stop both of them at once and Flare was too busy enjoying the view from her spot a few tail-lengths away. Maple hared into the thick undergrowth, her mate diving after her. Tyler was left stumbling after them, hissing and spitting.

Shadeheart, distracted, couldn't stop Strike from throwing him onto his back and pinning him down. "How dare you let them escape!" The winged tom seethed, his red eyes a burning fire of rage.

Shadeheart kicked Strike's belly with his hind legs but the winged tom wouldn't budge. "I'm done with sitting on the sidelines and letting you spread your evil throughout this territory! It stops now!"

"NoName shouldn't have made you an Enforcer." Strike growled. "She should have locked you away in the prison where you belong, Clan sympathiser!"

"She's my mother, she would never hurt me!" Shadeheart's fur bristled as the obvious lie left his lips. "She cares about me."

Strike scoffed, his claws sinking into Shadeheart's chest and making the black furred tom wince. "NoName will have you killed for this. Your actions are unforgivable. You traitor!"

"C'mon Strike." Flare meowed softly from her spot close by. "Don't be so harsh.. He's your nephew." She let out a slight chuckle, as if the situation was just a simple joke.

Strike shook his head angrily. "There's no more time for jokes, sister. Shadeheart has committed a crime, and he will pay!" He seized Shadeheart's scruff and started tugging him across the clearing.

Shadeheart glanced at Flare, watching as her yellow eyes appeared to widen as she realised the true weight of this issue. Strike truly did want Shadeheart punished for his actions. What happened to the supportive Uncle I used to know? He wondered hopelessly as Strike hauled him to his paws and gave him a shove towards tbe direction of camp.

"Flare, go help Tyler capture those mangy rogues. I'm bringing Shadeheart back to his mother." The black and red furred tom ordered, his teeth flashing. What had happened to make the usually goofy old tom so upset? Was NoName getting under his skin?

As Flare darted away, Shadeheart was left alone with Strike. His chest stung from the wound his uncle had inflicted upon him, but he barely noticed the pain as he was too distracted with thinking up a way to escape. Strike's teeth gripped his scruff tightly, allowing him no chance at running now. What have I done? Shadeheart forced a soft whimper back down his throat, his teeth gritting as he looked up at Strike. His uncle stared back with cold eyes.

"I'm sorry, alright?" Shadeheart tried the apology route, his voice sounding as sincere as possible. "You know what I'm like. I'm soft, I couldn't watch you do that to them."

"You. Let. Them. Escape." Strike snarled, his words like ice. "This is unforgivable. They were Dark Forest prisoners and you helped then run away."

"Flare and Tyler will get them back!" Shadeheart hissed, stumbling as Strike started herding him through the forest. "It's not the end of the world."

"You think you rule over us because my sister is your mother." Strike muttered. "Well, you need to realise your place."

"I don't think I rule-"

"You blatantly assisted the prisoners, made friends with them." Strike unsheathed his claws as he continued to push Shadeheart towards camp. "And you even had the audacity to mate with one of them!"

"You speak as if they are nothing." Shadeheart snapped back. "They are the rightful rulers of this territory! You stole that from them. You killed their friends and faimilies. You ruined their lives!" It was all gushing out. There was no reason to keep quiet anymore. It was time Shadeheart took action. Especially if he was soon to be killed.

Strike was quiet for a few heartbeats. His red eyes were narrowed, but his face seemed to soften as he sighed. "We just wanted to fulfill NoName's dream. She missed out on that in her first life."

"And now she can do the right thing and leave the Clans alone." Shadeheart growled.

"She'll never give up power. Not until it's ripped from her paws by force."

Shadeheart let the conversation end at that, with Strike's ominous words hanging in the air like an echo.

__________________________________

Spectrum's POV:

The news spread through camp like wildfire.

The newest prisoners had escaped. Tyler and Flare had been unable to track them back down. And Shadeheart had been blamed for everything.

Relief swept through Spectrum, although she didn't welcome it. Maple had survived, and she had escaped the Dark Forest with her mate. They would make it. The black she cat didn't mean to have feelings for Maple, but their friendship had been special and unforgettable and she was glad the rogue she cat had slipped away from Death's clutches once again.

But as NoName called a meeting in the gathering clearing, Spectrum felt her nerves spike. What was going to happen to Shadeheart? Strike had charged the young tom straight into NoName's den upon arriving only a short while ago. Surely NoName wouldn't harm her own son.

Sitting quietly with the rest of the Enforcers under the looming shadow of NoName's meeting rock, Spectrum gazed at the growing crowd. The Prisoners were being brought out for this, so it had to be important. A stab of sympathy struck Spectrum's chest as her gaze hovered over the Clan warriors. They looked half-dead. All it took was Tyler's mere presences to keep then in check. How pathetic they have become. Spectrum sighed.

Bluesnow had pushed her way to the front of the crowd, her kits huddling with her. The blue she cat anxiously stared at Shadeheart, who was cowering by the lip of the rock beside his red-furred mother.

There was a purr in Spectrum's ear and she jerked away, looking at the culprit who had assaulted her ear. Zephyr. He was leaning against Flare, nuzzling her cheek. Spectrum found herself muttered. "Get yourselfs a nest. This is a formal gathering." But the couple didn't respond.

NoName's harsh voice sent the crowd into hushed silence. "As you all know, Shadeheart committed a crime against the Dark Forest today." Spectrum peered up to look at the red she cat as she spoke. "He allowed two prisoners to escape.
"This is unacceptable behaviour from my son, and he will be punished."

"Give him the shadows." Spectre growled, barely visible from where he lurked in the far shadows at the edge of the clearing. The rest of his collective stuck close to him, their gleaming eyes looking menacing as they all glared up at Shadeheart. Spectrum had forgotten that NoName had gotten the Ghost Collective to join them, they were always so secretive.

"Not the shadows." NoName snarled, clawing at the rock. "Not this time. Shadeheart needs a real punishment. Something suitable for the traitorous son of your great leader." Her teeth gleamed in the sunlight as she grinned. "How about we remove that cute little nose of yours, Shadeheart, so that you can stop shoving it where it doesn't belong."

____________________________________

Because mainstream torture isn't good enough anymore