Warriors: 9 Lives of TERROR

Thirty-two- Prowl, yowl, claw and slice. Fear will make you scatter like mice.

"So eat up and sharpen your claws- we're about to go make history." The words rang in Coldrose's ears. He's really going to do it. He's going to kill off WindClan! It felt like the camp walls were closing in on her. I need air. First making sure Froststar wasn't paying attention to her, Coldrose dashed out of camp, feeling the thorn barrier rake her spine as she did.

Her paws immediately tugged in the direction of the ShadowClan border. Coldrose paused. No, I can't see him now. It would be too risky. Sighing, Coldrose started dejectedly back towards camp, but paused again, ears pricking as she thought of something. There may still be something I can do. Coldrose drew in a deep breath. StarClan give me strength- and courage. She felt a tingling in her bones. StarClan had not abandoned the warriors yet. With a growl, Coldrose plunged into the undergrowth, sprinting faster then she had ever done in her entire life.

Twigs and leaves whacked her as she ran, but she didn't care. Breath heaving in her lungs, Coldrose didn't slow even when the WindClan border came into view. She spotted three WindClan warriors chasing a skinny hare her way. They paused when they saw her, and the hare disappeared into a hole in the ground. It was Tallfoot, Mistlefur, and Woolyheart. They turned to flee, but Coldrose yowled: "Wait!"

They turned around, fear and curiosity battling in their eyes as she sprinted towards them. When she reached the WindClan warriors she stopped, panting. Mistlefur took a tentative step forward. "Coldrose? What are you doing here? Aren't you Froststar's deputy?" she asked. Coldrose nodded, able to speak now.

"I am- but he's a monster. I serve no one but StarClan now. I've come to warn you- Froststar is attacking soon. This time he's intent on destroying you," she announced. The three warriors shared devastated glances at this news.

"What do we do, then?" Woolyheart asked. Coldrose blinked, eyes full of sorrow.

"You surrender. I'm so sorry," she said, then turned to go.

"Wait." She turned back around, Tallfoot had spoken. "How is my mate? My kits?" he asked, voice hoarse with grief.

"Froststar may be a monster, but he took your mate and kits for a reason, to make them warriors," she replied, surprised at how calm and caring her voice sounded. It was usually emotionless. "They have not been killed," she said, touching noses with him. "Your kits are safe in ThunderClan." I can't say the same about Cloverbreeze. Her fate is uncertain. Tallfoot relaxed, stepping back.

"Go back to your Clan now, Coldrose. Don't let him catch you," Mistlefur said. Coldrose nodded.

"Tell Breezestar this news."

"We will," she replied, then as one they said:

"May StarClan light your path!" Relieved that she had done something, Coldrose sprinted back to ThunderClan.

She caught a sparrow on the way back. It had been a messy catch, but she was in a hurry. She squeezed through the thorn barrier to see Froststar gathering his battle patrol. He looked up when she entered. "Ah, there's my deputy! I'd wondered where you'd got to," he said. Coldrose searched his eyes for any sign that he knew of her traitorous actions. She didn't see anything. Good, I hope that means Sageweed didn't notice me leaving. She knew that the dark forest she-cat was always in his head. She had been to the dark forest herself, and she hated it. The place practically radiated evil.

Coldrose put the sparrow down. "I thought I'd hunt- there would probably be no prey left after all of your gorged yourselves," she hissed, voice coming out sharper then intended. Luckily Froststar only purred, used to his behavior.

"That's my deputy, always thinking ahead. We were just about to leave," he said.

"Were you going to leave without me? I'm glad I made it, I wouldn't miss this even for the best pick off the prey pile for a moon," she said, disgust twisting in her stomach even as she said it. How much longer will I have to act like this? Forever? There seemed to be no end in sight for his tyranny. Froststar's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, proud of his bloodthirsty deputy. Bile rose in her throat, but she forced it down. It's just an act. He needs to believe I'd willingly kill any cat.

~~~~~~~~

Froststar trotted swiftly through the forest at the head of the patrol, not caring if he made any noise. After all, they weren't hunting. Well, that wasn't true. They were hunting all right- hunting WindClan warriors. Froststar's paws tingled in excitement and his fur fluffed up as the scent of the moor hit his nose. Whiskers twitching, he slowed his pace to a less urgent trot and slipped more quietly out into the open land. His heart thumped wildly against his chest, threatening to break through his ribs if he didn't get to the camp soon.

Again he quickened his pace, the scent of cats, rabbits, and heather filling his nostrils. He could sense the presence of dark forest cats around him, but he focused on his warriors. He could sense excitement, anxiety, reluctance, and fear. The first was good, the second he could deal with, but the third would have to be eliminated. The fourth.... if they feared him, that was just fine. If they fear you, they'll respect you, as long as they feel needed.

Froststar agreed, but his mind was immediately back on WindClan when he reached their camp. Redflower was on guard, and when she saw them she didn't even yowl an alarm. She just slipped inside her camp. Froststar followed her a few heartbeats later, to see the remains of WindClan lined up in a defensive line. Tallfoot, Mistlefur, Woolyheart, Redflower, Ryecloud, Runningfoot the deputy, Milkwhisker the medicine cat, and finally, Breezestar.

"Hello, WindClan. Are you going to surrender?" he asked, in a drawn-out mew.

"Never! We'd rather fight to the death," Ryecloud- a rye-brown tom with white paws and back legs hissed. The other warriors yowled in agreement. Froststar shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Okay then. ThunderClan, atta-"

"Wait!" Breezestar yowled, stepping forward. Froststar tipped his head to the side, curious as to why she had stopped the battle. Her head hung low in defeat. "We don't want another battle, Froststar. We know we are beaten," she said, but when she glanced up her eyes were defiant. "We'll leave. The territory is yours. But you will never succeed in taking the rest of the Clans," she spat. Froststar blinked.

"Oh, dear Breezestar, but I have. Fear has already taken control of the other Clans. And I, I am the fear. I am terror."