*WARNING: this chapter contains violence*
It's time. Nightstar gently untangled her sleeping kits from her, giving them each one last wash before the battle. She stopped at the entrance of the nursery, and with fear, she glanced back at her carefree Mistykit, Daisykit and Spottedkit.
Stepping out into the cool night air, Nightstar found mot of her warriors, and Silverleaf, gathered, speaking in hushed tones in the clearing. Even aggressive Foxclaw looked grave.
With no appetite, Nightstar forced down a tiny vole, and clambered up the Nightrock. "Cats of NightClan." She meowed. The little talking in the crowd dimmed down even more. It was eerily silent, the air dense with worry and uneasiness.
"Tonight we fight. I have no words but this. If we don't make this through, I just want to let you know that you have been an amazing Clan, and I had an honor leading you, even for just that short amount of time." Nightstar stared down at the assembled cats.
"We will lead two patrols. Darkpelt, Leopardheart, Skyflower, Smokepelt, Mudfur and Flowerstem will be in my patrol. The rest will go with Blackcloud. My patrol will attack first. When our wave weakens, Blackcloud's patrol will strike. Watch for signals." Nightstar took a deep breath. "Let's go." Heart beating rapidly, she jumped off the Nightrock and flocked together her patrol.
Nightstar turned and twitched her tail, steering the way to where the rogues reside. Nightstar's patrol surrounded one side of the rogue's camp and Blackcloud's surrounded the other.
"When we attack, have your patrol surround the camp." Nightstar breathed in Blackcloud's ear. "Don't attack the kits or the she-cats. Only push them away when they attack."
Darkpelt nuzzled Nightstar. "I love you."
Nightstar basked in her mates' sweet scent. "I love you too."
"Don't worry. We will get through this. Our kits will be safe." Darkpelt touched his nose to Nightstar's forehead. Yes. They will.
Nightstar pawed the ground a few times, remembering the lives she received. Calling courage and strength into her, Nightstar let out a battle cry, and hurdled out of the bushes into the camp.
She aimed for Casper, and delivered swift blows to his back and head, and one to his belly, before he realized what is going on. Hissing, he crouched down and prepared to leap. Recalling Skyflower's move, she dropped and rolled.
Casper howled in fury as he tripped over Nightstar. Nightstar managed to tear his ear before he stood up again. He staggered a bit, and Nightstar took the moment of hestitation to do a back kick. She miscalculated. Nightstar forgot about Casper's weight.
Casper backed off a few mouse lengths, and cackled, "If that all you've got, rat? We will win and we won't leave!" He lunged.
'We'll see about that, rogue!" Nightstar flashed out a paw and clawed him on his nose. Pain shot through her as claws scratched her back, pulling her away from Casper.
Nightstar faced a muscular, ragged she-cat. She was aware of Casper behind her. "Coward!" She screeched. "You rely on others to finish your battle!" She pretended to aim for the white she-cats ear, and when she ducked, Nightstar raked her claws over her eye.
Blood flowed from the cut, and the she-cat snarled. Nightstar had blinded one side of her. Baring her teeth, dived at Casper. Excruciating pain passed through her as the she-cat bit down on her hind leg. Nightstar stumbled onto the ground, and Casper showed his teeth.
Before Casper could do anything, Blackcloud pulled him off, flinging him across the clearing with impressive strength. Nightstar felt the grip on her leg loosen slightly, and nimbly twisted her body and brought an unsheathed paw down her other eye.
The she-cat let go, and Nightstar dragged her away from the clearing. The she-cat wasn't completely blinded; blood had flowed into her good eye, so she couldn't see. One down. Nightstar thought.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Casper yowling infuriatingly. "Fight! Get your stupid kits to fight! You'll fight or I'll kill you all!"
Molly, the queen Nightstar had seen being mistreated to, launched herself at Nightstar. Knowing she is in no condition to fight, she blocked her attacks and tried to convince her to help NightClan. "My kits are at our camp. We don't let them fight, and we certainly don't let the injured fight. Please. We can take care of you. Just get rid of Casper for us and you will have a better life. I promise." Nightstar pleaded.
Molly clearly didn't trust anyone after Casper. "That's what Casper said! And now look at us!" She growled, anger and sorrow in her eyes. "We are different!" Nightstar pushed. "We follow a warrior code. StarClan guides us, and they will never let incapable cats be mistreated. If not, at least let us take care of your kits right now. The code says we have to help every kit, no matter where they from!"
The queen slowed her attacks. Nightstar hoped desperately she'd listen, but before she could reply, Claws shoved Molly aside. "Don't listen to their jabber!" Then, using his razor-sharp claws, he sliced at Nightstar's exposed throat.
"I shouldn't be listening to you!" Molly growled furiously. "You let my kits starve. You killed Tigger and Millie!" Rage made the feeble Molly strike down on Claws hard.
"How dare you!" Claws knocked Molly aside, preparing for a death bite. He was stopped by Darkpelt who pulled him off and flung him aside. Claws crashed into a tree hard and slid down, stunned and unmoving.
"Nightstar!" Darkpelt cried. "Silverleaf! It's Nightstar!" As gently and quickly as he could he dragged Nightstar to where Silverleaf is sheltered beneath a large tree.
"Save her!" Darkpelt begged Silverleaf.
"I will." She promised gently. "I saved her when she's kitting. Go back to fighting. The Clan needs all it can get." Silverleaf stuck a cobweb onto the deep cut on Nightstar's throat.
"You lost too much blood, Nightstar." Silverleaf's mew was full of regret. "I'm so sorry. I can't fix this. Let StarClan do the work. You'll come back stronger than before. Nightstar..."
Silverleaf's mew sounded like it was tree-lengths away. Let StarClan do the work... Nightstar's eyes fluttered close, letting out a last breath.
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NightClan's Threat
FanfictionNightClan, a Clan that prefers to live in the dark, was created by rogues who StarClan had spoken to. However just as they became warriors, other cats threaten to take away their newly-found territory and break NightClan up.
