Warriors: Blossomfall's Reign(Sequel to WBI)

Chapter Nineteen: A Challenge

Bumblestar POV

The fallen leaves that coated the forest floor would soon be a good comparison to Graypaw and Ratscar soon...at least one of them.

The apprentice's brain must have been stuffed with thistledown, because he seemed to have difficulty navigating through the undergrowth. I was tempted to force them to climb a tree and then leap from branch to branch all the way to the hollow, just for the amusement. It would be entertaining to watch that mouse-brain fall out of a tree. By the time we neared the stone hollow, the brambles had left cuts all over his body.

"Ratscar, my shoulder hurts," Graypaw whined.

"Ratscar, my shoulder hurts too," Foxleap mimicked the apprentice in a high-pitched voice.

I rolled my eyes and led the way up the slope leading to the stone hollow. Snowpelt, who was guarding the camp, nodded to us as we emerged from the thorn tunnel. I scampered over to the Highledge and watched the Clan form a circle around the prisoners, who stood at the center of the camp.

"Why are we here, Bumblestar?" Ratscar demanded.

I chuckled. "You will find out. My patrol captured these two pathetic ShadowClan cats and I commend them for their excellent work. This should be entertaining. Ratscar, to answer your question, you're here to kill your apprentice."

Ratscar's expression was priceless. "WHAT?!"

"You will fight Graypaw to the death, and whoever wins the battle gets to live and return to ShadowClan."

I knew that if Ratscar killed Graypaw and then went back to ShadowClan, he would likely be banned from the Clan if he told Rowanstar, "Hey I killed Graypaw! Isn't that nice?"

Ratscar's eyes gleamed with defiance. "And what if we refuse?"

"If you refuse, we slowly kill you both," I said cheerfully. "Isn't that exciting?"

"Why do you want us to fight each other?" Graypaw whimpered.

"Because he's the most evil cat by the lake," Ratscar growled.

I narrowed my eyes. "Because you both deserve to die."

Ratscar glared at me. "StarClan cannot approve of this!"

"I don't care if StarClan approves of this," I sneered.

Ratscar's eyes went wide with shock, and some gasps came from my own Clan. I muttered something about Ratscar and Graypaw needing to start fighting now or die.

Ratscar sighed. "Just kill me, Graypaw. You need to live."

I had no intentions of letting either of them go, of course. But there was no need to tell Ratscar that. What he didn't know didn't hurt him. Kind of. Well, that saying wasn't really true at the moment. When you're dead, I suppose that counts as "hurt."

"No, Ratscar, I can't kill you!" Graypaw wailed.

Ratscar looked frustrated, but then his eyes lit up and he turned his gaze towards me. "Wait. Bumblestar. Why don't you fight me? Just you and me. Me and Graypaw both die if I lose. If I win, you die and we are allowed to return to ShadowClan."

I laughed. "What fun is that? No, this way is much more entertaining."

"Are you scared?" Ratscar taunted me.

I heard murmurs from my Clan and realized that if backed down from this challenge, they would view me as weak and a coward. Ratscar seemed to know that; he was aware there was no way I could back down now.

I leapt down from the Highledge and padded leisurely over to him. "Very well. It will be as you said. But with one added condition."

"Which is?"

I unsheathed my claws. "If and when you lose, which you undoubtedly will, the apprentice is fed deathberries."

"Very well." Ratscar unsheathed his claws and glowered at me. "Enough words. I find that claws speak louder."

I chuckled. "As do I."

A/N: I apologize for the long wait, I was planning to update earlier this week because last week I was busy with an English project but I got sick this week and didn't feel up to writing. I still am sick but I felt bad for not updating so I made sure that I wrote this and got it published :) Probably only about 7 or 8 chapters left of this book, then we get Book 3! Thanks for reading please comment your thoughts! Who do you think will win?