Firetalon's Destiny

Chapter 12

“Who’s that?” Rustypaw whispered softly into my ear as we peered past the bristling warriors to get a glimpse at the cat standing at the center of our camp. The brown tabby glared coldly at anyone who dare to meet his gaze and his fur bristled with hostility.

            “That’s Timberclaw,” I whispered back, instantly remembering the scarred CityClan warrior from when I was a kit. Although how a CityClan cat found our camp so easily was a complete mystery. Well then again he probably just had to follow our scent trails, it wouldn’t be too hard to find us using that method. But it still got to my nerves to know that our camp was so easy to discover.

            “He looks terrifying,” my ginger friend shivered and took a weary step back. “What do you think he wants?”

            “I think we’re about to find out,” I gestured towards my father who had padded out of his den to stand face to face with the aggressive warrior.

            “What do you want Timberclaw?” Flamestar’s voice was icy cold and his lips curled back to reveal his sharp teeth. “Why do you dare come here?”
            “I come baring a message,” he growled back while daringly meeting our leader’s stare. I swallowed as I felt tension beginning to spark between the two of them. “Due to the death of Wildclaw, our two Clans are now at war.”

            “That’s ridiculous!” an outraged yowl came from the crowd and murmurs of agreement followed. “It was Wildclaw’s fault for going on the black trail and then getting himself hit by the rumble beast!”

            “I bet this is just an excuse for CityClan to fight us,” Rustypaw murmured and I had to strain my ears to hear him over the snarls and growls coming from my Clanmates.

            “We are at war!” Timberclaw repeated fiercely, his voice silencing my Clanmates. “Say whatever you wish, but it will not change the fact.”

            “So be it,” Flamestar’s eyes were stone cold as he forced the words out through clenched teeth. “But your Clan will soon regret this.”

            “I highly doubt that,” there was a ghost of a smile as he uttered the words before he let out a loud, ear-splitting yowl. In an instant the scrawny cats of CityClan swarmed into our camp, their faces aglow with determination. It was clear, from the way they fought, that these cats wanted to chase us from our own land.

            With a roar I launched myself at the nearest cat, a sandy-ginger she-cat with long fur that blunted my attack. She easily shook me off, and while as I landed she twisted towards me so her claws could rake painfully across my muzzle. I jerked back, stifling my startled yelp, while pawing at my muzzle in hopes to stifle the sting. “Are all FlameClan cats so weak?” the she-cat sneered before lunging in hopes to deliver a severe blow. I tensed as I watched her paw arch through the air, she was aiming for my head… I swerved to the side, her claws grazing the tip of my ear, and bit down onto her expose paw.

            With a powerful jerk, I forced the unbalanced ginger cat onto the ground while placing my paw down onto her throat. “If I’m so weak, what does that make you?” I growled coldly into her ear.

            She glared back at me, her amber eyes a mixture of fury and fear. Finally she forced herself to relax and looked away, was she admitting defeat? Finish her!  I froze, my grip on her neck tightening as Moon’s voice filled my head. It’s not that hard, just unsheathe your claws and dig them deep into her neck.

            No! I silently yowled back while, to enforce my protest, releasing the defeated cat. She quickly scrambled to her paws and, after giving me a brief glare, slunk out of our camp. I’ve seen enough death with my own eyes to know that I never want to take another’s life.