Bloody Claws

CHAPTER 2

Hickorypelt tracked One-Eye to a nearby dead glade which was near the border with StarClan. He crept through the deaceased ferns, ready to watch instead of confronting him.
When he stopped and looked at One-Eye, he saw something that made tears fall from his eyes.
He's fading...How had he only just noticed? That was unfair to One-Eye.
"Yes,"One-Eye whispered, voice hoarse and echoing,"I'm fading,"
Hickorypelt stepped out into the glade and sat next to One-Eye,"How long do you have left?"he asked.
"Not long,"he sighed,"These are my last moments,"
His head jerked up,"No! You-you can't leave! No-no-not yet! Please don't go!"he cried, eyes swelling with tears,"I've looked up to you my whole d-death,"
Using his tail to lift up his head, One-Eye stared into his eyes,"Don't worry. We both know that Ashwing is mad. Anyway, it can't be more than a few moons until you join me,"he meowed.
Realisation hit him like a flimsy branch. So that's why he'd been getting such strange looks. He flattened his ears and screwed his eyes shut, unable to look at his pelt,"I'm fading, aren't I?"he rasped.
"You only just noticed?"One-Eye pressed his nose to his shoulder,"Do not be afraid, Hickorypelt. Everyone dies, and maybe fading won't be your way out,"
Hickorypelt flinched; only a dying cat could be so wise,"Goodbye, One-Eye,"sobbed he.
One-Eye let out a soft sigh,"Goodbye, Hickorypelt,"after a moment of hesitation, he added,"And may StarClan light your path,"
Black mist swirled around One-Eye's paws, and he glanced down at them in surprise. It then began to spread to his entire body. One-Eye dipped his head and the dust swirled around it. There was nothing but ashes.
Hickorypelt tipped his head back in a wail of grief, which echoed through the starless night sky.
          
                           ☆☆☆

He wasn't planning on telling Ashwing what had happened to One-Eye; in her state, she'd accuse Hickorypelt of murdering him. He sighed and padded back with his head high to stop suspicion.
"Hickorypelt!"some cat growled. He glanced up see Briarheart walking towards him,"Where have you been?"
He asked, but went on too swiftly for an answer,"Ashwing wants Seedblaze and Jaggedjaw to show you the new tactic she came up with,"
"Okay then. Where?"
"The river,"Briarheart meowed.
"Alright,"he meowed, and headed for the river.
"Hello, Hickorypelt,"Jaggedjaw greeted when he approached.
"Hi,"he meowed hurridly,"So?"
"Oh. Yeah,"Seedblaze meowed.
He lunged for Jaggedjaw and fastened his teeth in his shoulder. Instead of trying to shake him off, Jaggedjaw beared with the pain and ran over to a tree. He flung his shoulder at an awkward angle yet Seedblaze hurled off anf into the tree. He lay winded.
Jaggedjaw slammed his paw into his head and his eyes lolled with dazed pain. As he was distracted, Jaggedjaw lept on his back and paws his eyes and neck, then jumped off in satisfaction.
"Wow!"Hickorypelt exclaimed,"Let me try!"
Seedblaze repeated the move and soon was winded and dazed.
"You know the drill, Hickorypelt,"a voice meowed.
"If I don't kill Seedblaze, you kill both of us, Ashwing?"
"Yes,"Ashwing growled,"Do it,"
Hesitatly, he took a step toward the cowering cat.
"You-you wouldn't..."he whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Seedblaze,"Hickorypelt rasped, striking his fangs down Seedblaze's silver throat. He closed his eyes.
Irrelivantly, Ashwing muttered,"We're really going to need more cats if we are to destroy the Clans,"
If we wait much longer, it might not be enough yo cleanse me.
Slowly, an idea began to form in his head. What cat was bound to the Dark Forest by blood? What cat knew what Schizophrena was like? What cat's anger could turn their heart into a broken stone? He was going to talk to Dandelionshade.