The Devil Has Come...

Apollo had gone missing from his duties and it didn't exactly take long for the Forgotten Order to notice. At first, Klaus had had little concern. His children were still young and curious about the world, after all. He figured they'd have a tendency to wander, as he had when he was... much younger. How old was he now? He had noticed, not without resentment, that he was not quite as fast as he was used to being. He could still hold his own in a fight and his mind was sharp, but his body was... starting to slow. Moons of living a hard life had aged him and was written on his face. That wasn't to say he didn't think himself to be a handsome tom, because he definitely still was, but he had less of a young prince charming look and more of an experienced, rugged warrior look. The realization that he was, in fact, just as mortal as the next lower-than-he cat was sobering... sickening even. It was also in those quiet hours in the night where he couldn't sleep that he realized he shared Bloodstar's resentment of growing older. Maybe he wouldn't want to live to be an elder. Klaus had had more than enough children to replace him once he was gone... especially with the Forgotten Order now established. Then there was the fact that Waterlily would have his kits in Thunderclan.

Yes... if Klaus were to die soon... then he felt that he was at peace with that. The thought of death no longer worried him, not if the alternative was to age, slow, and be a shadow of his current, glorious self. With him mentally accepting that death came for all... Klaus was even more dangerous than he was just an instant before. How freeing that accepting and not fearing death had felt! He felt a weight being lifted from his shoulders that he wasn't even aware had been there all along. As he lie in his nest in a wakeful silence, he wondered if it would make him stronger and faster with that weight gone. He may have been about to take a very early morning snooze... an action that he hoped would not become habit... but the sounds of paw steps hurrying toward him banished any and all possibility of sleep. The ivory and gold tom lifted his head and pricked his ears forward as one of his Prowlers delivered the news of what they had found.

Apollo's scent trail had gone to Shadowclan... where tufts of fur and blood had been found. Further investigation around the border revealed Apollo's body... purposely moved there as if to taunt the Forgotten Order. Well, probably not the Forgotten Order specifically, as the Order was not well known to the clans just yet... but clearly a challenge to other rogues. With this news, Klaus felt a whirlwind of white-hot fury and frigid, icy wrath overwhelm him. His eyes hardened into azure diamonds. For several heartbeats he only stared and didn't move. Once he finally did, Klaus stood up slowly and moved passed the Prowler with a level of calm that wasn't natural given his mental state. Klaus leaped skillfully in one smooth arc onto a tree branch on the old tree.

"All of you who are cast aside and forgotten, assemble beneath the old tree and hear my council!" He called out. His body movements may have been lethally calm... but his voice roared like fire and crackled like ice. His fury was not hidden in his tone. As the Forgotten Order gathered beneath him, his tail lashed and twitched violently. Shadowclan was going to regret this night. Whether or not he killed those directly responsible for Apollo's death was irrelevant. Death was coming for Shadowclan. Should they locate their camp... Klaus had no qualms about ripping kits away from their mothers and throwing them against walls. He wasn't afraid to slaughter elderly cats, the sick, the injured, the apprentices or the seasoned warriors... It wasn't like he hadn't done it all before.

"Apollo is dead. Shadowclan was responsible. We know this because his scent lead to their territory, where blood, tufts of fur and his body was found. Shadowclanners apparently moved his body to their border, maybe to taunt other rogues or as a direct challenge to anyone who may have cared about Apollo. There is no way that they would know who Apollo's family was or what he was apart of... but they're about to." He growled his last words and his ears pointed backward. "Eat. Once you have all gotten something on your stomach, I will be taking as many of you as I can spare to attack Shadowclan. I want at least a few of you to remain here to guard the camp.

Now listen... we are going to strike hard and fast. Kill who you can quickly... but when you hear me call for a retreat, we go. If I am not conscious or otherwise able to give orders, then Tarot will be in charge of overseeing the battle and making decisions. I haven't spent much time in Shadowclan territory and I don't know the location of their camp, but I do know in warmer seasons it is muddy, wet and treacherous territory. This harsh leaf-bare has probably frozen a lot of the deep pools that are otherwise dangerous in greenleaf, but still use caution. We stay together as a group, no exceptions. If we find the camp... do not hold back. I don't care if you kill kits, elders, queens or apprentices. No one in Shadowclan will be spared for this. If you're not able to commit to killing just yet then stay here."

Klaus paused and watched for any... interesting reactions from anyone. Once he scanned the cats below, he continued.

"A lot of their warriors are likely to have more experience than you, so fight wisely. That is all. We leave soon, so hunt and eat quickly."


Klaus crossed Shadowclan's border with members of the Forgotten Order close behind him. He moved in near perfect silence, his paws already used to stepping in ice and snow from the harsh leaf-bare season. The sun was already high in the sky, definitely passed most Shadowclanner's bedtimes. He was fairly proud of his children, listening to them with the focus and sensitivity of a fox or an owl... and he heard almost nothing. The only thing that might give them away was scent. As they trekked through Shadowclan territory... Klaus suddenly picked up the sound of voices in the air. A slight flick of his tail ordered an immediate halt. Another two twitches gave the signal to take cover. Klaus himself was up a tree in an instant, his Skyclan training roaring to life in that moment. He easily blended in with the snowy clumps on the branches and waited.

A dark-furred tom and a lighter colored... queen judging by her scent... came into view. Klaus recognized the dark tom... he was at Fourtrees when Bearspirit and himself were fighting. He had been fighting Swiftspirit... and even now Klaus had no idea what had actually happened. Bearspirit had knocked him out just long enough for important pieces to that puzzle were missing. Regardless if the dark tom had been a friend or a foe that day... he was a foe now. Klaus waited for him to get within easy pouncing range... then stood. A small wisp of snow fell from the branch... the only warning that the dark tom had that anyone was there at all.

That dark tom was Burningwing... and the queen with him was Amberdawn.

Burningwing noticed the snowfall... It was such a small amount he assumed at first it was from a bird. When he looked up however, his body stiffened and his eyes widened. Dawnhawk was in Shadowclan territory... and Burningwing knew the look of murderous fury in a cat's eyes when he saw it. He was confused, unsure as to why Dawnhawk was angry... but it didn't matter. This cat was an omen. This cat was evil.

"Dawnhawk?! Amberdawn you need to-" Burningwing suddenly felt claws and teeth from all sides rip into his body. He flailed, lashing out in a surprised panic... but whether or not he was hitting anything he had no idea. Pain exploded all over his body as his flesh was ripped violently from his body and blood gushed from his wounds. How... how many cats were here??? Above the crunching and squelching of his own flesh being destroyed... he could hear that there were more cats attacking Amberdawn. No! But there was nothing he could do. Burningwing felt the weight of his attackers and the weakness in his limbs force him to the icy ground. Red stained the space around him, spreading slowly and turning the snow into a crimson slush.

Rogues! Didn't I tell them?! Didn't I warn Shadowclan of this insanity?! Fury burned in his eyes a moment before the flames in them had gone out. Teeth in his neck. A violent thrash. Burningwing's head flopped to the ground.

The dark tom's life had come to a sudden and violent end against the very thing that he had hated his entire life. Maybe now Shadowclan would wisen up... but there was doubt.

With the dark tom down and the queen likely to follow after... Klaus waited in the tree branch, observing the gruesome work of the Order below him. They had been trained well. He looked ahead from his high perch, waiting to see if this commotion would attract more Shadowclanners. What luck that they had found a pair out wandering in the daytime. Now... if only they could locate their camp. Perhaps they could follow the scent trail of the dark tom and the queen back to it.


The Forgotten Order
Klaus
Tarot
Atalante
Tornshadow
Hyacinth
Aether
Aoife
Cleo
Achlys

More may be coming, but those are the confirmed for now. I am willing to wait a bit for others who may be interested and give a more accurate number. Regular Invasion Dice being rolled for this thread. Camp Invasion will be rolled after unless this thread goes horrendously wrong.

THE INVASION DICE WAS A SUCCESS!

The member 'Tara' has done the following action : Dices roll

---

'Invasion Dice' :

Though the she-cat had seen less and less of her kits as they grew into their roles in the Order, losing one of them was heart-breaking. She hadn’t imagined they’d fall so quickly, but this was a much needed reminder that the Clans were cruel, and they did what they wanted, when they wanted to. They had little regard for the consequences of their actions… But that was about to change. ShadowClan was about to learn exactly who they chose to mess with when they killed her son. Hyacinth followed closely after Klaus, on edge as they traversed the territory she’d lost her mother to. She never imagined herself here again, but this was certainly a cause worth returning to ShadowClan for.

Klaus had said to kill everyone they could… So when they came across a seemingly young warrior and Queen, Hyacinth didn’t hesitate to make a move. Eyes narrowed, she stalked forward until the tom called out to her mate, using his old Clan name. He knew him, somehow or another… Oh well. Launching forward, she buried her teeth into the tom’s neck, feeling the blood trickle down her lips and chest as she relentlessly clamped down. Unsheathed claws tore into his shoulders, leaving deep score marks and battering the muscles underneath. If ShadowClan wanted a fight, they’d get one.

Mistyfalcon had been out hunting, the only thing he had to show for it was a miserably scrawny vole. Still, he was reluctant to stay out of camp for long, even with the abysmal success he'd had. It was cold, and all he wanted to do was curl up with Murkystar in their nest. She still needed to rest after that encounter with the badgers, and both he and Batglow had been making sure she actually did so rather than run herself ragged.

The sound of two sets of pawsteps sounded, and the warrior lifted his head, eyes narrowing. Amberdawn... Burningwing... Why in the void was the queen out of camp? Burningwing, as much as Mistyfalcon disliked him, was a capable warrior and could probably defend her. But... It would always be better to have more than one warrior around, especially with the overabundance of predators in this harsh leafbare.

Mistyfalcon followed the scent of his clanmates, long legs making it easy to catch up to the two of them. Only something was off. He glanced around as the scent of unfamiliar cats reached his nose...

"Amberdawn, go!" He ordered sharply. He'd spotted the familiar golden pelt just as Burningwing had looked up. He'd trained an apprentice that had looked almost exactly like him... Moonshine had even been mistaken for Dawnhawk once. And they'd all heard the stories of the exiled tom. He was dangerous. And good at evading those wanting him dead, it seemed.

And there were far more than just Dawnhawk, it seemed. There was something vaguely familiar about one of the rogues, a patchy ginger and black she-cat, but Mistyfalcon dismissed the thought from his mind. There were more important things than a vague recognition... Like getting Amberdawn out of there.

With a growl, he lunged forward, aiming to put himself between the ginger and white queen and the rogues. There were too many of them... He couldn't just run, though. They'd catch up to him anyways and he didn't want to take the chance of leading them to camp. Claws unsheathed, he struck at the nearest rogue with a flurry of blows. There was a sort of resigned acceptance to the movements. Mistyfalcon wasn't optimistic about this at all, but he couldn't just watch and do nothing while they'd already killed one clanmate, either.

Upon seeing another dark form coming, Klaus bunched his muscles beneath him and prepared to defend his family. "Finish that Queen! We have another coming!" He yowled out an order to those below him. The second dark tom was covered in scars and had a steely resolve that Klaus recognized as the mark of an experienced warrior. His children and the Order as a whole were deadly... but he didn't believe they'd stand a great chance against a warrior on equal footing with Klaus himself. Even if they all attacked him at once, the potential for another casualty for the Forgotten Order was too high for his liking. No... he'd interject himself in the fight now as well.

Klaus launched himself from the branch, powerful Skyclan legs propelling him forward with speed, strength and weight behind merciless, fury-fueled claws and teeth. He hit the dark tom with an audible thud, one that echoed off of the trees around them. Klaus wasted absolutely no time in subduing the other warrior, burying his teeth deep into the back of the neck and slashing viciously at the tendons in his foreleg.

He really hoped that the Order would see what he was doing and mimic him. Slashed tendons in legs would mean the tom would have a very difficult time walking... let alone doing anything more than that. He'd be much easier to kill if he was immobile.

There was a scream as claws rained down on the pair of ShadowClanners. Burningwing hadn't even had optimal time to warn her before he had fallen. She hadn't liked the tom very much, but watching him go down like that... It was horrifying.

The queen had hardly even registered another cat entering the fray until he had said her name. Mistyfalcon had come, he was providing a shield. Immediately, Amberdawn spun on her paws, and with adrenaline filling her veins, she ran. She ran as fast as she could, hearing the thrumming of pawsteps behind her. She prayed to StarClan that it was Mistyfalcon following her, but the claws that dug into her told her otherwise.

With so many cats, it did not take long for her to be overpowered. There wasn't even time to call out to Mistyfalcon before she was cut off, her body hitting the ground, her eyes forever unseeing.

---

Amberdawn is now dead. I will post with Aether once his rank is officially updated xD

Torn had followed after Klaus, slight anger bubbling in her chest. Overriding her slight discomfort with the order to kill as needed. They needed justice for Apollo. While she didn't know the tom that well. that was still her sibling, her family. She had enough family taken from her already, so to have another clan be the reason for losing another family member, she wasn't pleased at all.

Of course when they reached Shadowclan, everything happened so fast. Hyacinth was on top of the brown tom, ending his life with ease, Klaus pinning the other Shadowclan tom who had shown up to help the two. Azure eyes turned to the queen who was trying to escape. She knew what she needed to do.

With great strength in her legs pushing her forward, she bounded closer, claws out stretched dragging the queen to the ground, fighting with her for a moment before sinking her teeth into the queen's throat. The taste of blood on her tongue disgusting her, but she held there until she stopped moving. The white and gold warrior dropped the queen's body to the ground, turning to join her father.

The news of Apollo's death was partially expected with how he'd been missing from his duties for so long. Tarot, during his time of harsh survival as a loner, had learned to expect the worst but hope for the best. Then you'd never be surprised. The reaction to Apollo's death wasn't favourable in his opinion, while rage was great fuel for the fire, uncontrolled rage merely led to being blinded by emotion.

So, he kept his anger cold, slow-burning, and his usual uncaring gaze became sharp and full of ruthlessness. His eyes grew rather similar to that of his title, in fact. When Klaus finished he quickly went over battle strategies in his mind as he followed the pack, knowing that he may have to take over if things took a turn for the worst. Tail flicking, he made sure to stay at the tail-end of the group to watch everyone's back, keeping to the shadows and keeping an eye on his Prowlers to make sure they were following their stealth lessons.

Despite the emotionally charged situation, he'd be sure to take note of them all to continue looking into who'd be best for the position of 'Overseer'. How they reacted in situations like these was very important. Upon coming across the patrol of two, Klaus immediately ambushed one, one Tarot recognized was Burningwing. Oh the poor fool, he took too long with their little secret mission and paid the price.

A pity the asset was gone, Tarot couldn't even make a meal out of him since they were in the middle of Shadowclanners' lands. What a waste of food this fight was turning out to be.

The rest of their subordinates took to mauling the queen that was with Burningwing with enthusiasm, and he was impressed that the ex-clanner even made the killing blow. Unfortunately, another Clanner arrived on the scene, a strong one. As per expected Klaus immediately locked onto the threat, neutralizing with cunning blows to the tom's tendons. The second leader wasn't too far behind, leaping out of the shadows with cold, calculating eyes and biting down on the tendons that were in the back legs of cats with snake-like accuracy. It would be painful for sure, Tarot had experienced the pain once before, it made it excruciating to even walk.

Which was good, it meant the faction members could maul this unfortunate cat as they pleased with much less risk of backlash. That was ideal since they were aiming straight for the heart of Shadowclan, the fewer injuries when they arrived the better.

He kept his teeth latched onto the hind leg, much similar to how he'd seen dogs in alleyways double down on any larger prey they were catching, that larger prey usually being cats. They bit down on them and tugged and tore until the prey wouldn't struggle anymore, then made the killing blow. Tarot used this tactic to hunt other cats seeing as how it worked so well for dogs.

There was the risk of the cat twisting back and clawing at your head though. If that happened he'd release, getting blinded was a hindrance in the long run, one he couldn't take on.

Aoife didn't like losing cats. It was a harsh truth she'd had to learn at Apollo's initial disappearance, and later announced death. If anything, it only made her fiercer in all that she did to protect her family. She had now fully accepted her role in the Order, taking it in her stride as she hoped that fateful day was never repeated for any of her litter mates.

Before there was time to think, the group was met with a pair of Shadowclanners, both of which were quickly attacked, and Aoife fought not to look away as her own mother killed one with such ease. But it was their fault Apollo was dead. They had to pay, each and every one of them, just as father had said.

The battle-scarred tom who joined the fight to defend his clan mates was clearly a seasoned warrior, given Klaus's action to immediately subdue him. His face was already scattered with old wounds, so instead she went for his side, claws tearing through grey pelt. He wouldn't last long, even if he managed to get out alive, and then the group could focus their attacks on the camp itself.

Apollo's disappearance had been noted by the molly, and much like the rest of her family she hadn't felt a particular sense of alarm about it- attributing it to one's need for exploration and a change of pace, as Achlys had been susceptible to up and leaving herself. What she didn't expect however was the announcement of his passing, ears only catching the details of how he was murdered and dragged to the border to establish a threat with those who cared for him, ignoring the chance it was just unfortunate timing and not entirely intentional. The rest of her father's words fell on deaf ears, and she flattened her ears as cold anger swelled in her stomach, tail lashing immediately as she thought of her brother's body abandoned.

She had no ability to stomach food, instead pacing until it was time to leave, hot on the footsteps of her parents and other members of the group, finding their way into the creaking pine forest territory with ease, many of their light pelts blending against the snow dappled ground. Achlys stared unflinching as two ShadowClan warriors were murdered, another trying desperately to save the queen and failing as Torn dealt the killing bite, blood trickling from her neck to the snow beneath. Despite her inexperience in battle compared to her siblings, she felt no reluctance towards the violent situation before her, joining in with the others to attack and maim the other warrior. Swiping out hard, her claws caught hold of something, and the molly ripped her alabaster paws through, feeling intense satisfaction as blood soaked them crimson.

The calico took a step back after, slightly admiring the way her family so carefully tore the warrior to shreds, pride rising where there should be any kind of more negative emotion. They would avenge Apollo, or die trying.

As annoying as Apollo could be sometimes, Aether had never wanted him dead. He was his brother. So it was only natural that he felt some sort of rage to have learned of his demise.

An act like that could not be ignored.

So when Klaus announced of the attack the Order would make upon ShadowClan, he was, for once, silent. There was nothing else to say that his father had not already spoken. Fury had simmered beneath his pelt ever since his father had shared the grim news, and today he would let it all out.

The original two had been dispatched rather quickly, a shame that his mother and older sister had gotten to them before him. But there was still the newcomer to the battle, a rugged warrior, now lying pathetically on the ground. Aether held no sympathy for him, or any other cat they would be harming. After all, it isn't like they were doing anything bad. They had it coming. This needed to be done. Ma and Pa wouldn't lead them here otherwise.

The mottled tom made his way onto the warrior's back (not like it was hard to get to with him being pinned down), and began raking his claws down his spine. This is what they got for killing his brother.

A weight dropped onto him from above, and Mistyfalcon snarled, twisting and snapping at the golden tom. He might've been former Skyclan, but the training obviously hadn't left him. Teeth sank into the tendons of one foreleg, then a second pair sank into one of his hind legs. Mistyfalcon lashed out with unsheathed claws aimed for the second rogue's face. He wwasn't winning this, but if he could injure as many as he could before he went, it would be worth it. A pale she-cat slammed into his side, and before he could attempt to retaliate, a pale tortoiseshell with cerulean eyes was sinking teeth into his shoulder. Mistyfalcon sank to the ground beneath Dawnhawk's weight, breathing hard. He dropped his head low, an effort to protect his throat while keeping his belly to the ground. Futile, he knew that. With each rogue that surrounded him, the chance of getting away or taking one down with him dwindled. If he couldn't take any of them to the afterlife with him, he'd settle for doing at much damage as he could get away with. With Dawnhawk's weight now pinning him, it wasn't much... But he was hard-headed and stubborn. Always had been.

---

Atalante sank her fangs into the dark tom's shoulder. There was a strange sort of resignation in his eyes that told her he knew just how thin the chance of him getting out of here were. Dawnhawk and Tarot had bitten into the tendons of his legs, so it wasn't like he'd be running to find help anytime soon. Still, the tom struggled, and when Atalante's fangs snapped towards his throat he dropped his head and jerked forward. The crack of skull meeting skull seemed unreasonably loud, and the prowler stumbled back, shaking dark spots from her vision.

Klaus watched the second tom go down, blood staining the ground beneath him in a hurry. He was finished and he knew it. Upon hearing the audible smack that collided with his daughter's head, Klaus buried his claws deep into the body of the darker tom and yanked his head sharply up, still keeping the back of his neck clamped firmly between his teeth. He hoped it would pull away a nice chunk of flesh. This tom was done, regardless. With the tendons in at least two of his legs out of commission for awhile, he was no threat.

There was no need to waste more time on him. Klaus's eyes went to the two dead Shadowclanners and immediately approached Burningwing. He had plans for this one's pelt. If Hyacinth wanted to start skinning the other one, then great. The last remaining Shadowclanner could watch them work before he was left to bleed to death.

"Take her pelt if you want." He said to the patchy molly. He unsheathed his claws and set them to work quickly. It wouldn't be the cleanest pelt he'd ever done, as he was trying to work fairly fast, but it was something...