New Moon [Final DF TOPIC]

Gorsefeather couldn't help shudder at Morningstar's silky words that seemed so enticing yet wrong. He was the reason that the Dark Forest ruled the five clans without resistance anymore. If he was young again, he would have leapt up in defence of StarClan, yowled for everyone to see sense but that wasn't something he could do with his aged, battered body. All he could do was watch miserably as clanmates yowled out their support.

Saltpelt couldn't help beam at the Dark Forest leader's words, dipping her head in respect and acknowledgement.

Mistywater stretched herself, she saw her father to her siblings, she smiled. Wrapping her warm tail around herself as a cold breeze passed by her smooth and fluffy mixed fur. She took a deep breath as the Dark Forest was still ruling. She looked for Swiftheart smoothly through the crowds of different Clan cats, she sighed. She might not find him this time.


Adderpaw awkwardly sat alone, he loved the gathering so far, he just didn't know if he wanted to be bothered, he just looked up at the cold moon and filled his eyes with a bright white circle as sparkles gleamed in his dull yellow eyes. He sneezed, his breath slowing down and going fast, he laid down and rested his paws quietly, he didn't like the long walk anyway, he didn't have a good rest in the apprentices' den at all.


Otterpaw looked around cheerfully, her eyes gleamed as she looked at each cat, she smirked. Her face looking the tiniest bit playful. She looked for her victim, not to attack, but to talk with, she wasn't very used to being very unsocial, she tried to be as social as she possibly could to fill her still new life with happiness.


Muddyfang looked for his mate, he puffed out his chest, flicking his tail over and over repeatedly. He loved that feeling when he did it, he smiled, laughing a tiny bit but trying his best to not show it, he would be pretty embarrassed if some cats looked at him as if he were crazy, really he wasn't though. He looked for the pelt of Willowbreeze constantly.

Runningpaw bounded over to Adderpaw. "Hey..." The gray tom breathed, green eyes wide. He opened his mouth to say something else, but even the talkative tom was silenced by the eerie atmosphere. Runningpaw simply sat, curling his tail over his paws and fluffing his fur out against the chilly night air.

Willowbreeze rolled her eyes as Morningstar talked. Everything that came out of that toms mouth was absolute fox-dung. She knew she was getting angry, so she forced a calm expression to not draw any unwanted attention to herself. She glanced at Redpaw to see how he reacted. She hoped that Muddyfang hadn't taught him and the rest of her kits that went with him that the Dark Forest was some great thing, but she knew that even if any of them were on the Dark Forest's side she'd still love them just the same.

As Morningstar started talking, Littlebrook masked her emotions with a blank stare, but she still kept an eye on Willowpaw in case anything happened because of the appearance of Morningstar. She knew he'd probably been there the whole time, but he just now decided to show his presence. She glanced down at her paws as she realized she was flexing her claws. She made herself stop and sheathe them before returning her dark blue gaze on Morningstar. She wanted to claw that proud look off his face, but she knew she couldn't. It was a gathering and she wouldn't be the one to disturb the 'peace'.

Fawnpaw looked up as an unfamiliar, ghostly tom started talking. She looked over at Maplepaw, "Who's that?" She whispered curiously. She knew he wasn't a leader of any of the other clans because they'd already spoken and she didn't think a ghost could be leader of a clan. She noticed he made some cats uncomfortable, and she wondered why.

Meadowpaw was surprised when a ghostly looking cat came out of the shadows and his voice made shivers run down her spine. She wasn't quite sure why, but it might have because he scared her, though she would never admit it to anyone. She glanced at her siblings, wondering what they were thinking before returning her curious pale green gaze on the unfamiliar figure.

Adderpaw looked at Runningpaw but stayed silent for a short amount of time. He peaked over at Runningpaw once again but looked back forward as he spoke "Do you like the gathering quite yet?" he asked, his tail twitching as he felt something touch it, he slowly moved to grow to a faster speed to scare the- whatever it was off his black, furry tail.

OOC: aight all the exiles follow in behind Thrushbae. Things are getting started <3

As the leader of the Dark Forest spoke, out of the bushes that surrounded the clearing stepped Thrushstar. He looked weary but in the midst of his old age, he stood tall and proud. His face was stone cold as he stared up at Morningstar for a second before his gaze crossed the clearing. The cats that stared up at the Great Rock looked lost, most wore dread while some wore pride. It was a strange sight, but the Shadowclan leader had decided to trust the visions they had received. "Strange how those... who reject Starclan still... hold up their traditions," Thrushstar said, his raspy voice surprisingly echoing through the clearing as his tail lashed about behind him. The exiled cats had finally recuperated enough. Starclan had finally contacted them. It was time to take back what was rightfully theirs. "We're taking back our territory. Get out, Morningstar."

The piercing gaze landed on the old ShadowClan leader. A purr of amusement rumbled in the leader's throat. "You and what army?" The tom rumbled, gracefully leaping off. Landing not too far away from the tabby, he stalked forward, tail lashing. "You run away like a coward, but come back with false courage." The tom sneered and gave the other cats a glance. "This is the power of StarClan." Morningstar growled. Suddenly, he closed the distance between he and the old leader. Hind legs pushing off the ground like a bird taking flight. His power easily overtaking the frail leader's. Long claws made quick work across the other tom's face-- blinding him. A hindleg shot out tossing the StarClan follower to the side. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, the tom went for the throat. His teeth bit down on the tom's neck. Harder, and harder until...

Snap!

The tom dropped the body of the once leader, blood coating his muzzle. "They don't stand a chance. They are weak."

With that, he strolled back. His bloody paws leaving massive paw prints in his wake.

It all happened so fast, Gorsefeather looked on in horror as Morningstar snapped Thrushstar's neck in half. Whatever brief blossom of hope that had appeared within him turned sour into despair and grief at the leader's loss. While Gorsefeather may have been a WindClan cat, the ShadowClan leader had been a constant fixture in his life over the years. Wise, brave, he was the sort that Gorsefeather had admired and to see him disgraced like this was horrific. Had StarClan lead him here to witness this atrocity?

"No. Enough. I... I can't. No. StarClan help me, this ends now!" The old calico rushed at Morningstar, aiming to attack the tom. He was old, an elder barely holding onto life but the former medicine cat didn't care, he couldn't just watch. Claws unsheathed, he got ready to pounce.

Frostfall stood on the rock watching the whole scene. A smirk was on her face from how weak the exiles were. How pitiful. She opened her mouth to say something to Morningstar but saw one of the Windclan elder's making a move. Quickly the Riverclan cat jumped off the rock and raced towards the elder. She tackled the cat and bit down on the first thing she could reach which was the tom's throat. After she had bit down the warrior had known what she had down. She let go of the elder's body, and looked up at the cats around her. Her muzzle was stained red and dripping some blood from Gorsefeather's throat. "And this is what happens when you betray us." She growled, but she didn't move back towards the rock. No one would jump to her defense. So she didn't turn her back on anyone.

Ashwing watched from the bushes in horror as Thrushstar stood up against Morningstar and had his neck snapped. Then she saw Gorsefeather get killed. Disbelief kept her green eyes open, then the pain set in. Her old friend.... No! She was deputy of WindClan! She could not stand there and watch her Clanmates die! Gorsefeather! Gorsefeather, no! She rushed into the clearing with a heart-wrenched yowl and, pushing Frostfall and the others to the side, leapt at Morningstar. She remembered how her last battle with the tom had ended but, StarClan help her, she would give her life for her Clanmates. Gorsefeather, Sablestar, and the others would all be avenged by her claws! The gray she-cat pinned the strong tom to the floor, knowing she had seconds before he would retaliate, and dug her claws into his muscly shoulders. "Long live StarClan!" she yowled, voice cracking. If this was her last night, she would fight with all she had.

Blackpaw was vying for breath, as he bared his white fangs. He was outraged at this breaking of a sacred truce. He reared up, hind legs flailing. He then shot a thoughtful glance at his mother, and with a sudden jolt through his entire body, he realized that he would give anything for her life. Alarmed, Blackpaw was caught within his own thoughts. He shook, almost violently, fear seizing his body. After Gorsefeather's assailing on Morningstar, and failing just as Thrushstar had, Blackpaw was clueless on what to do.

Violence soon would wash the entire Gathering. Blackpaw was often sagacious, and combat had never been his most salient ability. He raced towards a tree, with no particular strategy, simply terrified and shocked at the outcome of this brutal Gathering. Morningstar was beginning to frighten Blackpaw. Watching Ashwing's desperate, horrified, cracking mew, Blackpaw's anxiety did anything but cease. He was speechless.

The white tabby couldn't help cringe at the sight of both Thrushstar and Gorsefeather's mangled bodies, seeing her clan elder killed like that hit her particularly hard. She'd grown up listening to the old tom's rambles and helped him get ticks out of his fur. How did things end up like this? Why did they bother to resist the Dark Forest? This all seemed so pointless.

Then out of the bushes came the exiled cats. Why? She wanted to yowl in frustration. They'd failed last time, what made them think they'd win this time?

When Ashwing pinned Morningstar down, Saltpelt hopped off the rock to do her duty. She tackled the former WindClan deputy, grappling at her neck and tossing her off their leader. "Why are you here? Do you have a death wish?"

Blackpaw stalked forwards, his stomach twisting with fear. His eyesight keen and senses alert, he listened before making any move. His tail thrashed silently, yet his eyes remained dry of tears. Only sorrow shone in his eyes. His orbs were a radiant blue still, and yet they were almost duller than before.

Breezeheart watched all of it in horror. This isn't what she wanted.. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.. She didn't want to oppose Ashwing, she liked the deputy, but she couldn't leave her sister fending for herself either against the other cat. The black warrior stood up and dashed past her sister, and slashed her claws at Ashwing with a sad look on her face. "I will not let harm come to my sister. Do not touch her." She said in a mono tone to the deputy.

Kestrelstorm's eyes widened and his fur bristled as the mighty ShadowClan leader was murdered. He never supported the Dark Forest, but kept quiet about his distaste for them at the same time. The vrack of the neck brought Kestrelstorm back to when hebhad pushed the RiverClan elder off the edge of the Gorge. Gorsefeather was next and the tall tom lept to his paws, fur bristling. "You can't even protect an elder Ashwing!" The tom yowled as he weaved his way to Frostfur.