May Gathering 2020 [Sitewide Plot Finale]

His next strike was nothing like the last one, disheartened and comparably weak. It was infuriating to think that she wasn't even worth the effort of a real opponent. She would teach him not to go easy on her, she would show the old fool that she was not a pushover. He would regret finding little Dawnkit for the rest of his days, which were surely numbered. Dawngaze readied another strike, preparing to slap the daylights out of her "father." Then he spoke again. The warrior halted mid-strike, staring emptily at Oakstar with dead amber eyes.

"That's a shame."

Dawngaze used Killing Bite on Oakstar. Oakstar is dead.

Oakstar:
0/125
255/300

Dawngaze:
46/85 HP
198/240 SP

Ashpaw felt a great rush of pride and aggression swell within him at the sight of the ghost tom's fear in the face of his bold attack, and he felt himself smile, contempt iciness festering in his eyes.  This wasn't like him, and a part of his mind felt deep shame at what he had almost done, but he squashed out the feelings like a bothersome fly.  They killed Ivystar...they killed Ivystar...they killed her in cold blood! They deserve what they get...  Larchneedle's words passed into one ear and out the other; all he could hear was a persistent ringing from within his own head.  Perhaps it was shock, or fatigue, but he felt perfectly fine.  The lack of clear sound helped him to focus on his goal...avenge his mother.

He saw the large opponent move, but he reacted too late.

Ashpaw yelped as fangs pierced the skin and fur of his tail and gained a firm hold.  He struggled, tried to jump forward and bite him back, but with a single jerk of the head he was off his paws, and the base of his tail burned with pain.  Eyes smarting in place of tears, he quickly realized that he was lying helpless in the grass, the imposing starry tom standing over him like a hunter inspecting prey.  At that moment, he was suddenly snapped out of his aggressive trance, and the small tom cowered back, ears pressed against his head.  He's...he's going to kill me!  Beat me bloody, leave me laying here like Mom, never to walk or talk again.  I-I promised...her, I promised Morningpaw I would live!  I promised myself...

However, Honeytongue was there.  Ashpaw watched, in awe of her strength, as she came crashing down onto the ghost's head with the force of a wild dog, and it seemed the tables had turned.  While the demon was preoccupied, Ashpaw shot back a reply, before grabbing onto the tom's leg and trying to pull him to the ground.  "I won't leave you alone, I won't lose two mothers tonight!"  Closing his eyes, he held on as tight as he could; was that another cat attacking above?  He couldn't see but hoped it was true.  His fluffy tail hurt, badly, and he could feel his grip loosening quickly.  Still, he persevered.

For Ivystar, for Quailkit and Iriskit, for Stormbringer and Honeytongue, for Morningpaw, for my friends and clanmates...I won't give up!

Ashpaw is no longer stunned.

Ashpaw:
14/25
62/80

---

"Say goodbye to this world, half-blood."

Cypressflame raised her unsheathed paw, about to strike, when a sudden searing pain on her belly made her flinch.  Growling, she made sure Goldengale was still pinned firmly before turning her head, silvery eyes narrowing to venomous slits.  Nettlefire...the daughter of that wretch.  Growling, she quickly turned back to the stunned WindClan warrior; crashing down with all of her weight, she shoved her against the ground and raked her sharpened claws across the molly's face.  Smiling in satisfaction, she took a step back...and heard a haunting scream reach all the way across the clearing.  It seemed to enter her very bones, affecting the she-cat's body from the inside out; the little ThunderClan warrior attacked her belly, playing copycat to her mentor, but it didn't matter now,

"What a glorious song..."

She was strengthened, the wild she-cat's muscles imbued with even more strength than before, and she felt the pain from her wounds fade.  Just as they promised.  Cypressflame's face glowed with undead life, upturned to the stars as she let out a malicious, gravel-voiced laugh.  "You will not win."  Silver eyes locked onto Nettlefire's, she grinned.  "Two of your leaders are already dead, and another is on his way.  Soon, there will be no hope left in this place.  Only your mauled corpses."

Cypressflame used Rending Front Paws on Goldengale, costing 25 stamina and dealing 20 damage.
Vixenstar's 'Song of the Stars' granted Cypressflame 20 HP.

Cypressflame
79/120 HP
240/300 SP

Goldengale
26/85 HP
189/240 SP

Robinloft
50/50 HP
152/160 SP

Nettlefire
105/105 HP
276/280 SP

"That's a shame."


Amber eyes widened in shock. His heart fell to the forest floor beneath him as teeth sank into his neck. For a moment, the clearing looked completely different. Covered in darkness, and bathed in the scent of early dew. The soft crying mewls of kits, near the body of a dead she-cat… Lichenmask’s fallen mate. He remembered like it was only yesterday, taking a couple of the small kits home to ThunderClan. While Froststone guided the other small kits to ShadowClan.

He’d only been a deputy then. As he became leader, Dawngaze herself had grown. She had become a warrior that he was so proud of. If only, he had conveyed that more. If he had been there for Dawngaze… for Dusk… if only… but now he couldn’t. He could only watch and feel as life ebbed away from his fragile mortal frame. Another time, and all too soon. Silver blurred in his vision, as he thought desperately about Dustcloud… and how he was leaving her too early. Hopefully, she could forgive him.


Oakstar is dead

If ever there had been a more satisfying feeling than Minkstream writhing beneath her claws, Rainstrike didn't remember it. Taking the eye and ear of the badger who'd killed her father had been satisfying. Watching the life leave Oakstar when she killed him had been satisfying. But neither held a candle to this. She supposed that made her terribly vindictive - after all, what truly had Minkstream done, other than act out in grief? But right now, she couldn't bring herself to care. Mistwalker, Oakstar, Dacedream, Finchstar, she'd watched them all die. And now, beneath her claws, she'd watch Minkstream die, too.

Her muzzle lowered to his ear, claws flexing to draw pinpricks of blood from the tom's pelt. "This is only the beginning." Teeth bared, she prepared to go in for the kill. She could almost taste his blood on her tongue, could almost feel the warm throbbing of his pulse weakening between her teeth... and then... "Mossbloom! Rainstrike! Minkstream!" The sound of her name being called made the warrior snap her head upwards, eyes narrowing on Willowpaw as she drew attention to their battle, and soon Vixenpaw was approaching, too.

Meddlesome brats. Rainstrike snarled to herself, and hunkered down against the tom beneath her. Instead of going in for the killing bite, she raked down the center of his face before they got close enough to notice, and leaped away. "Stop it, Minkstream," she called flatly. "You're in no condition to fight." But her gaze narrowed on his bloodied face, her tail streaming out behind her flicked once, and it was very, very clear to him. She wanted to fight, and she wanted to kill.

Rainstrike used Rending Front Paws on Minkstream, dealing 13 damage and costing 20 stamina. Minkstream is no longer stunned.

---

Rainstrike
65/65 HP
175/200 SP (-20)

Minkstream
26/45 HP (-13)
116/120 SP

Viperpaw had expected the pain of claws tearing through flesh, but not the pain that ripped her heart in half in that moment. Brackenstar's teeth in Flintstar's throat would be the image seared into her eyelids for the rest of her life. She realized she was screaming, inarticulate words spilling from her mouth. He couldn't be dead. Not her big brother. He was a leader. He had nine lives! Why wasn't he getting up? She desperately wanted to hurry to his now still body and bury her face in his fluffy pelt, to hide from this world that didn't make sense and had no justice. But she had her purpose, she would make Flintstar and Thornstar proud. She hurled herself at Brackenstar again, claws grasping at whatever flesh she could reach.

"Not my brother, you absolute mound of foxdung! Not anymore of my family!" She spat.

Viperpaw used Front Paw Strike, dealing 6 + 2 (8) damage and costing 10 - 6 (4) SP
Brackenstar:
34/120 (-8)
300/300

Viperpaw
25/25
72/80 (-4)

Ravenmist
100/100
221/250

Smokepaw
25/25
70/80

The wind had been knocked out of Sparkfire as the starry cat pinned her down to the ground. She winced as her opponent’s claws dig into her skin through her bushy fur. She twisted her head around until she could look Liondawn in the eye, and she glared at her with a righteous fury of her own. ”All you are accomplishing with this stupid little stunt of yours is proving to the living that StarClan cares more about old traditions than their own kin!”

Mustering all her strength, she twisted as hard as she could to the side, ripping away from Liondawn’s grip. She stood right back up immediately, doing her best to ignore the pain in her shoulders. ”The older generations will despise you, and the younger will fear you. You will gain no new members if cats of the living decide no longer to believe. Once the last of you flea-bitten star-cats fades away, StarClan will be no more! Is that what you want?”

Sparkfire used Duck-and-Twist on Liondawn, dealing 5 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Night Finesse is in affect, dealing additional damage by +2.

Aggressive Buff is in affect, reducing stamina consumption by -6.

Song of the Stars is in affect, restoring Liondawn’s health by +20.

Sparkfire is no longer Pinned.

Sparkfire
31/65 HP
168/200 SP (-19)

Liondawn
64/120 HP (-7) (+20)
270/300 SP

Harefoot
105/105 HP
257/280 SP

Sunpaw
25/25 HP
70/80 SP

Smallbean yowled, narrowing his eyes at his opponent. He didn't want to fight, he'd much rather be hiding somewhere he wouldn't get hurt, but it seemed as though these cats only knew how to understand violence. The forest cats had tried to tell them to stay away peacefully, but they didn't listen. Instead, they killed cats who they didn't see fit to live. With the thought burning in his mind, he clawed out at Creeksplash's shoulder, watching as small drops of blood began to well up from the wound.


Smallbean used front paw strike on Creeksplash, dealing 8 HP and costing 4 stamina. Vixenstar's Song of the stars granted Creeksplash +20 HP

Smallbean
45/45 HP
103/120 SP (-4)

Creeksplash
103/120 HP (+20, -8)
290/300

Larkflight
45/45 HP
107/120

Streampaw
KOed

Larchneedle's eyes narrowed with confusion and annoyance as the RiverClan deputy proceeded to laugh in his face. He was panting from the effort of the fight; he could feel the sensation of blood pulsing in his wounds, though what came out was blackened by the darkness of the night. Honeytongue looked half mad, refusing to be touched by his words. It wasn't enough for the starry warrior that she hurt, though; Larchneedle wanted her to suffer and disappear. He hoped he had caused some of that suffering as he flung Ashpaw aside and turned back to Honeytongue. Her face was much more dangerous and determined now as their eyes met, and with a growl-turned-snarl she lunged at him. Larchneedle tried to move backwards, but his hind paws stumbled on a dip in the earth, and before he knew it the golden she-cat's claws were slamming down mercilessly onto his head.

The starry tom’s forelegs strained under the weight, and Larchneedle’s chin thumped the ground before he was able to tear himself back and away from her with a pained cry. He felt dizzy, and he spat, trying to force his world to stay still long enough to destroy his enemies. He wasn't given the chance as a new dark gray tom who reeked of the Righteous Ones' illness charged in; Larchneedle's legs crumpled under him again and his teeth slammed together as his jaw crunched into the ground once more. A bright, pale-pelted she-cat raced in long enough to swat his head. It rang in his ears, but just as suddenly a more beautiful, glorious sound was ringing out through the clearing: the shrieking cry of death undone. Larchneedle's rigid body shuddered, and he felt strength flowing through his limbs - more strength than he'd ever known. The stars in his pelt flashed and flickered. He gritted his teeth and growled, heaving himself to his paws as he scrabbled back from his assailants, green eyes glittering with a deathly malice.

Larchneedle's eyes immediately locked onto Ashpaw, the apprentice who he'd stunned a moment earlier, as the gray tom grabbed onto his leg like a squealing, desperate kit. What a sweet sentiment, the starry tom thought, but you're going to lose everything tonight. He said nothing, simply grunting as he reared up, ripping his foreleg briskly from the apprentice's grip. For a heartbeat Larchneedle's bushy ginger frame loomed over Ashpaw, poised to strike, and then his unsheathed claws came crashing down, beating savagely against the apprentice's head and ears. He hooked his claws through fur and flesh, and then slammed one paw hard into Ashpaw's head, bowling him aside. There was a satisfying tear as Larchneedle ripped through the tom's ear. Immediately he whipped to face the stronger opponents, seething with vengeful fury.

Larchneedle regained 20 health from Song of the Stars.
Larchneedle used Rending Front Paws on Ashpaw, using 25 stamina and dealing 19 (17 +2 Night Finesse) damage. Ashpaw must flee the battle.

Larchneedle:
24/120 HP (-16 Honey, -24 Plover, -6 Ice = -46 + 20 Song of the Stars = -26)
230/300 SP (-25)

Honeytongue:
85/85 HP
193/240 SP

Ploverpuddle:
105/105 HP
251/280 SP

Ashpaw: [must flee the battle]
-5/25 HP (-19)
62/80 SP

Icecloud:
45/45 HP
120/120 SP

Frostpaw snarled at her opponent, getting madder and madder by the second. With a nod to the SkyClan cats, she darted in front of the Righteous Few cat, and slashed at the muzzle, making it bleed. “Us ThunderClan cats love helping, not coming to the rescue.” She snarled.

Frostpaw used Front Paw strike, causing 6 damage and costing 4 SP.

Frostpaw:
HP: 25/25
SP: 72/80

Whinchatswirl:
HP: 85/120
SP: 275/300

Willowpaw turned her attention back into the fight. She took a few steps backwards...and ran. Leaping straight at the Righteous Few cat, she tackled the other cat to the ground, then stepped back, rage filling her gaze. Suddenly, she heard a yowl, recognizing it to be Dawngaze’s. Willowpaw turned around in fear, thinking that something had happened to her. Her fear and anger chilled into something worse...shock. Her mentor, empty eyed and staring at Oakstar, had latched her teeth on to the ThunderClan leader’s throat. Willowpaw stumbled, choking on a cry. “Dawngaze...Dawngaze...why...?” She felt herself breaking into two. This was her mentor, who had trained her since day one and had taught her how to do everything. As Willowpaw stared as Oakstar dropped onto the ground, a lump rose in her throat, and this time, she let the anguished cry free. Oakstar had been so kind and caring at Willowpaw since she was a kit, and now...”Oakstar? Get up. Please, get up. Please...” A sob rose in her throat, and she gasped for air. Oakstar was lying still and unmoving on the ground. “Oakstar...you have more lives, right? So why wont you get up...?” Willowpaw whispered, staring at the pool of blood. She turned her gaze away from her mentor, trying to understand what she had just seen. My mentor is a murderer...I looked up to her...I thought she was such a great warrior...Why...

Buff is active.
Willowpaw used Run and Tackle, dealing 6+2 (8) damage and using 4 stamina.
Ebonypaw:
HP: 25/25
SP: 62/80

Stembreeze:
HP: 67/120
SP: 300/300

Juniperpaw looked at Badgerstar in fear. She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t want to be killed, but she also wasn’t going to flee from her clan. She hadn’t even been an apprentice very long, and now she’s deciding a life or death situation! She knew that the other cats would hopefully not let her be killed, especially Raventail since the Tom was going to be her leader soon. She seemed scared, her eyes filled with fear as Badgerstar spoke to her. “My elders didn’t make me join this battle, I joined because I care about my clan!” juniper said this fearfully but also loudly. She was afraid of what this Tom could do, she’d never fought him before, or had never even fought another cat! The only battling she had ever done was the play battles she had with the other kits.

She felt like she was going to be swallowed by the darkness if she kept thinking, she decides that it’s best to attack Badgerstar.

Juniperpaw uses belly rake, dealing 9 damage and costing 4 Stamina!

Juniperpaw; 20HP/76SP

Badgerstar; 16HP/220SP

Juniperpaw uses shadow finesse
____________________________________

Icecloud looked at larchneedle. She gasped as he attacked Ashpaw. Icecloud fathered her courage, and confidence and decided she would get revenge for him hurting an innocent apprentice! Iceclouds fur prickled with anger, she had never quite felt like this before and didn’t like it.

Icecloud used Rear up to slash dealing 9 damage and costing 9 Stamina.

Icecloud: 45HP/111SP

Larchneedle: 15HP/255SP

Ashpaw charged at the StarClan cat, trying to knock down her opponent. She ignored all the anguished cries around her. Her only focus was on the cat she was trying to kill, and she wouldn't be distracted by the noises around her. Angrily, she raked her claws down the other cat's soft belly, then leaped away to avoid getting hit.

Ashpaw used Belly Rake, costing 10 stamina and dealing 7 damage.

Ashpaw:
25/25 HP
50/80 SP (-10)

Ivylight:
64/120 HP (-7)
240/300 SP

Redwolf:
3/50 HP
132/150 SP

Briarpaw:
25/25 HP
72/80 SP

OOC: Please tell me if I did something wrong!

There was little ways to describe the relief as two other cats suddenly swarmed next to her, striking at Larchneedle as she paused to recover her breath for a heartbeat. She hadn't lied when she told Ashpaw that she could handle him - she was a bit winded but her pelt hadn't been touched yet. She could go for a while but that didn't mean that she wanted to fight by herself... Ashpaw tried to argue with her, that he didn't want to leave her and lose two mothers and while there was a flicker of pride of how brave he was... "Ashpaw, get out of here, I mean it! I don't want to lose you either," she pleaded as Larchneedle moved once again to strike claws down her son's pelt - tearing at whatever he could reach. She growled as she once again reared forward, studying the tom. For all of energy he still had to try to tear away her family...She could see some sort of hesitation to him, a struggle. He was still taking damage. "Enjoy your final breath," she snarled as she brought down her paws once again on his head, sending him crashing to the ground.

With that, she took a step away with a soft gasp before she whirled to look at Ashpaw. "Go! Go sit with Spiderquill - he...He needs you. I'll be fine, please. I can handle myself. I..." she drifted off as a large form caught her gaze, blinking as she stared toward the collection of medicine cats to see the large still form of Flintstar. He had...? There was no denying that he wasn't breathing, wasn't stirring. Another leader had fallen. Oh Torrentstar, what was happening? She shook her head, taking a moment to step forward and gently prod at Ashpaw to head toward the medicine cats. Before she turned to look once more at Larchneedle, not being content until he was gone for sure.

Honeytongue used Upright Lock on Larchneedle, dealing 16 damage and costing 19 stamina.

Honeytongue:
85/85
155/240 (-19)

Larchneedle:
0/120 HP (-16)
255/300 SP

The sudden surge of strength in Liondawn's attacks frightened Harefoot even though she wasn't attacking him. He moved to help Sparkfire, but the ShadowClan warrior slipped from her captor's grasp with practiced ease. He was considerably impressed though he didn't have much time to remark on it. The battle was shifting farther away from him as the she-cats tussled. He leapt at Liondawn, claws and fangs bared, and thought briefly of Ferretnose and her beautiful pelt.

Harefoot used Jumping Strike on Liondawn, dealing 15 damage and using 14 stamina.

Sparkfire
31/65 HP
168/200 SP

Liondawn
49/120 HP
270/300 SP

Harefoot
105/105 HP
243/280 SP

Sunpaw
25/25 HP
70/80 SP

Ivystar didn't move, and Mossbloom's ears flattened as she looked to where Flintstar also lay still. Her tail twitched, she knew that both of the young leaders were strong and had lives left.... So what was happening? Why weren't they waking up? Aspenheart limped into the crowd, and instinctively Mossbloom followed him, intent to keep him safe in the flurry of fighting cats that seemed like a fog. When they reached the silver queen, Mossbloom's eyes widened, Dappleshine. Pressing cobwebs and moss to the wounds on her other side, she did what she could. "I'm so sorry... We tried to get to WindClan to tell you... That's when we lost Oakstar... I should have kept trying, I'm sorry...." The figure that had just been dead a few moments ago shifted and started to rise, and Mossbloom gasped as Vixenstar stood fully, all of her injuries gone. Moving to Aspenheart's side, she stared at the Righteous Few leader in shock, she had surely been dead just moments ago....

Mossbloom used Major Heal on Dappleshine, healing 8 damage and costing 14 SP.

Mossbloom:
65/65 HP
157/200 SP

Dappleshine:
56/105 HP