Faded Hope [Shadowclan Finale]

Marshmallow returned to camp with a blank mind, the she-cat had woken up early, to get some hunting in before the gathering started, and she did. She plopped a frog in the fresh-kill pile and sat with her clanmates. She wasn't exactly sure who to talk to, she just glanced at Fawnpatch, then looked to the ground, tail flicking. Everyone seemed tense, she didn't really blame them. Suddenly, she heard some cats cry out and she brought her attention to the sky.

Starclan?

Uh oh. Now she was confused. Cats were dropping dead- Starclan warriors were appearing, and she brought her attention to Frostgaze as the deputy ordered to attack. She stood up, a little stunned, glancing around the clearing.

She heard the first clash of claws. A Dark Forest warrior had already attacked Frostgaze. He can handle it, right? She found herself staring at Fawnpatch, her hesitation clear.

She was very, very lost.

Nightstalker looked to his mother at the sound of her voice out of shock and relief, until he managed to catch the words that spilled past her maw. "Mom? What do you mean-?" He nearly squealed like a newborn kit in his distress. "No! You can't. Not like this, we'll talk about this later." He growled, he didn't have time to scream and cry for his mother when he had throats to tear out. Claws unsheathed, he answered Frostgaze's battle cry, and threw himself into the fray, immediately spotting Fawnpatch in the mass of cats. Nightstalker launched towards the she-cat, fastening his teeth around her scruff and thrashing the unsuspecting she-cat.

Nightstalker used Teeth Grip! Costing 8+1 Damage on this turn, and 10 SP, Fawnpatch is teeth gripped for 1 turns

Nightstalker: 43/43 HP / 90/100 SP +3 HP defending Buff

Fawnpatch: 91/100 HP/180 SP

The member 'Grey' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 1

"Deerleap!" Harepaw's eyes widened in shock as the older warrior fell, sparks of light shooting through the sky above. Her tail lashed, but she stayed where she was, confused at the sudden whirlwind of movement and action around her. Cats who had no business dropping dead that Harepaw had always thought were healthy were suddenly dropping dead, and her fluffy tortoiseshell fur bristled in alarm.

There was a flash of claws as a dark forest cat attacked Frostgaze, and Harepaw's ears flattened. The deputy could probably handle himself, she thought, but the dark forest cats were so strong. She had only been made an apprentice recently, though. She was good at fighting, at least she thought so, but the way in which the dark forest cats moved scared the young apprentice.

Rosekit's yowl interrupted her train of thought and Harepaw spun, wide eyes searching for her sister. "Rosekit, get back! You can't-" She mewed desperately, her sister still hadn't been apprenticed and thus didn't have any fighting skills. It was of no concern, Harepaw had decided, she would protect Rosepaw while the others fought.

A tortoiseshell pelt caught her attention, so similar to their brother Echopaw's that Harepaw would've recognized it immediately as family even if the fluffy she-cat hadn't spoken then. "Is that mom?"

---

Mistyfalcon had never been particularly enthusiastic about gatherings, his main reason for even going to most was to support Murkystar or keep an eye on whatever apprentice he had been assigned to mentor. Now that they were being held in camp, he was still unenthusiastic, his thin frame huddled near the edge of camp. He wasn't given to being social at the best of times, and this was... Definitely not that. Being starved and isolated had an affect, clearly. He watched Fawnpatch's filthy pelt in quiet, seething rage, wishing he could sink his claws into her for all that she had done.

All at once things seemed to happen as Mistyfalcon watched. Deerleap and Sootwhiskers were dead, stars were lighting up the sky. Starclan had returned, he realized, and he'd never felt so relieved to see Murkystar making her way into the clearing. Swiftheart had noticed her, so had Harepaw and Nightstalker. Their younger kits would be able to know their mother after all.

The dark forest cats seemed rather upset with the bright stars in the sky and Murkystar's appearing. One attacked Frostgaze, and Mistyfalcon only had the strength to watch as Nightstalker leapt at Fawnpatch, wishing he could assist in taking down the foul she-cat.

Snowfoot padded over to Frostgaze and Murkystar. Frostgaze was attacked before Snowfoot could get there, but she stood next to Murkystar. “I’ve got your back,” she meowed.

Snowfoot is open for a DF opponent.

"I know how to control myself, but it's really killing you inside that you don't have control, huh?" He sneered, releasing his grip on her scruff so that he could rip his claws across her face with a grim sense of satisfaction, finally, something seemed to be going the right way for once!

Nightstalker used Front Paw Strike dealing 8+1 damage and costing 7 SP

Nightstalker
34 / 43 HP
83 / 100 SP

Fawnpatch
82 / 100 HP
175 / 180 SP

The moon rose ever higher, and suddenly specks of light crossed the sky. Leopardsun wasn't looking to the stars, though - her green eyes were focused on the ground, where Deerleap and Sootwhisker had fallen. "No-! This isn't right, this isn't how it's supposed to go-! You have to stay! What about Vixenpaw?" She choked back a sob, pressing her nose into Sootwhisker's still form. "What about me? I'm not- I'm not ready...."

She was vaguely aware of the sounds of battle, cats whose fur shone with something that must have been starlight. Something about a sacrifice. She imagined, with some bitterness, that it was a lot easier to accept a sacrifice when your parents hadn't just fallen in front of you. When she was a kit, she'd lost her family; and she'd found a new one, with Deerleap, and Sootwhisker, and then Vixenpaw.

And now it was falling apart, just as sudden and unexpectedly. Where was Vixenpaw? What was she going to say to her sister?

"Please, don't go-!"

In that moment, though she was already a new warrior, Leopardsun felt more like a kit than she ever had. A desperate, sorrowful wail escaped her- how was she ever supposed to fight like this?

---

Thalia watched in awe as the stars returned, lighting the night once again; though the sorrowful calls of her Clanmates weren't lost on her. She turned to see two of their warriors fallen, and the shimmering form of Murkystar; and another shimmering cat upon the Jaggedrock who called herself Redwing.

The time had come, then. For ShadowClan to finally fight back against the Dark Forest cats. There wasn't any sign that could have been clearer, was there?

For now, she took a moment to ready herself. There was no getting out of this without a battle, that much was clear, but that didn't mean it was going to be easy.

What's this? the she-cat sneered, peering at the random few cats flopping onto the ground. She stepped from the shadows, her claws clacking against pebbles and stray stones. Pale, golden eyes narrowed at the corpses. Where those... spirits? Rising from the bodies? Hissing seethed from her stained muzzle as stars fell down from the sky, cutting through the black like the sharpest pair teeth. So Starclan thinks they can take away my power? I'd like to see those dung-faces try me. Poppymaw's tongue slid over her bloody lips, caressing deadly fangs. The black and russet form readied herself for anyone who dared test her excellency.

Poppymaw is open for battle!

Redwing gave a nod of respect to Murkystar as she materialized from the stars. Would I have been like that, if I became leader? Would I have reached her level of kindness and grace? Well... no reason to worry about that now. Then, all around them, the fighting began. At Frostgaze's call, cats leapt to action, both living and dead clashing with claws. The StarClan cat's green eyes began scanning the camp, looking for any cat not engaged in combat. There-- a bloody shadow. Eyes narrowing, Redwing leapt to action, tackling the she-cat to the ground and pinning her down. If she was going to give up her life for this-- again-- then she would make it count.

Redwing used Leap-and-Hold on Poppymaw, dealing 12 (10+2) damage and costing 15 stamina. Poppymaw is pinned for 1 turn (unfortunately).

Redwing:
80/80 HP
155/170 SP

Poppymaw:
88/100 HP
180/180 SP

The member 'Ash' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 1

A cat came leaping towards her, clearly loyal to the stars. Idiotic thing. Too afraid to realize what power the shadows hold. Soon bowled over, she was held down by foolish paws. After an instinctual trash or two she fell limp, wisely conserving her energy. While she regained her bearings, Poppymaw taunted the lesser ghost, "You think you stand a chance against me? You really don't know who you're dealing with."

Poppymaw is pinned for 1 turn.

Redwing:
80/80 HP
155/170 SP

Poppymaw:
88/100 HP
180/180 SP

Rainfall idly licked the blood from her claws, relishing the taste. Rich, dark… and bought with sweet, sweet cries of agony from a tiny creature.

The remains of the mouse, tattered and wet, lay uneaten and dripping into the soft soil of Shadowclan’s camp. Such prey was often left in her wake… and nearest kittens. It was a horrific display, truly. And there’s nothing they can do about it, is there? Not anymore. Not like when she was alive, and forced to hide.

A small, sly grin took over her; white fur pristine. It was only her paws stained dark and bloody; proof of her… activities. But her white and tabby patched fur was otherwise clean and silky, and her eyes wide and doe-like. The juxtaposition amused her. All of this… it amused her. She only blinked a moment in surprise as stars lit the sky, and the shimmery spirits of above manifested themselves.

Hmm. So they finally decided to show up, did they?

“No matter,” Rainfall said simply, rising from her place with a quirk of her lips. Her tail twisted, idly. She supposed there was no chance of Starclan mistaking her for an itty bitty clan cat, was there…? Letting her slip away into the forest, maybe? No? She’d just have to settle for digging her claws into one of the living, then, with her supposed brethren.

Poor her, indeed.

Like a pale shadow, she slipped around the nearest tom. Fur dark, like a proper Shadowclan warrior, and grieving over a body it seemed. She rested her head on his shoulder, “Hello, handsome. I’m so sorry about your clanmate. Did you care about her?” she said with syrupy sweet mock-sympathy. “Did you love her? Oh… I’m sure you wish it was you instead, don’t you? It’s such a shame Starclan doesn’t care about that.”

Her smile would be positively wicked, if it weren’t dipped in false concern. “They are taking your lives for their own, aren’t they? Oh well… I promise you won’t be parted from her for long. But I’ll let you have the first go, if you want.” She bared her long, white neck tauntingly, and let the gleeful anticipation flash true in her eyes. Duskflight was such a handsome tom, but sinfully softhearted. “Be a dear and try, won’t you? I’ll be delighted to respond.”

Rainfall is taunting Duskflight, and inviting him to attack.