Faded Hope [Skyclan Finale]

Darkleap growled, whipping around to grasp Beechfang's tail in her jaws and pulling as hard as she could.

Darkleap used Tail Yank, dealing 10 damage and costing 15 SP. Beechfang is stunned and pending KO.

Ashstorm
70HP / 70HP
143SP / 160SP

Darkleap
31HP / 100HP
110SP / 180SP (-15)

Beechfang - KO PENDING
-1HP / 55HP (-10)
57SP / 110SP

Teeth sank into her tail, yanking backward hard. Losing her already-tenuous balance, the already heavily-bleeding she-cat stumbled, landing on the ground. Beechfang tried to catch her breech, but she was already exhausted and the most she could do was growl at the dark forest cat from the ground. She hoped that Ashstorm would be able to drive this one off.

Beechfang is KO'd.

Honeyfang snarled, and dodged Smokefeather’s blow. But while stepping aside, the kit attacked — full of violent, foolish feeling. Snapping, she took a moment to sink her teeth into his scruff and throw him aside.

Honeyfang used Dodge-and-Fight, dodging Smokefeather’s attack but failing her counterattack. Drains 7 stamina.

Honeyfang:
16/100 | 86/180

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 2

A harsh inhale followed by a cacophony of coughing echoed throughout Skyclan camp as the last of the Dark Forest cats were defeated. Bloodstar had returned to his body... and he rolled right off of the Tallbranch before he realized where he was. Thoroughly confused, but still having enough reflex to land on his feet, a loud, echoing boom! sounded as his massive paws hit the rocky floor.

His intense green eyes flicked around, taking in the scene of many Skyclan cats down... and a few rogues that he recognized. Still, it appeared that whatever battle had taken place, it was now over. Bloodstar smacked his lips, noting how dry his mouth was, before he made any attempt to speak.

"Skyclan!" He tried to yell, though it came out hoarse and crackly. He'd certainly been dead awhile... "Drive the rest of these rogues out. Rogues, if you refuse to leave, don't think for a single instant that I am too weak to deal with you. I won't show any mercy." He growled, immediately taking up a fighting stance. Once the rogues were gone, he'd speak to his clan. Much had happened, clearly, and he needed to be filled in.

Lionboar watched the clan fight around him. He felt hallow. He wasn't sure what that was from. Was it watching a battle and being hopeless? Was it the fact... He was dead? It was probably both. Finally, the Dark Forest cats were defeated and began to fade away. The stars shined brilliantly, way more than he had ever seen in his life. Glancing up, he started to feel a tugging at his paws. It was almost time for him to leave now... But not yet. As he picked his way through the bodies of his clanmates, Bloodstar came bursting through the camp. He climbed the stall Branch, he ordered the rogues out. His paws stopped at Aether, Raccoonface and he stared down. It was ironic, almost. Lionboar has lived his entire life trying to gain Bloodstar's respect, jokingly saying he'd die for it, and ultimately, he was one of the few that died to bring him back to life. The life time of agony, the death of his sacrifice... It deserves something that he want. Turning to face Bloodstar in his starry form, Lionboar bellowed out to his former... His?... Leader. "Bloodstar! I am glad you returned. Myself and Myrtleturle sacrificed ourselves to StarClan to give them power to return. For you to return. The Dark Forest is gone, and Aether played his part. He fought against his father, he fought against his former Order. He has helped SkyClan survive this time. I ask you, before I go to StarClan, to respect my final wish of giving Aether a home here in SkyClan in my place." His words were as loud as he could muster, loud enough for Bloodstar to hear. He felt the tugging at his paws grow, they wanted him gone. But he resisted, he needed, had, to make sure Bloodstar listened.

She heard something heavy land on the ground, and with a grunt, Beechfang hauled herself to her paws, swaying a bit as she did so. Her eye widened slightly upon seeing Bloodstar standing, and for all that she had a complicated history with her father, she was relieved to see him alive. With questions, naturally. "He fought with us." Beechfang confirmed what Lionboar and Driftcloud had already said, a grudging note of respect in her voice. "That one-" She added, the hint of a snarl in her voice as she eyed Tarot, "-Is nothing more than a trespassing piece of crowfood." She hadn't forgotten the ugly rogue who had attacked her.

"Is the golden pile of dung gone for good?" Her lips twisted in disgust at even referring to Dawnhawk at all, but better insults than his name or any other moniker.

"He'd better be, considering he vanished from under our paws. The stars didn't even give me the chance to rip his throat out." Smokefeather padded toward Bloodstar and the others that had gathered. She moved as if the injuries marring her pelt simply weren't there. Truthfully, she was already beginning to lose sensation, coupled with the strange feeling of weightlessness. A sharp tug on her conscience signaled that she wasn't to be long in joining the cats that had already disappeared. "I fear I don't have much longer here, I owed it to the clan to deal with my own mistake for once. You might remember the sacrifices that made this possible." She added, dipping her head in Lionboar's direction. "Thank you. And Myrtledove."

The responses he got from his clanmates weren't what he was expecting. His eyes darted around to each of them as they spoke... before landing on Smokefeather... Bloodstar's heart stopped. She... She was dead. A lot of the fire that had built up within him simmered to nothing. "Smokefeather I'm..." What could he even say? She'd died. She had died and it was only because... because what? Because he couldn't fight Dawnhawk off? He had no doubt that his son had done this. He'd already lost... what difference would it have made? Still, seeing her about to go into Starclan or... where ever, was sobering.

"I'm sorry." He finished meekly, his eyes on his toes for a moment. The red rogue was almost entirely forgotten. Almost. He sighed loudly before returning his attention to the son of the rogue that had been responsible for Smokefeather's death. He couldn't take it out on Dawnhawk... but maybe his son or his friend would suffice. Bloodstar's voice rose up into a growl and he shot an acidic look at Tarot.

"If you aren't gone by the time I'm done talking to this filth, I will kill you." He turned his attention to Aether, his fur fluffed and bristled.

"So, what I am hearing is you helped Skyclan fight the Dark Forest off? Now you want a place among us? You betrayed your family, your home, your Order, everything you had ever known, for a clan that I am sure your father raised you to be vehemently against? For what?" Bloodstar's voice rose and a thin strong of drool seeped from the tear in his lip. "You have no such strong attachment to Skyclan, so why should I believe that you won't betray us if I let you in? How do I know that you didn't just realize that your side was going to lose and you changed sides to save your own cowardly skin? Answer me quickly. If I think you're lying I promise you that I will bury my fangs deep into the back of your skull and send you back to your father in the Dark Forest!"

Bloodstar's claws were already unsheathed and his gaze was as acidic as it had ever been. He didn't have the patience for things like this. He had woken up to the aftermath of a nasty battle involving his clan and to see that Smokefeather was dead. He wasn't exactly in much of a listening mood. He didn't like being confused or feeling hopeless. He always answered such situations with claws and teeth.

Lionboar shoved his his head into Aether, comforting the tom the best he could. "I'm sorry, it's too late. I'll always be your lucky star." He murmured softly, as Bloodstar bellowed at Tarot. He kept his head buried until Bloodstar threatened Aether. The stars tugged at his paws, but he had to resist. StarClan had to understand. He needed to finish this. Starry fur bristling, Lionboar faced Bloodstar. All of the anger he felt in his life bubbled up. He needed closure. "Bloodstar, I refuse to let you ignore me any longer. I gave my life for you to return. I don't have nine lives like you. When I leave this camp I am gone forever. I am dead for you. For StarClan. So I deserve you to listen." He took a step forward, but not too far from Aether. "While you have been dead, this clan has fought hard. You get to come in at the last second while we struggled for moons. Aether struggled next to us. He didn't want for this to happen. He's helped this clan while you were gone, you were gone. We had no leader. Aether does have ties here now. He's lived among us struggling. He held me as StarClan took my soul. He fought Dawnhawk. He fought the Dark Forest. Bloodstar, look at me. All I ask for my sacrifice for this clan, the one I paid for with my life, is for Aether to take my place. Give him a trial, keep him under watch. But I swear to StarClan, listen to me. See me." He huffed, his starry fur swirling and tugging. He had to stay. He had to make Bloodstar listen.

Driftcloud paused as Lionboar spoke, turning over their shoulder to watch. Eyebrows furrowing, they turned fully around now and slowly padded back, their gaze serious.

"What'll it be, Bloodstar?" he questioned softly, looking between Lionboar, Aether, and his leader. "Lionboar made the ultimate sacrifice. Aether fought his own father an' his upbringing to protect us, a Clan he only heard about from Dawnhawk. An' we all know what he thought of SkyClan..."

The white warrior took a seat, curling their tail around their paws as exhaustion wrestled with their mind. They wanted to see what Bloodstar's verdict would be, and if their opinion of him would change.