Faded Hope [Skyclan Finale]

[OOC: Due to inactivity and drop-outs of DF cats, staff will be supplying extra DF cats for battle in clans that are lacking opponents. Please wait a little longer before double teaming so staff can get extra DF cats posted!]

Snakeblood was, frankly, tired of playing bodyguards for a bunch of ungrateful clans that had cast them into the dark forest in the first place. He wanted to tear these cats apart, not play nice with them. Following Morningstar’s orders has only made him grow angrier and more hostile. Seeing the stars twinkling in the sky and the cheers from the clan cats only made his fury grow. His claws unsheathed and he wanted to tear out the throat of the nearest apprentice, but he restrained himself—that was, until StarClan touched down and lunged at Morningstar. Seeing the claws and tense muscles in the other SkyClan cats, that was all the permission he needed.

“Finally,” he growled with a grin. “Let’s see if you cats are more than useless scraps of fur.”

Snakeblood (DF) is available for battle.

Dawnhawk's words washed over her, but Smokefeather paid them little mind. They were well past the point of conversation, and she fully intended to drag him into a final death with her. She had borne him into this world, and perhaps that thunderous cacophony of noise from the thunderpath, the blood she had spilled, had truly been a sign from the stars. All Dawnhawk had ever brought to Skyclan was death and destruction, and today she would see that he no longer continued. She lashed out with her claws, determined to do as much damage as she could, while she could.

Smokefeather used Snap on Dawnhawk for -7 sp dealing -10+2 damage. Dawnhawk is still stunned for ONE turn.

Smokefeather
80 / 80 hp
143 / 170 sp (150 - 7)

Morningstar
76 / 100 hp (88 - 10 - 2)
180 / 180 sp

---

"Lionboar, what-? No! You can't-" Beechfang stared down at Lionboar's unmoving body, spine rigid as her ears had finally caught up to the conversation around her. And that's when she realized that stars were lighting up the sky. The former medicine cat stared, fur bristling in disbelief.

...Mom. Alive. Beechfang couldn't move, eyes fixing on Smokefeather's pale tortoiseshell frame as she stepped forward in a swirl of starlight, speaking as she did. I'm so sorry, mom, I should've never listened to Dawnhawk. She'd seemingly been raised from the dead... By Starclan's will, apparently. Rest, it seemed, had never been for Smokefeather. The realization of what was happening made Beechfang's head spin. As Smokefeather leapt at Dawnhawk, she spun, searching for a target... But her paws were frozen.

Honeyfang stirred slowly, amber eyes in vicious slits. ‘Life’ under no stars had been pleasing to her, if still riddled with discontent at the state of her Clan. But something was different tonight.

With sharp eyes, she watched Morningstar. So far, he had been acceptable. In his Skyclan, there was a slip of a Skyclan warrior — pure, at least, if distastefully Shadowclan-looking — to try and make into something respectable, and kits to ensure had a proper future. But some of the more drastic changes she wished to make… His feelings are too muddled for them.

He would realize, she thought eventually. The cat was a worthier leader than Rippedstar. That flea-bitten rogue, she couldn’t help but spit. There was power in him, even if Morningstar kept his dirty-blooded children around like pets… and was content to let some questionable blood fester…

Still. There was time, she thought. The weak would die on their own, if nothing else.

But then the half-clan spawn spat something, as the stars shone overhead — like tiny burns across the Dark Forest molly’s back. Spirits rose. And it made her temper flash — what were they doing here — but then she saw Morningstar dismiss his son. His — oh — suicidal son.

”See if any of you cowards can face your leader's son! I guarantee he won't give a rat's tail about it!”

Hmmph. And only fitting, too.

The brown kit likely didn’t expect an answer.

“How I’ve waited for you to say that,” Honeyfang said, stalking from the shadows; voice darkly pleased. She pointedly ignored the spirits rising; the formerly alive cats slumping to their deaths as they stood. Starclan and their games. But were they, really? She tossed her head dismissively, rising to her full height: her fur a shimmering dark orange and eyes like fire. She would burn every last impurity here. And so her claws sank viciously into Aether.

She took him to the ground, and hissed in his ear, “You should have been culled in the nursery.”

Honeyfang attacks Aether with Jumping Strike, dealing 13 (+2). Costs 7 stamina.

Honeyfang
100/100 | 173/180

Aether
45/60 | 100/100


Holly shivered, feeling eyes on her back. The world had been so dark recently… It never bothered me before. She stiffened at that. She wasn’t a coward! Even if nothing was the same anymore.

It was supposed to be the Gathering… but they didn’t see the other clans. Not like they used to. It was just them, here; like they couldn’t leave. And sometimes it made Holly want to cry. (Warriors didn’t cry, she knew. They didn’t! But recently… Holly didn’t feel like much of one.)

Lifting her eyes — Bloodstar’s green, if dimmer and more tired than they’d ever been — she was expecting to see the sky: dark and black. And likely her murder-uncle Dawnhawk, eeirily glowing and murdery. But instead she saw… stars. Stars.

“Stars!” she gasped, stumbling to her paws. She nearly tripped over herself. But — but there they were… all the shiny lights of the Silverpelt. What happened? Are they — are they back?

Sweeteagle glanced around the clearing. His nose twitched as his gaze drifted around all the other cats. Who's going to usher me back to the nursery next? Who has a little death wish? He sat down under the Tall Branch, his ear flicking and a narrow-eyed gaze watching the cats gather.

Sweeteagle wasn't, however, prepared for.. well...

Multiple voices shouted up at the sky. Stars? What? The small tom moved to get a better view of the sky, and low and behold. Stars. Ugh. He lashed his feathered tail. Now cats were suddenly dropping dead, to feed Starclan or whatever. Hmph... He stepped more into the clearing. Shocked, scared, and happy faces all around him. Mousebrained felines, Starclan can't help you... His ear flicked as Morningstar spoke.

Alright. Attack cats. I can do that. He thought. Nobody targeted him, though, some even moved out of the way of his path. What? Do they think I'm a weak kit? Ugh. Looks like I'll have to pick someone to kill myself. He noticed a cat still looking at the sky, a cat who hadn't yet moved or had been attacked. Perfect.

Sweeteagle prepared to launch himself at the she-cat. Quickly, he barreled into her side, hissing. "You won't be any use to your clan if you just stand there staring at the sky! Why don't you just die instead?" He grinned, showing all of his sharp teeth.
Sweeteagle used Dishonourable Charge on Hollyshine. Dealing -12 (10 + 2, from being of The Dark Forest) HP (Hollyshine) and -20 SP (Sweeteagle)

Sweeteagle -
100/100 HP
160/180 SP (-20)

Hollyshine -
28/40 HP (-12)
100/100 SP

Darkleap stepped out of the shadows, eyes taking in the sudden changes. A wicked grin curled on her lips - what a feeble attempt. She prepared herself for battle, tail lashing at the thought of her claws piercing the pelts of those that opposed her.

Darkleap (DF) is open to attack!

Darkleap
HP: 100/100
SP: 180/180

Shaking off the shock, Beechfang let out a low growl as she gazed around. Fighting, it seemed, had exploded all around her, and Smokefeather seemed to be handling Dawnhawk well enough on her own. Had the deaths of her clanmates truly held the power to give her that strength? Beechfang, for once, hoped that that would hold. Without another thought she bounded towards the nearest dark forest cat, feinting to one side before abruptly turning and slamming into the dead with a snarl. She'd been foolish enough to allow the dark forest into her dreams, now it was time to take back her home from them.

Beechfang used Dishonorable Charge on Darkleap for -20 sp, dealing -9 damage. Darkleap is stunned for TWO turns.

Beechfang
55 / 55 hp
90 / 110 sp (110 - 20)

Darkleap
91 / 100 hp (100 - 9)
180 / 180 sp

Smokefeather didn't speak back to him, and that was fine with him. Watching her lash out with her claws was an interesting thing as they buried into his flesh... for lack of a better term. He chuckled as he turned to her. "At one point I was too weak to fight back against you when you'd pummel me away from prying eyes, mom." He said the word almost mockingly. If Beechfang and Smokefeather wanted to dangle Featherkit's death over him, he would dangle Smokefeather's abusive history over her. Maybe then they would finally understand how little good it did. He cared about killing that kit about as much as they cared about Smokefeather being a short-tempered, abusive mother. None of it mattered now, did it?

"I'm not weak anymore. You will pay for your crimes... again... over and over, if necessary." Then he lashed out with his own claws and teeth with the brutal, unforgiving force of the Dark Forest. As her flesh gave way beneath his claws and jaws, his eyes closed as if he were merely thinking about something in earnest. Did this give him any form of joy or triumph, finally tearing her to pieces like he'd wanted to do for most of his life?

...

No. It was a very small victory, a fleeting moment of triumph that disappeared as quickly as it arrived. He truly didn't care anymore. The nagging feeling that this entire situation no longer mattered... or rather never did... was something he couldn't shake ever since he left his body behind in the Night Fangs. What a pity. Dawnhawk would have relished this fight, but Morningstar saw it as nothing more than a mildly entertaining, mindless slaughter of just another cat.

Morningstar used Random Recall and Snap, dealing 12 damage (+2 Dark Forest-y ability thingy) and -12SP

Morningstar
76HP / 168SP (-12SP)

Smokefeather
68HP / 143SP (-12HP)

She hadn't been able to keep Dawnhawk down for as long as she would've liked, and feeling claws pierce her own skin, Smokefeather lashed out furiously with her own in turn. The only thought in her mind right now was keeping her clan safe, desperate to see this misbegotten creature that she'd once called family destroyed.

Smokefeather used Desperate Blows for -7 sp, dealing -6+2 damage.
Smokefeather used Front Paw Strike for -7 sp, dealing -10+2 damage.

Smokefeather
68 / 80 hp
129 / 170 sp (143 - 7 - 7)

Morningstar
56 / 100 hp (76 - 6 - 2 - 10 - 2)
168 / 180 sp

Driftcloud was suddenly bowled over by a Dark Forest cat, wheezing the remaining air out of his lungs at the impact. He was thrown to the ground, stuck desperately gasping for a breath as he reeled. Finally, his struggling lungs sucked in air again, but the world still spun around him as he tried and failed to get his bearings.

"Dark Forest, my rump," they spat, digging their claws into the earth to keep themself stable. "Nothin' but a buncha ugly beasts. Yer not cats anymore, if ya ever were."

---

Driftcloud is stunned for one more turn!

Driftcloud
29/40 HP
100/100 SP

Vixentooth
100/100 HP
160/180 SP

The attacks kept flying followed by silence from his mother. There determination in her eyes was there, but he'd be more than happy to replace it with fear. He leaped back once, then with a supernatural swiftness raced off to one side of her before he shot forward and rammed his shoulder just behind her elbow into her rib cage. That ought to keep her down for a bit. Long enough for him to carve some artwork into her flesh.

Morningstar used Dishonorable Charge, dealing 12 damage (10+2) and -20SP

Morningstar
56HP / 148SP (-20SP)

Smokefeather
Stunned for two turns! Random Recall ineffective!
56HP / 129SP (-12HP)

Dawnhawk's shoulder hit her ribcage, and Smokefeather was left trying to catch her breath. What a shame that he had been trained so well, what a shame that he had become so strong. Still, no matter what happened, Smokefeather knew she would do what she had set out to do tonight.

Smokefeather is stunned.

Smokefeather
56 / 80 hp
129 / 170 sp

Morningstar
56 / 100 hp
148 / 180 sp

Morningstar gave his mother a savage grin before he put a clawed paw over her. With sadistic chuckle, he dragged his claws down her side, much in the same manner that he had done to Beechface back in the nursery, though that had been down her back. "You died and came back just like me and you're still as powerless as ever. I bet that's frustrating." He wasn't going to kill her quick. He was going to take his time with it. Maybe after some repeated attacks he would be able to put aside the feeling of how pointless this all was long enough to actually truly enjoy this moment. Maybe he'd enjoy watching Skyclan get wiped from the forest afterward.

Morningstar used Front Paw Strike, dealing 12 damage and -7SP

Morningstar
56HP / 141SP (-7SP)

Smokefeather
44HP / 129SP (-12HP)

Smokefeather made no response to Dawnhawk except to spit in his face, teeth bared in a defiant snarl. Already she was managing to get some of her breathing under control, and it wouldn't be long until she would be able to move again. The wounds she'd sustained were hardly felt, and they didn't matter anyways. Not truly.

Smokefeather is stunned.

Smokefeather
44 / 80 hp
129 / 170 sp

Morningstar
56 / 100 hp
141 / 180 sp