Loyalty's End

This page contains a fanfiction written by Arti. This page contains the opinions of the original author(s), and is not patrolled for factual accuracy. Remember that this story is non-canon. It may contain false characters, plots, or locations. Responses, comments & other feedback should be made on the comments section below.

Dawncloud padded into camp carrying a frog, a rat, and a rare treat, a bird. She set the food down on the fresh-kill pile and her stomach rumbled. Usually she would get to take a piece, but Brokenstar and his senior warriors had to eat first. And after Flintfang's execution, no one really felt like challenging their crazed leader's laws.

Dawncloud felt a pang when she remembered her mate and their first son. Badgerpaw had been killed in battle with WindClan. He was only 4 moons! Dawncloud felt herself scream the words on the inside. Flintfang had vowed to never train another to young apprentice again. Brokenstar found out and he was killed. Now I'm alone...

There was some kind of commotion over, under the Broken Ledge. Dawncloud padded over and saw her ony other kit, Duskpaw, a brown tabby she-cat with white paws and green eyes that seemed to change every day. Today her eyes were bright green and very excited.

"We're raiding RiverClan!" she squealed to her mother. Dawncloud purred and licked her daughters head, but inside she was screaming again. What if I loose you too?'!

Brokenstar leaped onto the Broken Rock smiling. "Friends!" the cats all gathered beneath him and sat, looking up. Dawncloud sat next to her daughter. "Today, as some of you may have heard," the ShadowClan leader went on, "We are raiding RiverClan!"

"Why?" asked a cranky elder called Ashfur. "They already gave us some of their hunting grounds."

Brokenstar's eyes glowered with despise at being questioned, but he smiled at the elder, "Because this will show them not to even think about taking it back, that they are under our control!"

Eaither Ashfur was truely satisfied, or he realized he was in possible danger and he nodded, "I see. Clever."

Brokenstar's ears pricked and his fur fluffed out proudly at the compliment, "Thank you Ashfur. Now, we will attack, all of us. Everyone. Right now! Go!"

The cats started to move for the camp exit and Dawncloud moved with them. It was typical. Brokenstar decided to take all the cats to prove their strength and didn't think about leaving some behind to guard the camp against a possible attack.

Duskpaw was bounding forword, then she noticed her mother lagging and padded over, "Are you ok?" she asked, her eyes worried. Dawncloud nodded, hoping Brokenstar hadn't noticed and thought she was a traitor. She had to stay alive for her kit.

The two she-cats raced forword, softly and stopped near the RiverClan camp, breathing softly form their run. Brokenstar was in front of them and he seemed pleased both of them were eager to attack. He murmered to Dawncloud, "Kill a few just for show. But wound as many as you can." Dawncloud gave a nod, but she was wondering if there was a queen in RiverClan who would mourn today if her kits died under a ShadowClan cat's paws.

Brokenstar tensed his muscles and hissed,. "Now!" The ShadowClan cats sprang forword, into the RiverClan camp. There were yowls of shock and horror and as the battle began, pleads for mercy. But none of Brokenstar's warriors dared show any.

Dawncloud flew into battle, trying to stay close to Duskpaw. But her daughter was running at the nursery, clearly intending to make sure none of the queens would cause any trouble. Or to steal kits. Dawnclould tried to follow but a huge, scarred gray tom appeared in front of her. Dawncloud vaugely remembered him form the Gatherings as Stonefur, Oakheart's son. She barely had time to duck and roll away as his unsheathed claws came down where she had been standing.

Dawncloud hissed at the RiverClan cat. Stonefur's eyes were blue fire, filled with outrage and hate. He was clearly waiting for her to make the next move so she sat and clamly licked her paw, staring at him. Stonefur straightened up and tipped his head, probably thinking she was crazy. His eyes had just enough time to widen in fear as she sprang up quickly and tackled him, clawing tufts of fur and leaving scratches oozing blood on him.

She jumped away from him but he was already falling. She knew he wasn't dea,d but she had given him enough scars to leave him there for the rest of the battle. She looked around, most RiverClan cats were lying on the ground, bleeding or cowering on the ground, no longer trying to fight.

Brokenstar was standing on the River Rock, a triumphant smile on his face. Most of the Clan was sniffing around camp. Dawncloud thought there was more RiverClan cats, there weren't very many here...

Then it happened. A huge patrol, Crookedstar and Oakheart included, burst into camp. They must have been hunting. Crookedstar gave a battle cry, "ATTACK!!!!!!"

Now it was the ShadowClan cats who were fighting for their liives. "Retreat!" Brokenstar screeched "RETREAT!" But the RiverClan cats weren't letting up, no cat could get away. Dawncloud found herself slipping into the nursery. If she died, at least she'd die defending her kit. But a huge paw dragged her out-Stonefur, she realized with a jolt- and tossed her across camp.

She thudded across the ground and skidded to a painful halt. She lay there for a moment, out of breath. Then she sprang to her paws. Just in time to see Stonefur whisk into the nursery. She heard a cat shriek and he bolted out again, a fresh new scar over his eye. Duskpaw was doing ok.

Dawncloud was baring her teeth at some apprentice when she heard another shriek form the nursery, this time it was feminine. She gave a yowl of shock and sprinted to the nursery. Please StarClan no, don't kill her, take me instead, she's so young...

She skidded into the nursery

Will finish later, cleaning!