Crimsonjag's Shadow

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Chapter One

The moon was high overhead, and the forest was buried in shadows. Crimsonjag was surrounded by lithe, furry bodies.

“Russetclaw,” Crimsonjag meowed, his words barely a whisper, “Are you still here?”

Russetclaw nodded to him calmly. “I’m here, stop worrying so much.” She licked her brother’s ear and returned her gaze to the moonlit clearing.

Crimsonjag was stiffly crouched in the bushes with his sister, Russetclaw. They were waiting for the signal. He gazed across the clearing, watching many pairs of glowing, enemy eyes glare at them.

Wait for the signal , Crimsonjag thought. He was fighting the urge to leap out and start caterwauling and fighting the enemies.

“They know they’re supposed to be on their territory, the filthy pig-cats.” Crimsonjag snarled. “PiggyClan needs to learn how to go on  their  territory and stay on it.” Crimsonjag’s tail lashed back and forth angrily, causing leaves to rustle.

“Quiet! They’ll hear us!”

“They know we’re here. They’re not that stupid.”

Leopardclaw seemed to have the same thoughts as Crimsonjag. He was flicking his tail in agitation, and clacking his jaws together.

'' As our deputy, he shouldn’t think that. '' Crimsonjag thought to himself.

PiggyClan’s cats were climbing off their ledge and into the moonlit clearing. Crimsonjag easily spotted their deputy and one of their fiercest warriors. Blackmask, and Lionpig. As for the rest of the cats, Crimsonjag didn’t know their names, and didn’t care to know.

Lionpig’s glossy golden fur shone in the moonlight. Blackmask’s red eyes glinted angrily.

Crimsonjag managed to pick out bits of Blackmask and Lionpig’s conversation.

“Ha, they’ll never come down. We should just charge up there scare them off. I bet they’ll-”

A white and red tabby she-cat slapped her tail over Lionpig’s mouth. “Quiet, will you?” Her tone was firm, but she seemed to say in a slightly affectionate manner.

Lionpig nodded to her. “Sorry, Candy Cane. Sometimes my mouth runs faster than my head…”

Leopardclaw gave the signal. StormClan leaped into the clearing. The quiet clearing suddenly became filled angry yowls and caterwauls.

Crimsonjag leaped into the battle, and pounced on Candy Cane. Candy Cane staggered backward in surprise, but quickly regained her footing and lunged at him.

Crimsonjag dived underneath Candy Cane, rolled on his side, and slashed her belly. She growled hatefully shredded his ears to bits, and pinned him down.

He rolled out from underneath the white and red tabby and swung a paw at her cheek in retaliation. He then scrambled away and sprinted away to the edge of the clearing. He licked his paw and wiped his ears. Blood covered his russet-furred paw. He shook his head, causing droplets of blood to fly.

He raced back into the fray of blood and flying fur. He pounced on a big, dark gray tom. The tom rolled on his back, knocking Crimsonjag’s breath out of him. The tom threw Crimsonjag over a group of two brawling warriors. Crimsonjag slammed into the ground. Pain stabbed his side where he hit the hard, stony ground. He shakily stood up, wincing.

“Jaggedmoth,” an angry yowl called, “We’re not here to kill them!”

Jaggedmoth grunted, and stampeded away from Crimsonjag.

A silver she-cat with blue-black spots and fierce blue eyes raced into the battle, with more StormClan cats behind her. The she-cat was Rainstar. The StormClan leader.

'' This battle is turning around. '' And in our favor. Crimsonjag thought. He fought back a purr, and lashed at a nearby dark gray-and-ginger she-cat.

Cindermane. Crimsonjag recognized the she-cat. Cindermane whipped and gave him a fierce clawing on the shoulder. He sneaked a glance at his shoulder. The scratches the young PiggyClan warrior gave him were deep, and bleeding heavily.

Cindermane sprinted away to help Blackmask, who was being cornered by Rainstar.

Lionpig appeared out of nowhere. He reared up on his hind-legs, and attempted to maul Crimsonjag. Crimsonjag barely escaped what would’ve been a horrible clawing.

A loud screech! Startled both Crimsonjag and Lionpig. The golden tabby raced off to help Cindermane, who was now facing Rainstar with Blackmask’s assistance.

Crimsonjag was angry. “Rainstar! Are you alright?!” He yowled at the blue-black spotted silver she-cat. She was hissing and snarling at the three PiggyClan cats.

“Oh, just dandy!” She yowled back. “Are you just going to stand there gawking  ?! Fight someone!” She snarled. She thrust Cindermane off her back and into the nearby river.

Crimsonjag yowled fierce battle cries and lunged at Lionpig’s leg. The golden tabby was forced to the ground, and was knocked unconscious.

Crimsonjag charged toward Rainstar, nearly tripping over Lionpig, and snapped Blackmask’s tail.

Blackmask yowled in pain, lost balance, and was about to totter off the edge before a dark gray and ginger blur leaped out of the river and knocked Blackmask away from the river.

Crimsonjag skidded to a halt and glanced back and forth between Blackmask and Rainstar.

Crimsonjag chose Blackmask. He charged at Blackmask, ripped a deep gash in his hind-leg, and shoved him into the river.

Rainstar fell to the ground, bleeding heavily, and her chest still.

“You killed her!” Crimsonjag yowled furiously, and slammed onto Cindermane, about to deliver a killed blow, but Cindermane ripped his side. It was harsh enough to knock him off.

The battling cats paused, shocked by the sight of Rainstar’s lifeless body. Blackmask jumped out of the river, half coughing up, half spitting, water. He stared at Rainstar, in a state of numb shock.

What seemed like an eternity passed. No one moved. No one made a sound.

Rainstar slowly lifted her head. Both StormClan and PiggyClan cats sighed with relief.

Blackmask stepped forward. “Rainstar… we didn’t wish for this battle to go so far. We’re.. sorry.”

Lionpig looked outraged. “Sorry?!” Candy Cane slapped her tail over his mouth. Again.

Littlecreek, a small, jet-black StormClan warrior, sprinted over to Rainstar.

“Rainstar! Rainstar,” he panted, speaking in between panicked breathes, “There’s something wrong Russetclaw! She won’t…” Littlecreek fainted, and any cat could see why. There was many bad cuts and scratches and claw marks that marred him, and blood was flowing heavily from them.

Rainstar looked concerned but not overly. “Marshheart!” Rainstar called.

A brown she-cat with a mouth full of cobwebs, marigold, and other herbs padded out of the bush. She pressed cobwebs down on Littlecreek’s injuries.

“Hey! You!” Marshheart meowed urgently to a nearby PiggyClan apprentice. “Go get moss, and soak it with water.”

The apprentice looked nervous, his paws rooted to the ground.

“What are you waiting for? Go!” She snapped.

The apprentice dashed off swiftly, and returned moments later with soaked moss.

Rainstar turned her gaze over to a PiggyClan warrior.

The PiggyClan warrior lied a russet-furred she-cat in front of the wounded leader.

“I’m… so, sorry… Crimsonjag…” Crimsonjag turned to see Cindermane watching him, sympathy filled her gaze.

“I don’t want your sympathy! I want my sister back! You stole my sister’s life! You!” Crimsonjag yowled. The words just seemed to come out. He gave no thought to them.

Cindermane looked thoroughly hurt. “I didn’t ki-,”

“You did! Don’t lie to me, you fox-hearted  PiggyClan  warrior!”

Cindermane stepped back.

Blackmask glanced at the bickering cats, then back to Rainstar. “I… I think it would be best if I took our warriors back to camp,” he meowed, with glance at his cats. “We’ll send you herbs if you need them.”

The PiggyClan cats left the clearing.

Cindermane gave him one last look.

“I’m sorry.”

'' No amount of sorries will bring back my sister! '' Crimsonjag thought.

It was over. It was done.

Russetclaw was dead.

Chapter Two

Coming Soon