Seeking sanctuary for a deserter and a murderer...

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark saw Anarchy leap off the toms and little Tempestkit run for his mother. But she nearly plowed right over Rowdykit. Skidding to a halt, she stood right over him.

Then she bent down, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and ran back to Snowstar. Something in her mind told her exactly how to hold the kit so as not to injure him more than he already could be, and she set him down next to his brother.

"I think... they're safe now," she panted, staying right next to her leader and her leader's kits.

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Hope no one minds. She felt the need to redeem herself, you see.

[Snowstar]

<sub>Snowstar let out a relieving breath as she saw Pinedark dodge forward for her sons, and saw them both to be alive and breathing, Rowdykit's forepaw bent a little at an odd angle, but very much alive. She gave a screeching yowl, not daring to leave her kits now. She had to protect them with Pinedark...

It was then that Shadowstreak received a sudden jarring in her side, but not from Anarchy; it was from Goldenblaze as he dove into her side, shoving her to safety. For the time being... Anarchy's attack had hit him hard, and his lower chin was bleeding profusely. But he was blinded by rage, now, and not even the blood spattering his maw could stop him. The protection was momentary, allowing Anarchy to land on him, but it would take his mind off of Shadowstreak for only a few heartbeats. She has to get it together quick, or neither he nor she would make it through this battle...</sub>

[Wolfwings]

Tinderspark managed to move long enough to dive for the safety of the larger group of cats. He felt like a terrible coward, sitting on the sidelines while his only living family fought, possibly to the death. But that was just how he was, he didn't like to fight, didn't even know how really...

Dragonpelt leaped and missed, dodged by Anarchy's immense speed. He snarled and spun around, intending to attack again. Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw his kits. They had all made it safely to their mother. Changing his tactics to defense rather than offense, he spun around and placed himself between the battle and his sons and daughter.

A slamming force that would have come from the enemy instead came from her friend. Shadowstreak looked up in time to see the silver bengal racing toward her. Then, she was sprawling sideways as Rustshade knocked her out of harm's way. Because of his heroics, Rustshade came out of the collision with a bloody jaw. Despite this, he launched himself at the ferocious loner once again. She couldn't stand for this. He couldn't throw away his life for her sake, she wouldn't allow it. Rustshade had a future here, a future that didn't include dying here. Shadowstreak would not let that happen, he was far too important to her...

Screaming a battle cry filled with sadness and rage, she leapt at Anarchy.

Tempestkit veritably whimpered at his mother's feet. Did kittens whimper? Whatever sound it was, it sounded distinctly like that. He hated to seem so babyish, but right now he was in pain and he was terrified...

The moon will shine on this battlefield of loyalties...

Anarchy bared his fangs and sank them into Rustshade's chin. It gushed upon impact and the ferocious tom lapped at the crimson fluid. The coppery taste danced on his tongue and thrilled his senses, driving him on. Orange orbs alight with intensity, he reared up on his hind legs and struck at the black and red tom's face, trying to knock him on his back. Temporarily occupied, he couldn't turn in time to stop Shadowstreak's advance. She hit him full on in the side, bowling him over onto the ground.

"Clan-serving bitch!" Anarchy snarled, stranding up quickly. Pushing off with his hind legs, he blasted into the she-cat head on. They both rolled locked together, tail over ears, through the thick grass.

Onyx and Cinder post, then I am just gonna make these two fight until I am satisfied with the outcome.

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark retreated to right beside her leader. She was crouched like she was about to jump on the first cat to come for them... or maybe she was worn out and scared and was handling it slightly better than the whimpering Tempestkit.

Either way, she didn't try to worm her way back into the fight. Her objective had been to keep the kits safe, and they were safe now, and she really couldn't do more. She'd get in the way. Plus, even though Dragonpelt was there, Pinedark felt more than one other cat should be being defensive.

So she stayed where she was, all hunkered down, watching with wide eyes and her tail whipping anxiously back and forth. What was to be the outcome of this battle? And if she thought this was bad, what was she going to do when they went up against Boneclan?

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[Snowstar]

As Rowdykit was picked away from the fight, he stirred just in time to see the battle rage before his bright eyes. His eyes went out of focus and he fought to stay concious, painfully aware of his twisted leg. He let out a mournful yowl before he was hurriedly set down behind his mother. He curled up into a ball not far away. The young kit was tuckered out.. No doubt about it, he wouldn't be going off on anymore adventures for a while now.

Like her mate, tactics changed swiftly, and she was all defensive now. She lowered her body in a defensive position, hovering over her three kits, tail flashing angrily, daring anybody to take her on. True, Shadowstreak looked a bit stunned, but was quickly knocked out of it as that tom crashed into her. Snowstar recognized the tom as a Mistclanner; a faithful one as it appeared, she remembered when he was a kit. But times had indeed moved on for the tom. He was called 'Rustshade' now, as it barely registered. Either way, neither of these cats deserved to give their lives over her family.

Rustshade turned his head expertly to alleve the pain as Anarchy bit onto his lower jaw. He let out a yowl, tail flashing in an enraged force as he fell onto his flanks, but was up on a flash. His blood sprinkled the earth, and it lapped it up thirstily. Rustshade's eyes faltered, but he would not falter. He trudged on towards him, slapping an unsheathed claw down while trying to bite into his fur, to taste the savory and sweet taste of vengeance, with the hopes both hits would land square.

[Wolfwings]

You'll never see it coming...

Anarchy had had enough. His focus was on the she-cat now, the damned she-cat that had interrupted him in the first place. This stupid femme who decided to make it her life's mission to ruin his fun. NO ONE was allowed to do that...

He pulled himself from Shadowstreak's grip and spun around. Rustshade was coming at him again, but the silver tom was ready. Rearing back, he coiled his muscles before Rustshade's paws could make contact. Fangs met flesh as he bit down and yanked his teeth away, hoping to draw a nasty wound across the black tom's abdomen. Feeling satisfied with the taste of fresh blood in his nostrils, he rounded on Shadowstreak.

The wiry she-cat had barely enough time to right herself before the tom was on her again. He dispatched Rustshade with a vicious bite to the chest and then leaped at her. She growled and launched herself right back. They collided in mid-air and fell to the dirt in a heap. Snarling like a mad animal, Shadowstreak attacked the tom's face with a flurry of unsheathed blows. Her frenzied offense landed a few hits, but not enough to stop Anarchy. Anticipating most of her attacks he avoided major injury. Smirking evilly, he aimed a blow at her face and knocked her backward.

Shadowstreak stumbled, but didn't fall. As the rogue attacked again, she turned her tail end to him and kicked out with her powerful legs. The blow sent him backwards into the dirt. She turned and ran at him, but he was already up and dodged away when she tried to bite. Panting heavily, she spun and swatted at him, raking her claws along his flank. If it hurt he didn't show it and he retalliated swiftly. Ducking to avoid his fangs, she didn't see where his paws were. Drawing his leg up, he "backhanded" her in the face and she fell over, dazed.

Her vision was blurry and for a moment she lost track of him, but she could smell his blood. Standing shakily and trying to focus, she followed the scent of his wound and stepped toward his rear. A low growl erupted from Anarchy and he kicked her with his back paws, but she managed to stay on her feet. Finally her vision cleared and she jumped, sinking her fangs into his back. He wheeled, writhing to dislodge her. Shadowstreak hung on and bit hard, drawing blood. After several moments, she felt the world spin and he was on top of her. The tom had flipped himself over and was now crushing her beaneath his back.

She lost her grip and yowled in pain. Anarchy flipped over and stood, slashing his claws along her flank. She hissed at the pain and forced herself to stand. How was he not tired yet?! Snarling and baring her fangs, she sped toward him and banged against his chest. His strength held and they stood in a stalemate for a long time, but then her legs began to shake. Shadowstreak had never been in a battle so long before and her muscles couldn't take it. She backed off and he advanced, striking her across the face. When she fell back, he pounced and pinned her down. The last thing she saw were white fangs, then her eyes filled with blood...

[Snowstar]

Rustshade fell backwards, tail flipping in pain, his voice cut short. He couldn't howl in pain, for the fear burned thick in his heart. But not of Anarchy, nor death. Rustshade did not fear death, from Anarchy or any other cat. He feared losing Shadowstreak. She was a prized friend of Rustshade's, a true friend that Rustshade would be willing to die for.

Even the thought of Umberwings could not hold him back from his mad fury to hold back for her, to hold back for death. He loved her, he knew he did, but Shadowstreak was his friend. Shadowstreak... She was a true Mistclan cat, one who should have the privelege to grow old in with him and his friends...

He rocketed forward, the blood slipping from him and his life like sand, claws unsheathed as he latched himself upon Anarchy's back, hoping to throw him off her. However, his weight was light and on his toes so as not to have him pin Shadowstreak down with more force, but the claws embedded in his fur now were enough to leave a painful mark...

[Wolfwings]

OOC: Cinder ok'd Rustshade's "defeat" so no powerplaying, k?

I've had my fill...it ends now...

Anarchy didn't even react when Rustshade sank his claws into the silvery tom's flesh. His face was utterly stoic as he withdrew his fangs from Shadowstreak's neck. He writhed and flung his body from side to side, effectively dislodging his attacker. Shaking his fur briskly, he turned and stalked back to Hiddenwrath. Before he took his leave of them, he spoke without turning his head.

"This is what happens when you challenge a true warrior, one that won't concede or show mercy to you..." "If this is the best you have to offer against me, what will you do when BoneClan and DuskClan wage war...?" he smirked to himself, though there was no humor in his voice. Only when he and Hiddenwrath had moved well away, did he lick the luscious blood from his maw.

Dragonpelt stayed with his kits, still fearing that the tom may come back for a second round. His little sons were hurt and he couldn't leave them, but his heart went out to his beautiful friend. She lay silent in the grass, torn apart on his family's behalf and it angered him to no end...

Tinderspark disregarded the normal instinct to check for an ambush and ran to his sister's side. He nudged her bloodied body in a desperate search for something to prove she was alive.

"SHADOWSTREAK!" he nearly bawled. "You can't die now!" "I've only just found you again!" The fire-colored tom knelt by his wounded sibling and tried to hold in his sobs.

Tempestkit stopped mewling long enough to look over at the she-cat who had saved his life. Surely the others had helped, but it was she who had jumped in out of nowhere and demanded that the diabolical tom release him. He barely knew this she-cat, but his father had told him stories of her. Shadowstreak might as well have been an aunt to him and he was deeply saddened that she was so hurt...

At first everything was black. Then distant sounds pried at her ears, which turned into voices. Fog permeated the depths of her tightly shut eyes, which turned into faces. Shadowstreak drew a ragged breath and searing pain erupted through her throat and sides. Her tail was frayed, her flanks raked with deep slashes, and her neck had puncture wounds to rival a badger's. The blood had welled from a wound to her head, the split open at Anarchy's final attacks. Her body throbbed with pain and her voice was so hoarse that it hurt to breathe, but she was still alive.

"Tinderspark...I must be dead...'cuz there's no way you'd be out here..." she spoke delicately, her voice seeming strangled and tired. It was too much to even lift her head from the blood soaked dirt.

[Snowstar]

Rustshade was thrown to the ground for the final time, but then as his body hit the ground with a limp force did the fire die within him, and he lost momentum. His eyes unfocused and focused, the earth spinning before him, the surroundings smouldering into and out of view. He had to get up...! Rustshade trembled slightly, trying to rearrange his thoughts so they were within concept to his brain. Shadowstreak! She had to be alright! She couldn't be dead... Rustshade was similarly dying from the inside out. The pain he'd watched throughout his years in Mistclan hit him like a force even beyond what Anarchy was possibly capable of, and he got up on trembling feet. True, maybe if Shadowstreak would be alive, there would be something worth living for aside from Umberwing and Ripplemist, his two best friends, his closest.. And Shadowstreak..

He trembled at her side, his blood mixing with hers as he peered down with dying eyes. But he was standing, eyes filled with concern. "Then we've been dead since the gathering.." He spoke with a humorless smile. "Your brother came searching for you..." He said, shuddering lightly before collapsing on himself, overcome with relief. She was alive... Now they just had to get her to Mistclan.

Snowstripe finally peered up as Anarchy stalked away. They had won... For now.. She got up, hardly a scratch, but she was trembling from the aftermath of the thought of losing her kits, her mate, her friends... It was like an earthquake; the worst was over now, but the earth still trembled. Then, she looked up, the fire back in her eyes. "Pinedark! Take the kits back to camp. I doubt they will pull such a stunt like that for seasons to come. Find Chainless and help her with finding any herbs she may need to fix them. Dragonpelt, please, help me take Shadowstreak and her young friend back to Mistclan, they are in serious need of a Medicine Cat.." She turned her gaze upon the red and white tom. "Tinderspark," She said kindly, "I wish that you help me," She said before taking the rusty and black tom and shouldering him to his feet, helping to stable him, but he appeared beyond comprehension of anything in his environment.

Rowdykit gave an inaudible mew as he listened to his mother's words. Both his parent's.. They were so brave, and he was so foolish. Nonetheless, he was sure to cause havoc when he was better. But not now... Now, he was tired, he was in pain.. He just wanted to be home.

[Onyxdart]

When it was over, Pinedark stood from her crouch, watching and not saying a word and not moving to do anything. It looked like her leader had everything covered- she just had to follow directions.

It was something she was good at. She nodded as she was told to take the kits, and considered the three of them. Rowdykit couldn't walk, but Tempestkit had run to his mother earlier... could he walk now? And Autumnkit, could she follow too? She looked at Tempestkit and his sister.

"Can either of you two walk, or do you need to ride?" she asked the two of them.

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[Shadow Spirit]

OOC: Cindahluff already posted in MistClan, so we'll just say that Rustshade and Shadowstreak were helped along and the kitters were able to limp, but keep up. ^^;;

[Onyxdart]

Right-o