Post by Hyenafang on Nov 25, 2021 1:24:43 GMT -5
I actually started writing this last year not long after a got a job at a book distribution warehouse. But the job only lasted 2 weeks and I was really upset. I think writing this fan-fiction kind of went away with the job. I didn't want to necro-post so I created an entirely new one,
But I have been working on it again a little bit. I am not sure how regular the chapters will be, but we'll see how I go.
NOTE : You will notice that all the characters are named after African animals or trees and the clans are named after different types of landscape in the African wilderness.
General Information (Clans)
General Information
Prey
Clan enemies/Threats
Habitats/Territories
Medicine Cats
Their Medicine cats are called Sagonas – which is basically what they call a healer in Africa- and are responsible for the same duties as traditional Medicine Cats.
Clan rankings
Unlike the original clans we all know, these clans were formed entirely by rouges that came together after their ancestors instructed them to form clans.
As a result they are not as against inviting rouges from outside their clans to join them and often welcome new members in this way.
The clan ranking’s as far as Leader, Deputy, Warriors and Apprentices are the same. The only difference being that Medicine Cats are called Sagonas or ‘Healers’
Beliefs
The clans still believe in Ancestors like Starclan. However they call their clan of their ancestors Ancestralclan.
The leaders still have nine lives and the Sagonas meet up once every moon to consult with their ancestors.
They meet at an ancient and twisted tree with four gnarled branches that reach into the sky called Clantree
Clantree
The Clantree is an old twisted and gnarled tree in neutral territory. Its five gnarled branches point into the sky, a branch representing each clan.
The Sagonas each lie on one of the four huge roots of the tree and can connect to Ansectralclan via the sacred tree and its branches.
This is equivalent to the Moonstone and Moonpool
Origins
The clans evolved from African Wild Cats, a slim and agile predator in Africa. They also bred with domestic cats witch allowed a wider range of coat colours.
Allegiances
Savanahclan
Leader
Leopardstar : Heavily spotted golden tomcat, with dark brown and black rosettes. Blue eyes
Deputy
Giraffeclaw : Golden she-cat with dark brown patches like a giraffe. Green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Riverclaw : Lithe grey she cat with black paws and chest. Black spots on back, golden eyes.
Warriors
Elephantfur : Grey tom-cat with large ears and blue eyes
Zebrapelt : White she-cat with black stripes and a ridge of raised, black fur down her back. Brown eyes
Cheetahspots : Blonde tom-cat with white spots. Green eyes
Civetclaw : Dark grey she-cat with large black blotches. Golden eyes
Acaciaclaw : Golden she-cat with dark brown spots and a white chest. Blue eyes
Boabfur : Golden brown tom with white chest and paws. Black tail tip and blue eyes (Brother to Acaciaclaw)
Kudufur : Light brown she-cat with white stripes down her back and black paws. Brown eyes
Elandstripe : Light brown she-cat with white stripes down her back and grey paws. Golden eyes (Sister to Kudufur)
Caracalclaw : Red she-cat with black tipped ears that end in fluffy tufts. White muzzle and green eyes
Batwing : Black and brown tom with large ears and sharp teeth
Hyenafang : Spotted golden she-cat with fluffy, black tipped tail and black spots. Black muzzle with golden eyes
Servalclaw : Dark golden tom with black spots and black tipped ears. Brown eyes
Lionpelt : Large golden tom with brown eyes
Crocodiletooth : Large she-cat with teeth that stick out from her mouth. Green eyes.
Elders
Baboonfur : Grey tom with long front teeth (Father to Stonetooth)
BushveldclanLeader
Fishstar : Lithe Grey she cat with black paws and blue eyes
Deputy
Stonetooth : Grey she cat with long teeth that protrude from her lips. Three scars across her right eye and a long scar down her side
Sagoma (Healer)
Flamefur : Fiery orange tom with tabby stripes and black paws
Warriors
Firefang : Red tabby tom with white paws and chest. Blue eyes (brother to Flamefur)
Harefoot : Mottled grey and orange tom with brown eyes and white paws
Jackalclaw : Grey and brown she cat with yellow eyes
Foxfur : Red she cat with white underbelly and a black tip to her tail. Yellow eyes
Rhinofur : Huge grey tom with thick, well-muscled shoulders
Orchidpelt : White she cat with yellow eyes
Riverpelt : Grey tom with black paws and tabby stripes. Brown eyes
Apprentices
Antpaw : Black she-cat with yellow eyes
Buffalopaw : Black tom with fluffy line of fur down his back (Brother to Antpaw)
Deerpaw : Orange tom with white spots all over his pelt. Green eyes
Okapipaw : Brown she-cat with white stripes on her legs and large ears. Green eyes
Elders
Sandpelt : Tan she-cat with green eyes. She is missing half of her right left hind leg.
ForestclanLeader
Treestar : Dark brown she-cat with black paws. She is missing her right ear.
Deputy
Shrewclaw : Reddish tom with tabby markings on his back. Green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Leafpelt : Brown tabby tom with white paws and chest. Blue eyes
Warriors
Spiderfang : Mottled brown and black she-cat with green eyes
Perchwhisker : Grey tom with blue eyes
Catfishfur : Brown she-cat with green eyes
Reedpelt : Brown tom with green eyes
Pikefang : Mottled grey and black she-cat with yellow eyes
Minnowfur : Silver she-cat with green eyes
Rabbitspring : White tom with yellow eyes
Rootclaw : Brown tom with black paws and white chest. Green eyes
Apprentices
Riverpaw : Grey she cat with green eyes
Hogpaw : Brown tom with yellow eyes
Mousepaw : Brown tom with blue eyes
Zebrapaw : White she-cat with black tabby stripes and black paws. Green eyes.
AcaciaclanLeader
SkyStar : White she-cat with black paws and blue eyes
Deputy
Riverpelt : Grey tom with white paws and green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Snakeclaw : Black tom with green eyes
Warriors
Batear : Grey and black tom with big ears. Brown eyes
Savannahclaw : Spotted golden she cat with blue eyes
Bushbuck : Brown tom with a white chest and throat
Sableclaw :Dark brown she-cat with white underbelly
Servaleap – Spotted golden tom with blue eyes
Grassclaw : Brown tom with green eyes
Hawkclaw : Dark brown tabby she cat with blue eyes
Gazellefur : Light brown she cat with white underbelly and black stripe down her back
Ostrichclaw : Grey she cat with white underbelly and unkempt fur
Badgerfang : Light grey she-cat with black back
Apprentices
Antelopepaw : Brown tom with white chest and paws
Ardvarkpaw : Brown she-cat with
RougesLeader
Hyena : Spotted tom with a large scar running from his right ear to his right flank. He has a torn right ear and a heavily scarred pelt
Second
Snake : White tom with grey paws and underbelly
The Faction
Gemsbok : Brown she-cat with Black stripe down her back and a white belly
Oryx : Twin to Gemsbok
Cobra : Brown she-cat with yellow eyes
Crocodile : Huge brown she-cat with a scar running down her right side. Green eyes
Python : Mottled dark and light brown tom with piercing yellow eyes.
Hog : Reddish tom with white underbelly. Brown eyes
Ibex : Sandy coloured tom with large ears. Green eyes
Mamba : Black she-cat with yellow eyes
Viper : Brown tabby tom with piercing orange eyes
Adder : Black tom with a scar across his face where no fur grows. Blind in one eye leaving it pale white. His other eye is a striking green.
Jackal : Reddish tom with a black back. Yellow eyes
Rock: Brown tom with green eyes
Vulture : Huge dark grey tom with shark claws and teeth
Snake : Mottled dark brown and grey tabby tom with green eyes (brother to Viper)
Prologue
But I have been working on it again a little bit. I am not sure how regular the chapters will be, but we'll see how I go.
NOTE : You will notice that all the characters are named after African animals or trees and the clans are named after different types of landscape in the African wilderness.
General Information (Clans)
General Information
Prey
- Hares
- Rabbits
- Mice
- Squirrels
- Bats (Forestclan and Savannahclan)
- Birds
Clan enemies/Threats
- Painted Wolves
- Lions
- Leopards
- Cheetahs
- Snakes
- Hyenas
- Warthogs
Habitats/Territories
- Grassland/Savannah
- Forest (Bushveld)
- Rocky Valley
Medicine Cats
Their Medicine cats are called Sagonas – which is basically what they call a healer in Africa- and are responsible for the same duties as traditional Medicine Cats.
Clan rankings
Unlike the original clans we all know, these clans were formed entirely by rouges that came together after their ancestors instructed them to form clans.
As a result they are not as against inviting rouges from outside their clans to join them and often welcome new members in this way.
The clan ranking’s as far as Leader, Deputy, Warriors and Apprentices are the same. The only difference being that Medicine Cats are called Sagonas or ‘Healers’
Beliefs
The clans still believe in Ancestors like Starclan. However they call their clan of their ancestors Ancestralclan.
The leaders still have nine lives and the Sagonas meet up once every moon to consult with their ancestors.
They meet at an ancient and twisted tree with four gnarled branches that reach into the sky called Clantree
Clantree
The Clantree is an old twisted and gnarled tree in neutral territory. Its five gnarled branches point into the sky, a branch representing each clan.
The Sagonas each lie on one of the four huge roots of the tree and can connect to Ansectralclan via the sacred tree and its branches.
This is equivalent to the Moonstone and Moonpool
Origins
The clans evolved from African Wild Cats, a slim and agile predator in Africa. They also bred with domestic cats witch allowed a wider range of coat colours.
Allegiances
Hyenafang’s War
AlliancesSavanahclan
Leader
Leopardstar : Heavily spotted golden tomcat, with dark brown and black rosettes. Blue eyes
Deputy
Giraffeclaw : Golden she-cat with dark brown patches like a giraffe. Green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Riverclaw : Lithe grey she cat with black paws and chest. Black spots on back, golden eyes.
Warriors
Elephantfur : Grey tom-cat with large ears and blue eyes
Zebrapelt : White she-cat with black stripes and a ridge of raised, black fur down her back. Brown eyes
Cheetahspots : Blonde tom-cat with white spots. Green eyes
Civetclaw : Dark grey she-cat with large black blotches. Golden eyes
Acaciaclaw : Golden she-cat with dark brown spots and a white chest. Blue eyes
Boabfur : Golden brown tom with white chest and paws. Black tail tip and blue eyes (Brother to Acaciaclaw)
Kudufur : Light brown she-cat with white stripes down her back and black paws. Brown eyes
Elandstripe : Light brown she-cat with white stripes down her back and grey paws. Golden eyes (Sister to Kudufur)
Caracalclaw : Red she-cat with black tipped ears that end in fluffy tufts. White muzzle and green eyes
Batwing : Black and brown tom with large ears and sharp teeth
Hyenafang : Spotted golden she-cat with fluffy, black tipped tail and black spots. Black muzzle with golden eyes
Servalclaw : Dark golden tom with black spots and black tipped ears. Brown eyes
Lionpelt : Large golden tom with brown eyes
Crocodiletooth : Large she-cat with teeth that stick out from her mouth. Green eyes.
Elders
Baboonfur : Grey tom with long front teeth (Father to Stonetooth)
Bushveldclan
Fishstar : Lithe Grey she cat with black paws and blue eyes
Deputy
Stonetooth : Grey she cat with long teeth that protrude from her lips. Three scars across her right eye and a long scar down her side
Sagoma (Healer)
Flamefur : Fiery orange tom with tabby stripes and black paws
Warriors
Firefang : Red tabby tom with white paws and chest. Blue eyes (brother to Flamefur)
Harefoot : Mottled grey and orange tom with brown eyes and white paws
Jackalclaw : Grey and brown she cat with yellow eyes
Foxfur : Red she cat with white underbelly and a black tip to her tail. Yellow eyes
Rhinofur : Huge grey tom with thick, well-muscled shoulders
Orchidpelt : White she cat with yellow eyes
Riverpelt : Grey tom with black paws and tabby stripes. Brown eyes
Apprentices
Antpaw : Black she-cat with yellow eyes
Buffalopaw : Black tom with fluffy line of fur down his back (Brother to Antpaw)
Deerpaw : Orange tom with white spots all over his pelt. Green eyes
Okapipaw : Brown she-cat with white stripes on her legs and large ears. Green eyes
Elders
Sandpelt : Tan she-cat with green eyes. She is missing half of her right left hind leg.
Forestclan
Treestar : Dark brown she-cat with black paws. She is missing her right ear.
Deputy
Shrewclaw : Reddish tom with tabby markings on his back. Green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Leafpelt : Brown tabby tom with white paws and chest. Blue eyes
Warriors
Spiderfang : Mottled brown and black she-cat with green eyes
Perchwhisker : Grey tom with blue eyes
Catfishfur : Brown she-cat with green eyes
Reedpelt : Brown tom with green eyes
Pikefang : Mottled grey and black she-cat with yellow eyes
Minnowfur : Silver she-cat with green eyes
Rabbitspring : White tom with yellow eyes
Rootclaw : Brown tom with black paws and white chest. Green eyes
Apprentices
Riverpaw : Grey she cat with green eyes
Hogpaw : Brown tom with yellow eyes
Mousepaw : Brown tom with blue eyes
Zebrapaw : White she-cat with black tabby stripes and black paws. Green eyes.
Acaciaclan
SkyStar : White she-cat with black paws and blue eyes
Deputy
Riverpelt : Grey tom with white paws and green eyes
Sagoma (Healer)
Snakeclaw : Black tom with green eyes
Warriors
Batear : Grey and black tom with big ears. Brown eyes
Savannahclaw : Spotted golden she cat with blue eyes
Bushbuck : Brown tom with a white chest and throat
Sableclaw :Dark brown she-cat with white underbelly
Servaleap – Spotted golden tom with blue eyes
Grassclaw : Brown tom with green eyes
Hawkclaw : Dark brown tabby she cat with blue eyes
Gazellefur : Light brown she cat with white underbelly and black stripe down her back
Ostrichclaw : Grey she cat with white underbelly and unkempt fur
Badgerfang : Light grey she-cat with black back
Apprentices
Antelopepaw : Brown tom with white chest and paws
Ardvarkpaw : Brown she-cat with
Rouges
Hyena : Spotted tom with a large scar running from his right ear to his right flank. He has a torn right ear and a heavily scarred pelt
Second
Snake : White tom with grey paws and underbelly
The Faction
Gemsbok : Brown she-cat with Black stripe down her back and a white belly
Oryx : Twin to Gemsbok
Cobra : Brown she-cat with yellow eyes
Crocodile : Huge brown she-cat with a scar running down her right side. Green eyes
Python : Mottled dark and light brown tom with piercing yellow eyes.
Hog : Reddish tom with white underbelly. Brown eyes
Ibex : Sandy coloured tom with large ears. Green eyes
Mamba : Black she-cat with yellow eyes
Viper : Brown tabby tom with piercing orange eyes
Adder : Black tom with a scar across his face where no fur grows. Blind in one eye leaving it pale white. His other eye is a striking green.
Jackal : Reddish tom with a black back. Yellow eyes
Rock: Brown tom with green eyes
Vulture : Huge dark grey tom with shark claws and teeth
Snake : Mottled dark brown and grey tabby tom with green eyes (brother to Viper)
Prologue
Prologue
Dawn brightened the Savannah, turning the grasslands a pale orange as the sun rose above the mountains in the distance.
A warm wind promised heat when the sun rose, but for now the dawn air was still chilly.
Hyenafang crouched in the grass letting the long brown stalks hide her approach. The lone tree stood among the tall, waving grass of the open Savannah and she was glad of the thick grass that hid her.
She tilted her head upwards, above her in the tree was a large Hornbill bird.
It was still asleep in the chilly dawn, its feathers fluffed out for warmth.
Her mouth watered at the prospect of prey and she fought the urge to jump too soon.
Movement ahead of her caught her eye and she briefly drew her gaze away from the bird to the thick grass surrounding the lone tree.
She could just make out a brown pelt moving stealthily on the other side of the tree. Crocodilejaw was moving into position, ready to catch the bird if escaped the first attack.
Hyenafang had only been a warrior for a moon and this was her first patrol with her former fellow apprentices.
Servalclaw, Lionpelt and Batwing were also on the patrol but were hunting their own prey nearby.
Returning her gaze to the tree, Hyenafang readied herself for the leap, she lowered her hindquarters so her tail brushed the ground, then she leapt, straight up in a massive leap.
Like all her clan she had long and well-muscled hindquarters that allowed her to jump incredible distances straight into the air, a trait they shared with the Caracals and Servals that also inhabited the plains.
The Hornbill startled awake with a screech but it was too late, it panicked and flew straight into Hyenafng’s leap. She caught it in her forepaws and brought it down in one swift movement. She quickly broke the bird’s neck and sat up.
“Great jump!” Crocodilejaw exclaimed as she emerged from the bushes at the far side of the tree “It didn’t even hear you coming”
Hyenafang purred in agreement “I was hoping it wouldn’t wake up too early and fly off before I could jump, it’s unusual for a bird to be asleep this late”
“Maybe this one was just lazy” Crocodilejaw suggested good naturedly
Hyenafang licked her lips “well lucky for us then” she retorted, she got to her paws “come on, we’d better see what the others have caught”
She picked up the bird and bounded away from the tree in the direction the other three had taken.
It wasn’t long before she found them, she crept up onto a large boulder jutting out over the surrounding Savannah and looked down.
Batwing, a black and brown tom with large ears, was stalking something in the long grass, Hyenafang could just make out his blotched pelt as he wove through the stalks.
She could smell Servalclaw and Lionpelt close by but couldn’t see them, she assumed they were hiding somewhere ahead of the prey.
Dropping her own prey Hyenafang parted her jaws to taste the air, she could make out a strong scent of hare, more than one.
Suddenly there was a squeal and Batwing shot forwards in a mighty leap, he disappeared into the long grass, but Hyenafang could follow his progress as the grass parted and flattened in his wake.
The fast appearing trail zig zagged back and forth as Batclaw matched the hare’s erratic movements and quick turns.
Batwing drove the hare forwards through the grass, straight towards his friends waiting ahead. The grass ahead suddenly waved wildly and the hare’s squeal was abruptly cut off followed almost instantly by a second.
Picking up her prey again, Hyenafng jumped down from the boulder and bounded through the grass until she reached her friends.
Lionpelt and Servalclaw both held huge hares in their jaws, Batclaw was a few strides away panting.
“Great catch!” Hyenafang praised them “it seems you work well together”
Lionpelt eyed her Hornbill “it looks like you had good luck as well, Hornbills are hard to catch”
Hyenafang dropped the bird “this one was still asleep” she told him “didn’t know we were there until it was too late”
“Well it paid for its sleep in didn’t it” Lionpelt purred “come on we’d better hide this prey and get back to patrolling.
Hyenafang and her companions made their way back to camp, it was sun high now and the relentless heat was beating down on their backs.
“I’ll be glad to be out of this heat” Batclaw complained as they drew closer to the camp “I can’t wait for the rains to arrive”
“That won’t be for a while yet” Lionpelt pointed out
Batclaw’s only response was a grunt.
Hyenafang purred in amusement, then she halted, from the direction of the camp she could hear the screeches of fighting cats.
Her companions heard it too “what is that?” Batclaw asked
Hyenafang heard more screeches coming from the camp “the camp is being attacked!” she exclaimed. Forgetting their prey Hyenafng and the others raced towards camp, they raced down the steep, hidden slope to their camp and down the tunnel that led to their main camp.
Chaos greeted them as they emerged; cats were everywhere, fighting in knots of fur and claws.
“Who are they?” Lionpaw growled in confusion and anger “they’re not from any clan I know”
Hyenafang looked around the camp and realised he was right, the cats fighting her clan mates were not from any clan that bordered their territories.
Lionpelt and the others leapt into the fray dispersing into the knot of fighting cats.
Two toms had cornered Zebrapelt at the entrance to the nursery, the first tom, a mottled grey and dark brown tom grasped Zebrapelt by the scruff and dragged her away from the nursery, raking his claws down her sides.
The second tom, white with grey paws, darted into the nursery and emerged a moment later with a kit in his jaws. Hyenafang recognised Snakekit.
“NO!” Charging into the fray and dodging fighting cats Hyenafang raced to the nursery. When she was close enough Hyenafang leapt in a high, arching leap and landed squarely on the tom’s back. The white tom screeched in surprise, dropping Snakekit in the process, and bucked like a rabbit attempting to throw Hyenafang from his back.
Hyenafang lowered her body and dug her claws deeper into the tom’s pelt so she straddled his back. It was a technique her mentor had taught her from a young apprentice, a classic Savannahclan tactic. Every clan knew their tactics and countered it with their own but these cats were no clan cats
The tom hissed and stopped bucking; instead he dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back attempting to crush Hyenafang beneath him.
Hyenafang countered his move by quickly shifting her grip and twisting her head around to sink her fangs into his throat. The tom let out a strangled snarl and ripped himself from her grip tearing out a few clumps of fur in the process.
Hyenafang sprang to her paws and faced him.
He glared at Hyenafang “you’ve got some clever fighting moves” he sneered “but do you really think you can bet me?” As fast as a snake he dove under her and thrust his muzzle upward catching her throat in his jaws.
Taken by surprise, Hyenafang was knocked onto her back, the tom bore down on her sinking his fangs deeper into her throat. She smelled blood and felt it trickling down her neck as the tom dug his fangs deeper into her flesh. Triumph shone in his eyes and he crushed her throat, cutting off her air.
She battered at his shoulders with her claws but he was oblivious to the blows.
A red mist clouded Hyenafang’s eyes, she remembered the tom reaching down for the Snakekit he would have stolen her, or worse. The rage cleared her senses and she unsheathed her hind claws thrusting them upwards and digging them viciously into the tom’s lower belly until she began to feel blood trickling down her paws.
The tom screamed and let go raising his head and exposing his throat, Hyenafang saw the opportunity and took it. She lunged her head forwards and sunk her fangs into his throat and bit down. The tom screeched and went limp, his body slumping against her, staining her pelt with his blood. She pushed his body off her and stood to face the other tom.
The brown tabby had knocked Zebrapelt aside and was stalking towards Hyenafang “you’ll regret killing my brother” he snarled.
Hyenafang crouched down and let out a wordless hiss of challenge, she bunched her muscles to leap into battle.
A screech split the air, a single word that halted the battle “Enough!”
The fighting cats halted, turning their gaze towards the centre of the clearing.
Leopardstar was in the middle of the clearing staring at something amongst the crowd.
A heavily spotted tom was stalking towards Leopardstar, a scar ran from his ear to his flank and his pelt was heavily torn and scarred.
Leopardstar glared at the rouge tom “I thought I told you never to come here Hyena” he snarled.
“Do you really think I wouldn’t” the tom hissed back “I’ve come for what you promised me all those moons ago”
“I promised you nothing Hyena” Leopardstar hissed back.
“Oh but you did” Hyena snarled “don’t you remember? In exchange for our mother’s life you promised me leadership of the clan you would one day rule, you promised me you’d give up everything. Don’t you remember brother?”
Hyenafang let out a gasp, and heard the rest of the clan take a collective breath, was this brute their leader’s brother?
“You’re not my brother!” Leopardstar snarled “you gave up that right long ago”
“You were the one who betrayed your family” Hyena snarled “you were the one that decided to join these fools”
“I’m not the traitor” Leopardstar snarled “I didn’t try to kill our own mother.
“Our mother was weak!” Hyena snarled “she wanted peace; she wanted us all to join the clans and become pitiful warriors”
Outraged snarls emanated from the clan as they glared at the rouge tom, but he ignored them.
“What would our mother think if she saw you now?” Leopardstar snarled “if she saw that you’d become a monster”
Hyenafang sniggered, an evil sound “I don’t suppose she’ll be thinking much of anything anymore” he purred in sick amusement.
Leopardstar stared at him “what do you mean?” he asked “what did you do to her?”
Hyena traced a circle in the dirt with his claw “I slipped some snake venom into her prey” he growled with frightening calm “she died writhing in pain” Hyena snorted a nasty laugh “I enjoyed watching her die”
With a wordless roar of fury Leopardstar charged Hyena, he slammed into the spotted tom, knocking him onto his back, and raked his claws down his side “how could you kill your own mother!” he snarled.
“She was weak” Hyena snarled “she didn’t deserve to live” he slammed a paw into the side of Leopardstar’s head, knocking him aside.
Hyena got to his paws and faced Leopardstar “She was always telling me that I should be more like you” he spat in disgust “she was always telling me I should be ‘sweet and well mannered’ he spat the last words out in a mocking tone “she was asking me to be weak, like her” Hyena glared at his brother “like you!”
He leapt at Leopardstar.
Leopardstar rose to his hind legs and met Hyena head on, Hyena rose to meet him and the two clashed together.
Hyena twisted his head and sunk his teeth into Leopardstar’s throat, Leopardstar let out a screech, as Hyena twisted his head violently forcing the leader to the ground by his throat.
Hyena pinned him to the earth, sinking his fangs deeper into Leopardstar’s throat.
Leopardstar struggled beneath Hyena but he couldn’t break free. He twisted his head forwards to glare at Hyena, then brought his forelegs up and sunk them into the tender flesh behind the rouge’s ears. Satisfaction lit his gaze as he raked his claws viciously down Hyena’s face.
With a screech Hyena pulled away, releasing Leopardstar’s throat, flesh tore from his right ear. Leopardstar brought his hind legs up and kicked Hyena off him. The rouge was flung away and landed a few pawsteps away in a cloud of dust.
Before he could recover, Leopardstar got to his paws and pinned him down, sinking his claws into Hyena’s throat.
“Concede now or die” Leopardstar snarled.
Hyena laughed “you think you’ve won?” he snarled, his words half gargled by the claws in his throat “think again!”
Another tom suddenly rose up behind Leopardstar and grasped the leader’s neck in his jaws, he dragged Leopardstar off Hyena.
The tom bit down viciously on the back of Leopardstar neck, bones crunching beneath his jaws.
Leopardstar screamed, the tom held Leopardstar’s head high, exposing his tender throat.
Hyena got to his paws and stalked towards them “you think you’re smart brother” he growled in a mocking voice “but you’re a fool, you always have been. I have been watching the clans for a while and I know this is your last life” he stopped inches from Leopardstar and grinned nastily “I’m going to send you to meet your pitiful Ancestralclan” he thrust his muzzle upwards sinking his teeth deep into Leopardstar’s throat. Then in one quick and vicious movement he jerked his head sideways tearing flesh from the leader’s throat. Blood sprayed the air and spattered Hyena’s face.
The tom holding Leopardstar let go and the leader’s body thudded to the ground. Blood gurgled from his throat and his limbs jerked spasmodically. He glared at Hyena “you’ll pay for what you’ve done” he snarled, his words coming out as a horrible gargle, blood flowed from his torn throat with each word “one day you’ll meet a nasty end”
Hyena sniggered and leant down close to Leopardstar’s face “I’ll destroy everything you hold dear, brother, I have your clan, next I’ll take over the whole Savannah.
Leopardstar tried to reply but blood flowed from his troat, he glared back at Hyena as his body gave on last spasmodic jerk and lay still.
Silence gripped the clan as they stared in horror at their fallen leader.
Hyena sniggered and placed his paw scornfully on Leopardstar’s bloodied head, he extended his claws and shoved it into the blood soaked earth “I’m you’re leader now” he snarled “and together we’ll take over all the clans”
C
Dawn brightened the Savannah, turning the grasslands a pale orange as the sun rose above the mountains in the distance.
A warm wind promised heat when the sun rose, but for now the dawn air was still chilly.
Hyenafang crouched in the grass letting the long brown stalks hide her approach. The lone tree stood among the tall, waving grass of the open Savannah and she was glad of the thick grass that hid her.
She tilted her head upwards, above her in the tree was a large Hornbill bird.
It was still asleep in the chilly dawn, its feathers fluffed out for warmth.
Her mouth watered at the prospect of prey and she fought the urge to jump too soon.
Movement ahead of her caught her eye and she briefly drew her gaze away from the bird to the thick grass surrounding the lone tree.
She could just make out a brown pelt moving stealthily on the other side of the tree. Crocodilejaw was moving into position, ready to catch the bird if escaped the first attack.
Hyenafang had only been a warrior for a moon and this was her first patrol with her former fellow apprentices.
Servalclaw, Lionpelt and Batwing were also on the patrol but were hunting their own prey nearby.
Returning her gaze to the tree, Hyenafang readied herself for the leap, she lowered her hindquarters so her tail brushed the ground, then she leapt, straight up in a massive leap.
Like all her clan she had long and well-muscled hindquarters that allowed her to jump incredible distances straight into the air, a trait they shared with the Caracals and Servals that also inhabited the plains.
The Hornbill startled awake with a screech but it was too late, it panicked and flew straight into Hyenafng’s leap. She caught it in her forepaws and brought it down in one swift movement. She quickly broke the bird’s neck and sat up.
“Great jump!” Crocodilejaw exclaimed as she emerged from the bushes at the far side of the tree “It didn’t even hear you coming”
Hyenafang purred in agreement “I was hoping it wouldn’t wake up too early and fly off before I could jump, it’s unusual for a bird to be asleep this late”
“Maybe this one was just lazy” Crocodilejaw suggested good naturedly
Hyenafang licked her lips “well lucky for us then” she retorted, she got to her paws “come on, we’d better see what the others have caught”
She picked up the bird and bounded away from the tree in the direction the other three had taken.
It wasn’t long before she found them, she crept up onto a large boulder jutting out over the surrounding Savannah and looked down.
Batwing, a black and brown tom with large ears, was stalking something in the long grass, Hyenafang could just make out his blotched pelt as he wove through the stalks.
She could smell Servalclaw and Lionpelt close by but couldn’t see them, she assumed they were hiding somewhere ahead of the prey.
Dropping her own prey Hyenafang parted her jaws to taste the air, she could make out a strong scent of hare, more than one.
Suddenly there was a squeal and Batwing shot forwards in a mighty leap, he disappeared into the long grass, but Hyenafang could follow his progress as the grass parted and flattened in his wake.
The fast appearing trail zig zagged back and forth as Batclaw matched the hare’s erratic movements and quick turns.
Batwing drove the hare forwards through the grass, straight towards his friends waiting ahead. The grass ahead suddenly waved wildly and the hare’s squeal was abruptly cut off followed almost instantly by a second.
Picking up her prey again, Hyenafng jumped down from the boulder and bounded through the grass until she reached her friends.
Lionpelt and Servalclaw both held huge hares in their jaws, Batclaw was a few strides away panting.
“Great catch!” Hyenafang praised them “it seems you work well together”
Lionpelt eyed her Hornbill “it looks like you had good luck as well, Hornbills are hard to catch”
Hyenafang dropped the bird “this one was still asleep” she told him “didn’t know we were there until it was too late”
“Well it paid for its sleep in didn’t it” Lionpelt purred “come on we’d better hide this prey and get back to patrolling.
Hyenafang and her companions made their way back to camp, it was sun high now and the relentless heat was beating down on their backs.
“I’ll be glad to be out of this heat” Batclaw complained as they drew closer to the camp “I can’t wait for the rains to arrive”
“That won’t be for a while yet” Lionpelt pointed out
Batclaw’s only response was a grunt.
Hyenafang purred in amusement, then she halted, from the direction of the camp she could hear the screeches of fighting cats.
Her companions heard it too “what is that?” Batclaw asked
Hyenafang heard more screeches coming from the camp “the camp is being attacked!” she exclaimed. Forgetting their prey Hyenafng and the others raced towards camp, they raced down the steep, hidden slope to their camp and down the tunnel that led to their main camp.
Chaos greeted them as they emerged; cats were everywhere, fighting in knots of fur and claws.
“Who are they?” Lionpaw growled in confusion and anger “they’re not from any clan I know”
Hyenafang looked around the camp and realised he was right, the cats fighting her clan mates were not from any clan that bordered their territories.
Lionpelt and the others leapt into the fray dispersing into the knot of fighting cats.
Two toms had cornered Zebrapelt at the entrance to the nursery, the first tom, a mottled grey and dark brown tom grasped Zebrapelt by the scruff and dragged her away from the nursery, raking his claws down her sides.
The second tom, white with grey paws, darted into the nursery and emerged a moment later with a kit in his jaws. Hyenafang recognised Snakekit.
“NO!” Charging into the fray and dodging fighting cats Hyenafang raced to the nursery. When she was close enough Hyenafang leapt in a high, arching leap and landed squarely on the tom’s back. The white tom screeched in surprise, dropping Snakekit in the process, and bucked like a rabbit attempting to throw Hyenafang from his back.
Hyenafang lowered her body and dug her claws deeper into the tom’s pelt so she straddled his back. It was a technique her mentor had taught her from a young apprentice, a classic Savannahclan tactic. Every clan knew their tactics and countered it with their own but these cats were no clan cats
The tom hissed and stopped bucking; instead he dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back attempting to crush Hyenafang beneath him.
Hyenafang countered his move by quickly shifting her grip and twisting her head around to sink her fangs into his throat. The tom let out a strangled snarl and ripped himself from her grip tearing out a few clumps of fur in the process.
Hyenafang sprang to her paws and faced him.
He glared at Hyenafang “you’ve got some clever fighting moves” he sneered “but do you really think you can bet me?” As fast as a snake he dove under her and thrust his muzzle upward catching her throat in his jaws.
Taken by surprise, Hyenafang was knocked onto her back, the tom bore down on her sinking his fangs deeper into her throat. She smelled blood and felt it trickling down her neck as the tom dug his fangs deeper into her flesh. Triumph shone in his eyes and he crushed her throat, cutting off her air.
She battered at his shoulders with her claws but he was oblivious to the blows.
A red mist clouded Hyenafang’s eyes, she remembered the tom reaching down for the Snakekit he would have stolen her, or worse. The rage cleared her senses and she unsheathed her hind claws thrusting them upwards and digging them viciously into the tom’s lower belly until she began to feel blood trickling down her paws.
The tom screamed and let go raising his head and exposing his throat, Hyenafang saw the opportunity and took it. She lunged her head forwards and sunk her fangs into his throat and bit down. The tom screeched and went limp, his body slumping against her, staining her pelt with his blood. She pushed his body off her and stood to face the other tom.
The brown tabby had knocked Zebrapelt aside and was stalking towards Hyenafang “you’ll regret killing my brother” he snarled.
Hyenafang crouched down and let out a wordless hiss of challenge, she bunched her muscles to leap into battle.
A screech split the air, a single word that halted the battle “Enough!”
The fighting cats halted, turning their gaze towards the centre of the clearing.
Leopardstar was in the middle of the clearing staring at something amongst the crowd.
A heavily spotted tom was stalking towards Leopardstar, a scar ran from his ear to his flank and his pelt was heavily torn and scarred.
Leopardstar glared at the rouge tom “I thought I told you never to come here Hyena” he snarled.
“Do you really think I wouldn’t” the tom hissed back “I’ve come for what you promised me all those moons ago”
“I promised you nothing Hyena” Leopardstar hissed back.
“Oh but you did” Hyena snarled “don’t you remember? In exchange for our mother’s life you promised me leadership of the clan you would one day rule, you promised me you’d give up everything. Don’t you remember brother?”
Hyenafang let out a gasp, and heard the rest of the clan take a collective breath, was this brute their leader’s brother?
“You’re not my brother!” Leopardstar snarled “you gave up that right long ago”
“You were the one who betrayed your family” Hyena snarled “you were the one that decided to join these fools”
“I’m not the traitor” Leopardstar snarled “I didn’t try to kill our own mother.
“Our mother was weak!” Hyena snarled “she wanted peace; she wanted us all to join the clans and become pitiful warriors”
Outraged snarls emanated from the clan as they glared at the rouge tom, but he ignored them.
“What would our mother think if she saw you now?” Leopardstar snarled “if she saw that you’d become a monster”
Hyenafang sniggered, an evil sound “I don’t suppose she’ll be thinking much of anything anymore” he purred in sick amusement.
Leopardstar stared at him “what do you mean?” he asked “what did you do to her?”
Hyena traced a circle in the dirt with his claw “I slipped some snake venom into her prey” he growled with frightening calm “she died writhing in pain” Hyena snorted a nasty laugh “I enjoyed watching her die”
With a wordless roar of fury Leopardstar charged Hyena, he slammed into the spotted tom, knocking him onto his back, and raked his claws down his side “how could you kill your own mother!” he snarled.
“She was weak” Hyena snarled “she didn’t deserve to live” he slammed a paw into the side of Leopardstar’s head, knocking him aside.
Hyena got to his paws and faced Leopardstar “She was always telling me that I should be more like you” he spat in disgust “she was always telling me I should be ‘sweet and well mannered’ he spat the last words out in a mocking tone “she was asking me to be weak, like her” Hyena glared at his brother “like you!”
He leapt at Leopardstar.
Leopardstar rose to his hind legs and met Hyena head on, Hyena rose to meet him and the two clashed together.
Hyena twisted his head and sunk his teeth into Leopardstar’s throat, Leopardstar let out a screech, as Hyena twisted his head violently forcing the leader to the ground by his throat.
Hyena pinned him to the earth, sinking his fangs deeper into Leopardstar’s throat.
Leopardstar struggled beneath Hyena but he couldn’t break free. He twisted his head forwards to glare at Hyena, then brought his forelegs up and sunk them into the tender flesh behind the rouge’s ears. Satisfaction lit his gaze as he raked his claws viciously down Hyena’s face.
With a screech Hyena pulled away, releasing Leopardstar’s throat, flesh tore from his right ear. Leopardstar brought his hind legs up and kicked Hyena off him. The rouge was flung away and landed a few pawsteps away in a cloud of dust.
Before he could recover, Leopardstar got to his paws and pinned him down, sinking his claws into Hyena’s throat.
“Concede now or die” Leopardstar snarled.
Hyena laughed “you think you’ve won?” he snarled, his words half gargled by the claws in his throat “think again!”
Another tom suddenly rose up behind Leopardstar and grasped the leader’s neck in his jaws, he dragged Leopardstar off Hyena.
The tom bit down viciously on the back of Leopardstar neck, bones crunching beneath his jaws.
Leopardstar screamed, the tom held Leopardstar’s head high, exposing his tender throat.
Hyena got to his paws and stalked towards them “you think you’re smart brother” he growled in a mocking voice “but you’re a fool, you always have been. I have been watching the clans for a while and I know this is your last life” he stopped inches from Leopardstar and grinned nastily “I’m going to send you to meet your pitiful Ancestralclan” he thrust his muzzle upwards sinking his teeth deep into Leopardstar’s throat. Then in one quick and vicious movement he jerked his head sideways tearing flesh from the leader’s throat. Blood sprayed the air and spattered Hyena’s face.
The tom holding Leopardstar let go and the leader’s body thudded to the ground. Blood gurgled from his throat and his limbs jerked spasmodically. He glared at Hyena “you’ll pay for what you’ve done” he snarled, his words coming out as a horrible gargle, blood flowed from his torn throat with each word “one day you’ll meet a nasty end”
Hyena sniggered and leant down close to Leopardstar’s face “I’ll destroy everything you hold dear, brother, I have your clan, next I’ll take over the whole Savannah.
Leopardstar tried to reply but blood flowed from his troat, he glared back at Hyena as his body gave on last spasmodic jerk and lay still.
Silence gripped the clan as they stared in horror at their fallen leader.
Hyena sniggered and placed his paw scornfully on Leopardstar’s bloodied head, he extended his claws and shoved it into the blood soaked earth “I’m you’re leader now” he snarled “and together we’ll take over all the clans”
C