Reign of Terror

Quickish summary of Fallenstar's reign...Meadowsong and Neptune really just need more background. :/

Prologue
Sunlight. StarClan was bright and sunny per usual. A white she-cat dappled with patches that were similar to the color of the dying sun leaped across a pair of warm rocks, and settled herself down below them in the shade. She peered over the boulders, her whiskers twitching in amusement as she listened for the tiny pattering of paws. Hunting? No, she was running...from a group of kittens, eager to play with the former FlameClan warrior. She caught a flash of black, and ducked down once more, grinning to herself.

"C'mon guys, she went this way, hurry! We can't let her get away!" The voice came from a tiny black and white tom, who stood proudly on the rocks after his paws slipped a bit. The other small cats pelted towards their little leader, their eyes round and whiskers quivering with infinite energy.

"You just gotta slow down, Quickkit! You're too fast!" The complaint sounded from his half sister, black and white in color as well. A dark gray she-kit hopped onto the rock beside the monochromatic female kitten, giving her a little shove. They were all related through a former tribe leader, who had forced his way into power before studding himself to multiple she-cats, only to kill all of his offspring.

"Maybe you're just too slow, Flashkit!" The dark gray kitten had teased, gently pushing past her half-sibling to leap onto the rock beside Quickkit. They were just above the ginger-and-white warrior now, babbling away and arguing about who was faster. The dark gray kitten broke into the arguging. "Guys, wait, I smell her! She's really close!" The kits ceased their bickering to look at the she-kit, ears pricking in interest. Quickkit paused to taste the air before his eyes lit up. They had been in StarClan for a while now, but as kits, they'd never grow up.

"Shadekit's right! She's like..." He twisted his bicolored face in confusion. "...right below us?" They started to argue once more, calling each other liars before quickly getting distracted and starting a playfight. The smallest of the half-siblings, a tom with heterochromatic eyes, did not join in. Rather, he tasted the air, looking around curiously for the molly he and his half-siblings had chased. Right below them....how would that work? He was set on finding the StarClan warrior, he'd prove that size and brute strength wasn't everything! But before he could continue his search, the black and white kit was bumped by his tussling littermates and knocked off the rock. He landed with a sharp 'oof'. He then looked up to see the ginger-and-white warrior, eyes round with surprise.

"Hey guys, I found her, I found her!"

"Really? Birdkit, where are you even at?"

"Down here!" The heads of his three half-siblings peered over the rock, and their eys lit up. They scrambled off the rock to join Birdkit, and together, tackled the warrior before she could leave. Was she angry or annoyed? No, she had simply made a game out of it, rolling onto her back before playing dead. She had kits of her own who were now great and famous adults, and she missed them dearly.

"We got you Cardinalblaze, now you gotta do what we want!" Quickkit chirped as he pummeled at the warrior's tail with soft white paws. The molly opened a single blue eye, looking at the kits affectionately before letting out a warm purr.

"Alright, alright, then you oafs best get off of me, or you'll all squish me." They were quick to scamble off and argue over what they wanted before they settled on a story.

"Tell one about your son, and how he became leader!"

"Laaame, we already know what happened!"

"Tell us about Birchstar!"

"Eww, no, I don't want a sappy love story!" They continued to argue, until Birdkit, sitting patiently, spoke up.

"Can you tell us the story about Fallenstar?" The noise of his littermates suddenly stopped, and even the birds in the golden forests seeemd to cease their singing at the mention of that name. The warrior did not seem very offended, but her eyes did darken.

"Are you mad? Don't say that name out loud, you know what happens! Everything seems to go...really really bad." Shadekit shivered in her place, the air suddenly becoming cold. Cardinalblaze looked down at the kits before closing her eyes to take in a big breath, releasing in a long sigh.

"Everyone needs to know about him, so they may learn from his mistakes...settle down now and get comfortable, and remember, he won't harm you now. No nightmares about him, alright? I don't want any of you to wake up your mothers."

Chapter 1 - Deputyship
Puzzled glances were cast before the Clan looked up at its leader once more. Something about a new deputy? But their current had been doing well, no? A pair of warriors stood clumped together, gossiping about who the new deputy would be, while the senior warriors narrowed their eyes. Half of them wished to become deputy, almost half of them wondered what had happened to their current deputy, and one, only one...knew exactly what happened. He knew that darn coot deserved what he had coming, so he gave it to him. He had only been in his way, after all. If one wanted to get what they desired, some paws would have to be stepped on...or stomped...or smashed...or even tore to bits.

"-...the new deputy of FlameClan is Fallenheart." Cries of disapproval sounded from the senior warriors, and the younger warriors, who were all about brawns, cheered happily. Thistlestar lashed his tail for silence, standing tall on the Lava Rock. "I know my new choice in deputy is a good one. He is strong and fights well, therefore deserving of the position." He gave the dark tom a firm nod. "Our former deputy's death was unfortunate, but I have decided. This is not up for discussion." Fallenheart grinned, standing proudly as the younger cats bounded up to him to happily congratulate him. A few mollies purred in his presence, brushing past him in a flirtatious manner before skipping off, hoping to catch his eye. To be the mate of the great and powerful deputy and to bear his kits...it'd make them very popular, and make all of their dreams come true.

"Strong and fights well? His head's full of bee-wax!" A senior warrior had hissed to his friend, who nodded eagerly in response.

"Being deputy, and even one day leader, isn't all about brawns. A good leader needs to be clever as well." Fallenheart twitched his ear, grunting in disapproval as he heard these words. He did not hesitate to approach these cats, intending on putting them in their place. He had his power now, even more than before. He'd play the 'rogue card'.

"Are you saying this because I'm not clan born, because I was born a rogue? Are you calling half of FlameClan incapable of being good warriors, just because of their blood, just because they were born to fight to survive? You are a disgrace to FlameClan for claiming that!" He spoke in his usual dark and cold voice, his eyes narrowing into slits that were colder than ice. The seniors froze in their places, but one spoke.

"U-Uh, no, Fallenheart..."

"Really? Because that's what it sounded like. Maybe I should just talk to Thistlestar about it, after all, our past deputy wasn't Clanborn...which means...-" He thrusted his face closer to the senior warrior's, his fangs bared. "You could've killed him! Murderer, rogue-hater, deputy-killer!" Fallenheart raised his voice, catching the attention of cats who were retreating into their dens. The senior warrior swallowed before fleeing with his friends. Fallenheart grinned, snickering to himself to motioning to a tall gray molly. She was beautiful, with plenty of toms interested in her. She was one of the few who weren't aiming to seduce Fallenheart, rather, she found his brutality to be disgusting....but she was scared.

"Yes, Fallenheart?" The gray molly swallowed as she approached the massive cat, keeping her chin held high. The blue tom padded around the warrior, the prize he wished to have. He gently brushed his tail against the bottom of her chin, grinning back at her as he walked past. She made a face of disgust, but held her ground. She knew better than to mess with her new deputy.

"You're going on a patrol, Graycloud....uhh, a border patrol." Fallenheart nodded before brushing past her, pausing as she spoke.

"With who, Fallenheart? What warriors do I gather?" Her voice was unusually deep for a molly, likely due to her great size and muscular build. Despite her intimidating appearance, she was beautiful in the face. Strong and beautiful, great potential for producing the perfect kits.

"Nobody, we're going alone." The deputy rumbled, flicking his tail as if ordering her to follow before padding out of camp. Graycloud stiffened, getting a bad feeling. She glanced at the other warriors nervously before following her deputy. He slowed his pace to walk beside her, studying her muscular build as she walked. The warrior bit back a growl, but continued to walk towards the border. As they got far away from camp, her stomach continued to twist in knots, and she considered fleeing back to camp.

But she was too late. Fallenheart moved quickly, pinning the molly to the ground on her back, putting a single powerful paw on her chest to hold her down. He lowered his muzzle close to hers, his blue eyes dark. He let his claws slowly slide out, pricking the molly's skin. If only she had run before, like she had planned...

"You know I think you're very beautiful, don't you, Graycloud?" She did not respond, rather held his icy gaze, terrified of what he was planning on doing. Killing her so nobody else could have her? Worse? "Be my mate, have my kits when I'm leader."

"I'm not interested in being your mate, Fallenheart. Cats become mates because they love each other, not because one side of the relationship is obsessed." Her voice was cold, and then she narrowed her eyes. "Leader? There's no guarantee you'll be leader, look at our last deputy!" She cried out in pain as Fallenheart lodged his claws into her flesh.

"Was that a question, Graycloud? I didn't ask you to become my mate, that was an order. If not...." He bared his fangs threateningly. "You won't live to see the next day. Take someone else on as your mate, and I'll murder them right before your eyes. And then, I'll skin you alive, slowly, and very painfully...I'll pluck out your hairs on your pelt, one by one." He let his fangs get closer to her neck, and she tensed.

"Al-Alright, but please, just...just don't hurt me." Sure, she was strong, but he was much stronger. He was born a rogue, and then trained by a powerful leader. When he fought, he didn't fight to chase the others off, he fought to not die. He'd be more than willing to kill if necessary.

"Good." Fallenheart pulled away, letting the warrior up. She shivered in fright. The deputy then pressed close, his eyes narrowing as he touched his muzzle to her ear to speak quietly. "Oh, and our deputy? Well, let's just say you have to...step on some paws to get what you want." He snickered, and her eyes grew wide with terror. Fallenheart had killed the former deputy to become deputy himself. Which meant...he'd do it again to become leader. He then started to walk away, cleaning Graycloud's bit of blood from his claws by dragging them in the dirt. He then looked back. "Oh, and Graycloud? This is...our little secret, alright? We're mates now, but if you tell a soul." He gave her a toothy grin. "I'll kill everyone you love, and then you. Got it?"

It was moons later, and Fallenheart was growing more and more impatient. He did his boring duties, patrolling, hunting, setting up patrols...Graycloud even hoped that he had finally satisfied his thirst for power. But he wanted more, he wanted the world. But first, he had to destroy FlameClan, and then threaten the tribes with his power...and there was only one way to do that. He needed help, and only one group hated FlameClan as much as he.

DarkClan.

He went on 'solo border patrols' often, or he would split up from the group. But not a soul dared to report this, for they feared his power. But why not report it to Thistlestar? Because he liked Fallenheart, he liked his brawns and power. But no matter what, if Fallenheart wanted FlameClan...that goat would have to be killed. Couldn't have two leaders at once. DarkClan liked his plan, but they too were fools. Fallenheart had other plans...he wanted to take over DarkClan as well. And by organizing this plan, he'd prove his worth as a leader, and he would kill Spade.

Chapter 2 - Leadership
Winning over power wasn't hard at all. With DarkClan's help, Fallenheart managed to end Thistlestar's life. They had trespassed and ambushed a patrol, and Fallenheart had run back to camp for Thistlestar's help. The leader took another patrol, only to be killed by his own deputy. Did it happen in secret? Of course not, he killed him right in front of the two FlameClan patrols.

This scared his Clan further, and before long, Fallenstar started inviting DarkClan into his camp. With their help, he picked out the weaker FlameClan cats, and killed them. Graycloud was frightened by her mate even further, but did not a thing, for she did not want to risk death. The stronger cats of FlameClan were brainwashed into being Fallenstar's little allies, who helped inforce his 'rules'. And one of the rules...was to kill the smallest kits in a litter.

And even Fallenstar inteded on following that rule.

Although the leader was terrifying, he was very charismatic, and had a way with words. He was a persuader, and especially a charmer. When Graycloud disobeyed him, he would hit her a few times, of course...but he needed his partner to be supportive. Graycloud was the luckiest cat alive, for Fallenstar showed her his soft side. And before long, she fell in love with him, and not because of fear. Before long, they had a litter of two kits. One was a son, Stormkit, very similar to his father. He was big for a kit, and seemed to be quite muscular. Fallenstar knew he'd be a fine warrior. But his daughter, Meadowkit...she was dainty, small, delicate. He ordered Graycloud to get rid of her while he visited DarkClan to tend to important matters: how to destory the Tribe of Erupting Volcanoes.

But Graycloud couldn't bring herself to do it. She wanted Meadowkit to live, but knew that if she gave her to another queen, she'd easily be identified because of her blue tabby pelt, similar to her father's. So she went to the border and found a kind loner to raise her up strong until she could prove her worth to Fallenstar.