The Demon Gang

[Sable]

Kicking the last cat in the stomach, Phoenixpaw scrambled up, scratches welling with blood. Her tail bushed out at the cats suddenly stopped attacking. "This is weird," she hissed. "I don't like it." Looking at Demon, she added, "You make no sense at all! You're the one who goes around killing any cat who dares disrespect you and now you plan on letting us all walk out of here?"[/color]

[goldstripe2]

<sub>Rocky still watched Ghostpaw in disbelief, but still, with a prompting nod from Ghostpaw, he explained. "When we were littler, as you know, we were taken to different places. Cloud- our mother- left us with the Humans to be taken away." Loathing and disgust embodied itself in his voice. Ghostpaw tilted his head, and Rocky said, "Humans are Twolegs." Ghostpaw nodded, and Rocky continued. "So, we were seperated, and that was the last time I saw you. They took me far away, but I ran away when they let me outside and tracked my way here. On the way, I met Cherry." He glanced knowingly at the she-cat. "She was headed this direction as well, so we traveled together. We met Demon, who showed us where we could stay in the cave by the waterfall, so we joined his gang and served as spies. I always assumed... that you still lived with the Humans."

Ghostpaw shook his head. "No, I became far too restless to stay with the Humans, so I left to live with JungleClan. I did stay with the Twolegs for a while first, but they never took me too far away. Why did you come back here?" Rocky sighed. "I was looking for you, but they said that you had disappeared into the forest, and they thought the Clan had killed you. The fierce forest cats to them." Ghostpaw frowned, but Demon interrupted.

"If you wish to stay, to join my Gang, I would be proud to have my kin here. But if you choose to leave, I will have to kill you." Duskhaze shook his head. "Can't you see? Why would you kill me? I'm not ignorant; I know that you killed the rest of our family. Why can you not allow us to return home?" Demon snarled, but Duskhaze continued, "Can you just leave us be?"</sub>

[arina]

Shellpaw avoided another cat rushing at her. She didn't have time to answer Duskhaze. On of the cats that attacked her was Cherry, her long claws along the bottem half of her fore leg. Shellpaw winced, then returned the swipe back to her sister. More cats seemed to come from every direction. ' At this rate, we'll never get out of this mess!' she thought while lashing out at a orange tom.

Finally the cats seemed to calm down and back up under orders. Cherry stayed near to Shellpaw, never letting her gaurd down. Shellpaw looked at Demon. He was being un fair!! He couldn't just expect them to leave when they knew that his little gang was out killing inoccent cats. It just wasn't right!

" What? You attack us like we're prey then just offer us to stay here? That's got to be the most redicolous idea I've ever heard!" Shellpaw yelled. " And on top of that, if we don't join, we die?! What kind of offer is that?" she looked at Duskhaze, wondering if he agreed with her.

[goldstripe2]

<sub>Duskhaze and Demon were nose to nose, growling. The static was thick in the air, the two both still panting, a couple of scratches loosely seeping blood. Since both were still highly on guard, Duskhaze didn't reply to Shellpaw, but inclined his head a little. Demon's almost completely bloodred eyes switched to Shellpaw, and an evil smirk replaced the snarl. "Of course. I never intended for any of you to leave. You can join me, or die. Your choice."

Duskhaze lashed forwards, but Demon was faster. He slid lithely to the side, dodging Duskhaze's move. The flashing speed begun again, both cats blurs in the air, blocking each other's moves without pause. Duskhaze flashed away, sliding next to Shellpaw, pressing his flank against hers. "I agree with you," He murmured to her, then stood a little further away. "So, what if we choose to fight you? If we win we will leave, and if we lose, we will have taken out the majority of your fighting forces. What would you do then, Demon?"

Ghostpaw flicked his tail to indicate for Phoenixpaw to follow him, and he backed up to stand by Duskhaze and Shellpaw. "We will fight if we have to," He said.

Demon burst out in harsh, grating laughter. "You think you can get anywhere the way you are?" Duskhaze stood in thought for a second, and then replied slowly. "It could be to your benefit for you to join with the Clans..."</sub>

[arina]

" Yeah! What if we fight you? We already injured a few of your cats. That makes it fair!" she meowed, looking Demon straight in the eye.

[Sable]

Phoenixpaw stepped up next to the others. Her russet-red fur against the shadows looked like a splash of crimson blood on the night sky. "Pick a few of your best and we'll show you what Clan cats can do!" she challenged. "I don't think I've properly thanked Lilly for bringing us here."[/color]

[goldstripe2]

<sub>Duskhaze stood tall, amber-and-red eyes narrowed dangerously at Demon. "We could kill you and your gang, now." Demon laughed again. "I doubt it." Several cats turned and began prowling towards the Clan cats. One jumped out at Duskhaze, a black and white spotted tom. Duskhaze tried to push him away, but he persisted, and bit deep into Duskhaze's paw, straight into the pad, piercing it. Duskhaze did not flinch, but took his own claws and sunk them deep into the tom's jugular vein. He jerked his claws and snapped his neck. "I'm sorry I had to do that, Demon, but now you see."

The white and red tom stepped forwards growling deeply, but suddenly all the other cats surged forwards. "No, this is my fight," Demon ordered in an intimidating tone, but most ignored him. "Never again," Lilly hissed. "We aren't following your orders any more, Demon. You should have killed them the moment they denied you. It shows us that you are weak and cannot lead us."

Ghostpaw flattened his ears and growled. Rocky was one of the cats that had not stepped forwards. "Why, Lilly?" He meowed loudly. "Why would you do that? I'm not an innocent cat, I'm not going to claim that I am, but Demon has led us well-" "I don't care," Lilly snapped, and a murmur of agreement bubbled amongst the other cats. "He is weak and we will kill him, and anyone who allies themselves with him! We will decide who the new leader is later. For now, death to the weak ones!"

Ghostpaw felt a pelt brush against his, and his brother stood at his side. "I ally myself with my kin, and with his allies. And with you, Demon." He nodded at the big tom. Demon shifted, and stood beside Duskhaze. "Fine. You will all taste my wrath." He snarled, welcoming attacks. Several cats charged him, and Duskhaze was filled with pride for his brother as Demon knocked them all down. He slayed two, kicking them away in disgust. "Demon, what should we do?" Duskhaze meowed. "I am not Demon. I am Twilight." The tom turned and beat back more cats. Pride swelled in Duskhaze's heart, and he battled cats as well.

Ghostpaw and Rocky worked as a team, hitting back the enemies and battling side by side. The apprentice glanced at Phoenixpaw, just as Lilly ran headlong into her.

((Sable, go ahead and stomp Lilly. >:3))</sub>

[Sable]

(( Will do. >DDD))

Phoenixpaw instinctively rolled with the impact, pushing Lilly away. As a good sized she-cat, with her russet fur bristling and a snarl rising from her throat, she appeared even more ferocious. Lilly hesitated for a heartbeat, and so did her attacker. Phoenixpaw quickly changed her mind when a broad claw ripped down her face, white claws scoring deep. Screaming with rage and triumph as Phoenixpaw was temporarily stunned, Lilly leaped madly at Phoenixpaw. She met the charge and ducked, gripping Lilly's leg with strong jaws, whipping her around and slamming her into the barn wall with a dull thwump. Her orange eyes blazed like fire.
(( Uh . . Were you still playing her Goldie? :'D I stole 'er.))[/color]

[arina]

Shellpaw smirked. This was what she had been waiting for! Cherry lunged towards her, attempting to sink her teeth into her sister's pelt. Shellpaw doged and raked her claws down Cherry's stomach, getting a yowl from the blazing she-cat. Cherry slid backwards, trying to run towards the back of the shed. ' Fine. I'll get her later.'

Shellpaw raced over to Duskhaze and joined in the fight, skidding back towards the warrior. " So, still think we can take 'em?" she asked playfully.

[goldstripe2]

<sub>((No, no, she's all youirs. >=3 Is Cherry going to come back with Shellpaw?))

Ghostpaw stood and watched for a few seconds as Phoenixpaw battled briefly with Lilly. It didn't take long for her to soundly defeat the she-cat. He was jerked from his silent celebration by Rocky's sharp call of, "Ghostpaw!" The light-pelted tom turned just in time to see four cats tussling with his brother. He gave a yowl and charged, sinking his claws into one of the cats and dragging him off of Rocky. The situation didn't look so good. Rocky yowled, "Cherry!" and Ghostpaw wrestled with another, but there were still two on the brown and white tom.

"Hell yes," The tom replied to Shellpaw. Duskhaze charged at one she-cat, scarred from muzzle to tailtip. He spat in disgust as she hurtled away in terror. Sparing a glance at Demon, there was blood pooled around his brother, who stood in silent reverie over many corpses. The hellcat barely panted, and his eyes met his brother's. "I think your new name suits you better, Demon," Duskhaze meowed to his brother. Demon narrowed his almond-shaped eyes a little, and replied, "Perhaps you are right. I have earned the title, after all."

A couple of the other cats turned just as Lilly's body hurtled into the wall. Howling in agony as their revolutionary queen snapped, many of them turned to run. Unfortunately for them, they often turned around to find themselves nose-to-nose with one of the most bloodthirsty cats of all time. Then Demon would emit a bone-chilling scream and lash out, silver claws striking home right on the neck, snapping it. Many of the cats previously members of his gang were dead, and those that remained attempted to flee as best as they could, but for some it was to no avail as Demon and Duskhaze would finish off quite a few of the cowards.

Panting, Duskhaze felt blood trickling from wounds that mottled his muscular gray form. He angled his head so he could see the other cats. Those that had been trying to kill Rocky had also fled, and Ghostpaw's light fur was stained with blood. The apprentice turned and trotted to Phoenixpaw, ensuring that she was safe. Rocky tried to stand with a groan, his head having been hit on the floor. He wobbled a little. Demon was standing statuesquely, still as a stone, looking out the window.

A dog howled outside, and Duskhaze realized it was nighttime. Some Twolegs would have let their dogs out to guard their homes, and those cats that attempted to cut through yards that contained brutish canines would find themselves in an unfortunate predicament. He sighed with relief that it was finally over, and turned to see how Shellpaw was doing after the fight.</sub>

[Sable]

Phoenixpaw looked around warily, but most everyone had stopped attacking. Looking around at all of the bodies left by Duskhaze and Demon, she couldn't help but sway of her feet. She didn't like this killing at all. "That wasn't necessary, you two," she growled angrily. "They would've surrendered soon enough anyways! They stood no chance!" She lashed her tail and glared with her unharmed eye; the scratches on the other side of her face were welling with blood and her other eye was swelling shut.[/color]

[goldstripe2]

<sub>Since the fighting was over, Duskhaze relaxed. He listened to Phoenixpaw's scolding sheepishly. "Okay, maybe all that was a little unnecessary, but..." He trailed off, tail drooping. Feeling a slight weight rest on his shoulder, he looked up to see Demon with his tail resting on Duskhaze's shoulder. "But it was necessary. If they were all allowed to leave, in a group, having been allowed to leave, don't you think they would have simply reformed the gang and come to attack the Clans anyways? No, things are much better the way they are."

Duskhaze was once again filled with pride for his kin. On top of being one of the most feared cats ever, Demon knew reasoning; he was intelligent. The gray tom felt another shiver of apprehension wash over him. What would happen if Demon was allowed to go on, living free and easy, able to do what he wanted at any time? As though reading Duskhaze's mind, Demon met his brother's eyes. "I may seem unruly, even evil to you, but I see my own folly. I won't allow my bloodlust to control me any more." Duskhaze forced his eyes away from his brother's. "Don't tell me you read minds too..." He muttered. Demon emitted a grating laugh. "You shuddered. Body language speaks louder than even your words do."</sub>

[Sable]

Phoenixpaw glowered at them but decided to let it go."Well then," she said abruptly, "Where are you going now, oh great and mighty Demon? I highly doubt you'll be welcomed in Penbrook after tonight. As for you sister . . ." She glanced over at Lilly, who still had not stirred.[/color]

[goldstripe2]

<sub>Duskhaze looked to Phoenixpaw, with a slight nod, and glanced back to his brother. "Agreed, where are you going now, Demon?" The russet-and-white tom sighed a little. "I could stay here, forcing them to allow me to is not the problem. This place holds memories of..." Duskhaze knew Demon struggled with the word 'failure'; after all, the expedition to take over the Clans had not succeeded. "Anyways," Demon continued, "I think I need to get a little more in tune with my bloodlust, teach myself stronger control over it-" "You should come with us." Duskhaze surprised himself with his words. "You could be a great warrior... and maybe even a leader someday, and..." He trailed off.

Demon's gray-scarlet eyes were brooding. "Which Clan is the least populated?" He said slowly. "OceanClan, I guess, but I'm in JungleClan. You could come live with me!" "I want to help the weakest first. I've taken too many lives to be rewarded with living with my brother." Demon's tone was firm.

((Maybe he can be the new deputy of OceanClan...?))</sub>

[Sable]

(( What about Dreamspirit? :/ Should we make her 'disappear?' >DD ))

"Hold on a minute!" Phoenixpaw looked at Demon. "You seem so concerned about the 'weakest' Clan. It doesn't matter how many cats there are; it's their fighting skills that counts. Nonetheless I'm sure a Clan with a small amount of cats would be no trouble to take over -- kill Taintedstar, kill the deputy, you'll become leader soon enough. And what about Gatherings? Can you control yourself among all those cats?" She shook her head in agitation. Blood dripped down her face like scarlet tears. "I refuse to believe that a murderer like you can become good so fast!" Her voice was rising and she whirled to face Duskhaze. "He slaughtered your family and you still consider the possibility of him leading a Clan?" Now she looked to Ghostpaw and Shellpaw. "And I'm sure you two support whatever decisions the great Duskhaze makes," she spat. "I was stupid to think I would ever belong with a bunch of Clan cats. I'm leaving!" Phoenixpaw whisked around and bounded out the door; in a heartbeat she was only a swiftly receding red patch.

(( Oh, the angst! D= Someone slap me. ))[/color]