Hostage (Hawkie Needed, PLOT)

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

His heart was, quite literally, throbbing in anger.

Rocktail should have been here by now.

Renegade paced the deeper tunnels, hiding a dark grin. How naive of Zane and Melody to submit themselves to believing...Believing that they knew the caverns. That the Masked One himself knew all the caverns. The tunnels were always being discovered, though never quite understood...The mercury eyed tomcat lurked in the deeper of them, his eyes catching the occasional glimpse of light that was the Cave of Mirrors. Even at this distance, the reflections still had taken their toll on him. Renegade was not like most cats, and as such, his powerful connection to SunClan enabled him a bit of...daydreaming.

He pictured Deathtaker, calling to the SunClan tom with his mind and hearing the sound of scraping claws.

My Liege, Rocktail comes. Goldstar is short behind. However being the coward that the gold tom is, it seems he's brought back up...Only one though, master.

'We shall deal with them easily, Deathtaker. Now leave me in peace.'

Renegade swiftly strode out of the tunnels, clearly back into his disguise often known as Sinister Dream...Sin, for short. A simple scarred black and white tom, Sin's eyes were hidden in a shade of blue brought to him by the trader Aristleanna. She had been fond of two-leg color contacts. Shaking himself, Sin appeared only to be out hunting.

A branch alerted him to another presence, though one he knew well was coming. The strange clan-cat, Rocktail, hissed.

Sin dipped his head in greeting.
"Good evening to you, PewterClanner. You may lower your hackles. I mean no harm. Just out hunting is all...If anyone has right to be angry it's me. You scared off my meal for the night."

Rocktail sniffed once, hesitant. Who was this rogue? He'd not met him.
"Apologies, sir. I'm simply passing through."

Sin's tail twitched, as he laced himself closer to his nephew.
"It's beginning to rain. Come, let us seek shelter in the tunnels. Master Zane won't have a problem, I assure you."

Rocktail looked remotely surprised.
"You're of Zane's coven, are you?"
His eyes glisten, and claws flashed out of their sheaths.
"I know all who follow Zane. You aren't one of them, are you," He pressed his face closer the black and white tom "Renegade?"

Sin, revealed, sighed.
"My dear boy, I had met for this to be much more civil. It's your loss."
Renegade lashed out a paw, neatly nestling his claw between the toms shoulder blades, the touch-point that would cause him to pass out on the spot. With a shudder, no time to react, Rocktail fell.
"Shame...I'd given you a fair fight, but your cries of pleading would only alert Goldstar of danger, wouldn't they?"






~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~~
A golden tom paced to the crest of the hill, looking down upon the meadow and the tunnels to follow. He did not know that Rocktail was already unconscious, shoved mercilessly into a tunnel and guarded by the few remaining followers of the once great Renegade.
Goldstar glanced back at Eaglewing behind him.

"We're really doing this, aren't we? I can scarcely believe it..."
What would Ravenstar say, if he too were looking down at this scene? Did he know the change that Goldstar was about to go through?

With a nod at his senior warrior, Goldstar plunged down the ravine, running.
"This is war."

[H-a-w-k-i-e]

Eaglewing's topaz gaze flickered carefully, eyeing the familiar rock walls and tunnels that he and his leader now padded along. It had been a while now, since he'd lived here, passing the dark times after the loss of both of his two kits, as well as his mate. The wiry gray tom had thought that there was no longer anyone to stay in Pewterclan for, but now that he was once again a warrior, he realized he'd been wrong. Take the strong golden tom that strided directly in front of him, for instance. He had been a friend. A good friend, perhaps even a better one than the previous leader Ravenstar had been, and Eaglewing felt bad for having abandoned him and the rest of his birth clan. That was why he was here now. He owed at least his life to Pewterclan, probably more.

The tom was mostly quiet as he accompanied the leader deeper and deeper into the canyons. No doubt there would be some rogues here who would see him as a traitor, for having returned to his clan. But if they got in the way of the task at hand, Eaglewing didn't really have any qualms with disposing them. Even though a warrior wasn't supposed to kill unless forced to, the moons that Eaglewing had spent here had hardened him and opened his eyes to the harsh reality. Sometimes, it was just inevitable.

Racing down the ravine at Goldstar's side, he felt a release, with the wind buffeting at his fur. Down in the canyons, there was no choice but to get down and dirty, if you wanted to stay alive.

[» Sacrifice]

Deathfire had no real reason to be here, aside from the fact he wanted to be. Born of the rogues, yet raised by the clan, he was somewhere inbetween everyone really. On the outside, he was what he usually was, cool, collected, brown eyes not showing any emotion. He had always been the loner of PewterClan, keeping to himself, and not really talking to anyone unless they addressed him first. Yet, for the most part, his loyalty was unquestionable, he fought with a cold grace that told more then the tom, and unlike many clan cats who had been raised in the clan, he wasn't afraid to kill, if the need presented itself. Looking at the cats around him though, the deep grey tom got the impression that they would too as well, if the chance came.

The canyon was like the home he had never known, and every now and then, vague images would flash up from a deep part of his memory, as though he knew he had been here before. Like the other two though, silence was key. There wasn't a sound, aside from the faint patter of paws hitting the rocks of the canyon. An air of gloom had settled over the three; as they went to their task. It was something that had to be done. and with that, Deathfire could accept the possible outcomes. After all; he didn't have anything to loose.

>><<

Unheard and unseen, there was another form, trailing after the three older cats, fire set in her eyes as she kept up. After her outburst in Goldstar's den, there was no way she would be backing out of her promise. After all, she had told Goldstar she would follow, but typically, like most warriors, he hadn't thought her threat to be true. Ears flicked back, the black and gold she cat managed to keep up, but far enough behind to not be noticed, but close enough to see the three in front of her. With any luck, this would be easy, although some part of her told that it wouldn't be as easy as Goldstar thought. After all, this was Renegade.

As they ventured deeper and eeper into the canyon, a sort of wonder came over the young cat, as the walls loomed above her, creating a shadow of wonder in her pale blue etes. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Breathtaking.

Eyes narrowed, Adderkit had been pulled away from her mission, she continued forward, knowing that she couldn't fall behind, or she would be lost forever.

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

Goldstar could feel the presence of Deathfire and Eaglewing besides him, and stifling a yowl he dashed into the tunnels. An expression of shock overtook his handsome features, as a pair of gleaming mercury eyes split the darkness.

Disguise stowed away, Renegade leapt foward. How cowardly the noble could be...With a grin of malic, the once regal rogue king feighed a forward attack, as Goldstar fell for it and raised his claws with an angry hiss.

The silver tom took the chance, shooting beneath Goldstar and raking his claws underneath the PewterClan leaders belly. He felt the satisfying blood drip down from the wound, covering his face.

I have waited long and patient for this, Goldstar. Are you ready to lose your first life?

Goldstar yowled in pain, turning back to his warriors.

"It's an ambush! Save yourselves!"

Renegade was not alone, flanked by another sinister rogue, up and rising. Anuibis was behind him, Ammut sure to be near.

His energy wanning, Goldstar sunk his teeth into Renegade's scar, attempting to rip the scab from its hinges. The rogue tom hissed, slamming his shoulder into Goldstar's jaw, pushing the tom against the wall of the cave. A crunch sounded, and the jaw went off it's place, broken.
Goldstar's eyes flashed, the pain, red-hot, surging.


He fell, his second life gone from him. A strange, detached feeling hit him again.



Goldstar's Aunt, Shadowriver bent over him, the blindness gone from her eye. She nudged her nephew, licking his ear tenderly.

"I am sorry Goldstar. You have lost your second life. StarClan will work to mend the injuries, however your jaw is something that is rather difficult and will take time to heal. I doubt that when you awaken, you'll be where you expected...As it is, your jaw will always look a bit mangled, but it is the best we can do."

Goldstar hissed in fury, pacing back and forth. He'd left Eaglewing and Deathfire down there...Fighting for his mistakes.

After a short while, he was sent back.




~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~
((Sorry for making everything short, but this is a long plot and I want it over.))


Goldstar's eyes snapped open. Why didn't his teeth sit properly? Oh.

A blinding light broke into his vision. Where was he? The answer shattered his mind, broke him down.

The cave of mirrors. Everywhere he looked, his own reflection bore into him. Voices, of loved ones. Echoing..

"You're pathetic, father! Your own soft heart has killed our family. It'll take sister Depthvision's kits too!"

"Ah, uncle. How good it is to see you here...But it is all your fault, all yours. Some PewterClan leader you are. Not even strong enough to keep your granddaughter from disobeying."

"Dad, I'd die a thousand times more, to not be your son. You disgrace StarClan with your choices. Blood is better than death, after all."


A dark chuckle sounded from the corner.

Renegade slunk into the cavern, his eyes averted. After so long, he'd become a bit resistent to the cavern. Perhaps the Mirrors liked cats who lead them, perhaps not.
"Ignore the vocies, Goldstar. They are not as strong as I. Who was it, who overpowered even you? Who was it, who drove and entire clan out of its home with nothing but tooth and claw? Who was cunning enough, to manipulate your pathetic mind? I was. And if you underestimate me again, I will kill your grandchildren. Your daughter. Her mate. Rocktail. Your mother. Eaglewing. I will kill them all, Goldstar. You must teach your clan the true meaning of fear. In your stories, tell them of Renegade, The Conquerer, The Merciless, The Deadly. When you visit StarClan, you will take them over in my name. You will pass on to PewterClan's nest leader my words, and you will raise the clans up from the darkness StarClan has brought to them. You should be grateful to me...I'm bringing you power. A deadly intruige as it is, I'm giving it into your tiny, measley paws. Thank me, Goldstar."



The golden tom was breaking, shattering. The voices were right, they always were...Renegade offered something that could work. His mind was cut in half, some part wished to revolt, never thank Renegade, but the other was dying...Breaking.
"Thank you, my leige."

Goldstar was transfixed, and with one final blow from his subconcious, the tom he was broke to peices.

Renegade grinned darkly.

"You are welcome. I will return with your death penalty later. My friends, Ammut and Anubuis...They require a payment, of sorts."
He turned, padding out of the cave.


Goldstar was left, alone, dark eyes narrowed to slits.

[» Sacrifice]

"Don't be a fool Goldstar! We'll fight as one!"
Deathfire yowled, the normally soft spoken tom sparked with eneergy, and anger. While Renegade was focused on their leader, Deathfire seemed to fade into the walls. Just before the great tom had a chance to turn around to confront him, or Eaglewing, the grey tom took a chance, and attacked Reneagde, claws flashing as he struck at the much larger tom, ivory claws flashing slightly, and then tearing through pelt. Emotinless brown eyes dark, Deathfire was quick to whirl, and then suffer a fate much like Goldstar.
Not. Fast. Enough.
World spinning around his eyes, Deathfire blacked out, and could only watch as Eaglewing was left alone. He had done some damage, the blood on his claws told him that much. Yet, the pain in his side, the agony, it was too much to hold onto. With a single, shuddering sigh, the tom passed out, a pool of blood where his injured side had bled. He wasn't sure if he would ever wake up again; Renegade was ruthless, and could easily kill him. However, he was lucky. Although he didn't know it, he was placed in cell like place, where there was nowhere to escape. He had nowhere to run, and probably was already forgotten about. The only thing he could do, was to not go insane. And that would be harder then thought, as there was nothing out there.

He was utterly, alone. At least, for now...

>><<

She had seen the whole fight, Goldstar's fall, as well as Deathfire's. The young cat had stood, rooted on spot, gaze wide with horror, and fascination. Never before had she seen a cat so powerful, never before had she seen so much blood. Pale blue eyes still frozen wide with shock, the young cat walked forward, sniffing at the blood, not really sure of herself anymore. There was nothing amazing here anymore, not when the scent of blood was everywhere. So overpowering it was, she had forgotten about Eaglewing, and the fact he had yet to attack the tom called Renegade. And she, she was right in the battle path. As soon as she remembered that, the black and gold kit shrank back into the shadows, just hoping that she hadn't been seen, yet, also hoping she had. After all, she was probably going to die anyway. There was no way she could get out of the canyon alone, and with Renegade still alive, she was a good as dead. Her mind knew no evil, no killing, or any training really. She would die before dawn, unless someone saw that potential in her, and crafted it to their own use.

But, was there anyone that could handle the hot headed she cat? After all, she had made it out of camp, all the way here, without anyone noticing her being missing. Maybe there was hope for her yet in this world of darkness and bloodspill.

>><<

The tom was an odd looking one, a black, pointed face, with a tan body. For the most part, he looked bored at everything, but was obviously not happy with Goldstar's change. He had felt it, just as he had felt the pain that the tom had gone through, just because he was not actually a rogue, but a Circuit. As his black brown gaze flickered down upon Goldstar, there was no malice in the tom. No, that would be with Ammut, she really enjoyed ripping out hearts, literally. Before she came though, this was a chance to question the tom beside him. With a gaze that was knowing and dangerous, Anubis spoke softly, tone edged yet relaxing all the same. The voice, of a healer.
"Ammut will be here soon; she enjoys hearts. However, before she arrives, I must question you. You see, you are very odd to me, and I'm pretty good at getting people."
Of course, he was soul judger, he could see things others couldn't see.
"I must ask you, why are you here? At once, it was clear, I could see that, but now, everything is very murky."
His tone was one of question, a good thing. You did not want to see Anubis angry. With a simple combination of herbs, he could kill you soundlessly, and without a second thought. It was amazing really, how much he knew.

[H-a-w-k-i-e]

Eaglewing's golden gaze flashed dangerously, as the wiry tom leaped into battle. He clearly heard Goldstar's warning that it was an ambush, but he'd abandonned the tom once, and he wasn't going to do it again. The tom struck like a snake, just as quickly, just as precise. Being a bit more experienced than Deathfire, but unseen, unlike Goldstar, the gray tom was able to land a few more than one blows than the others. But it wasn't long before the great mercury eyed rogue pinned Eaglewing and slammed the tom against the wall. He roared, lashing out blindly, black spots covering his vision. Eaglewing fell, and blacked out.

((Sorry for the quality. And the length ><"'))

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

Goldstar turned bleakly towards the voice, teeth coated in his own blood, eyes harsh.

"I came of my own foolish whims. I came to rescue my warrior, but condemed even more. I had hoped to kill Renegade finally, but I was wrong. I misjudged, and this will be the death of my clan. My ways have changed."

He glared at the floor, sinking his claws into the ground wistfully. The voices were still screaming his worthlessness, still tormenting. But there was nothing left to torture. Despite the hate he was enveloped by, the good still glowed in his heart. If he could only escape, he'd think much clearer.

[» Sacrifice]

Adder, as she now called herself, knowing of the dangers that being a clan cat posed, was shocked to no end. Although her pale blue eyes were alight with anger, there was also fear in her gaze. Never before had she seen three warriors, one of which being Goldstar, taken down so quickly, and effectivly. It was amazing, deadly, and some part of the black and gold kit wanted to know how to do it; how to be powerful. Carefully, she stepped out of the shadows, stopping by a pool of blood. Who it happened to be, she didn't know. All the blood here, it all smelled the same. Carefully dipping a claw in the blood, Adder brought it closer, sniffing at it.
Goldstar?
It had the faint tang that the golden tom had always carried around.
"How is it possible; for someone to take down a leader, and two warriors, alone? I've never seen such power. To see that leaders really aren't as they appear to be; its so odd."
Pale eyes still on the blood, Adder mused aloud, not really knowing if there was anyone in the area. Maybe an older cat would have been able to sense others, but all this blood, it was making the cat slightly sick. The metallic, coppery smelling thing was something of darkness, and power?
"I wonder if I'd ever be able to do that, so easily take down cats."
Eyes wide Adder was obviously transfixed, still. Unaware.

>><<

"Are you aware of the black and gold kit that followed you here? She was an odd one, I wasn't sure if she was one of Renegade's, or yours. There hasn't been kits in a while where I come from."
Anubis's gaze was still on Goldstar, yet there was no malice in the tom, causing one to possibly wonder why Renegade had callen the tom, as well as the unknown Ammut in. Yet, there was something in the tom, something that made you wary, as though he had seen more then one would ever see, something that called out 'Trust me' as well as 'Danger.'
"You underestimate a lot of things Goldstar, yet, there are things that only time can tell you. Your clan will not die, because there have always been four clans. Maybe it won't be the same, but it will still be there. Maybe the ways would be different, after all, no ways are engraved in stone. One could easily change the rules, break them, or just bend them a bit. After all, nobody knows the best for everything aside from the individual thats making their own path."
Eyes still watching the golden tom, Anubis shrugged.
"You are still good, your just dampered with a darker edge. Fate is working in your favor, even though it may not seem that way."
And suddenly, just as he had come, the tan and black tom was gone, just a whisper in the wind, and another voice to ring around Goldstar's head.

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

Goldstar's eyes showed a sudden, visible pain. Adderkit. She had followed him...His own granddaughter could suffer a horrible fate, and it would be all his fault. How would he tell Havoccrypt? His daughter? And then the darker side of his corrupted mind flashed back. It wasn't his fault the kit had followed him. Perhaps this was what was needed to teach her a lesson.
The tomcat dipped his head as Anubis left the so proclaimed prison of mirrors, speechless.

A low band sounded outside of the mirrors.

~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~




Another tom, wronged by a dream from SunClan rather than StarClan, was in the tunnels. Even the depth of his dark eyes was not enough to penetrate the shadows abound. Rocktail turned to another tom, one he had found even deeper inside.
"Show me the way, Valeshadow."
Once he had found the destination, the missing PewterClan warrior padded into the mirrors, briefly distracted by the elegant shards of glass before he remembered the advice of his kin, family of Masquerade.
Never look the mirrors in the eye...
He grabbed Goldstar by the scruff, not a sound of protest escaping.

"Time to go, my friend."