High Rank Auditions

As the tide of EmberClan warriors surged into ShoalClan territory, the drumbeat of another battle was forced upon them. So EmberClan has finally lost their senses… Fallowstar’s tail flicked in annoyance, as this newest assault was a stark betrayal of the peace he thought the two leaders secured at the last gathering. The ShoalClan leader had tried his best to regard Flamestar as honorable, but this treachery now left Fallowstar with a bitter taste of deception.

The air was electric, there was something ablaze in every gaze from his ranks – warriors, apprentices, the deputy, and the wise medicine cat – they weren’t tired of fighting. Some of them looked hungry to avenge fallen comrades, others just simply looked ready to fight their hardest to send a message to the invaders. Their territory with its sprawling forest and whispering shores was the lifeblood of ShoalClan, to be taken away from them by none. Fallowstar’s senses sharpened, snapping away from his commonly known quiet and calm demeanor. With his ears perked at the readiness of his clan, the leader positioned to make his address.

“Fight alongside your clanmates, we are each other's best defense.” Fallowstar’s voice summoned a tone of fervor as he still seemed unsettled and upset with the unfolding events. “This move on their part is born of sheer desperation. If we stand victorious today they will not dare attack again anytime soon, especially with the wet season just on the horizon. May our ancestors watch over us as we fight to preserve the soul of ShoalClan and stand by one another against our enemies.”

His ears flashed hot at the collective yowls of strength that followed. They were ready. Fallowstar’s smile held brightly and his head high as the ranks of ShoalClan seemed to all draw themselves to full height with unity. Their strategy was clear: to spread their lines thin, it would force EmberClan into more skirmishes than they could handle, especially at the flanks.

And with pride glimmering in his blue eyes, Fallowstar led them into the fray against EmberClan. Not knowing this battle would be one to push his heart and body to the limit. He had been fighting Flamestar in the forefront of the fight when Fallowstar couldn’t hold it back any longer, suddenly shouting at his opponent. “What honor lies in attacking us in this way? What pride do you find in this needless bloodshed?” His breathing settled shallowly after he finished speaking, exhausted, blood dripping down half of his face from a laceration above his eye. The ShoalClan leader was certain he had just barely parried Flamestar’s attempt at taking one of his eyes. The once vibrant sheen in Fallowstar’s eyes was dimming, overshadowed with a newfound hatred seething for the EmberClan leader.

Flamestar responded not with words, but with a ferocious lunge, aiming to end the conflict with Fallowstar’s defeat. Yet, as the two leaders clashed with the ferocity of their convictions, Fallowstar found himself outmatched by the EmberClan leader’s sheer experience and cunning. A vicious swipe aimed for Hazestar’s throat ended with a gash across his neck, sending him reeling from the impact, his blood painting the forest floor.

Eight...

Fallowstar jolted upright in awe, awakening to the star-lit plane of his ancestors. He couldn’t speak as he choked on what seemed like shock that the EmberClan leader went for such an outright killing blow. Reminding him that he was only deputy ten moons ago and his opponent had countless seasons of being leader over him. “I-I-” He began feeling his ability to speak return gradually.

“I won’t let him do that to me again!”

Without any indication, Fallowstar’s consciousness exploded back into his body and the leader rose despite every crimson stain. He felt an embodiment of vigor surging through his reanimated body, forming a deadpan scowl at Flamestar before letting out an unyielding yowl and leaping forward to attack. The leaders fought like water and fire, and ShoalClan bore witness to a different side of their bubbly and energetic leader.

The annals of clan history would remember the blur of Fallowstar’s teeth sinking into Flamestar’s neck, after rising with a vengeance.

Orange pelt slipped from his mouth as the EmberClan leader fell to the ground, due to face the same life-losing process he had just experienced. A rushed scan of the battlefield quickly relayed that ShoalClan had won most of their individual battles. Ultimately more than enough to stop the invasion’s progress towards their camp. “Looks like we’re winning, call your warriors off and go home.” Fallowstar’s snarl to Flamestar was a gloating one this time around.

A grimace of agony remained etched on the EmberClan leader even as another life flowed, and Fallowstar could only blink in surprise as a cat he recognized as the EmberClan deputy was soon over the leader to provide aid. She helped him to his paws and with a few stumbles from supporting him, the deputy screeched for their retreat.

Hollering yowls of victory rang from numerous ShoalClan cats along with his medicine cat and their desires to attack right back were clear to the leader. At first he looked at them, taken aback at how bloodlust and adrenaline created crazed warriors out of good cats. He glanced at his deputy, who gave a firm shaking head in disapproval and Fallowstar was thankful that what had happened to Flamestar wasn’t only witnessed by him.

“All cats who want to chase listen to what I have observed. They’ve taken a great loss during this battle, even after losing a life, their leader had to be helped to his feet to retreat.” Fallowstar leapt onto a boulder and signaled for there to be a hushing of the whispers that the revelation had created. “I do not permit us to attack if their leader is too weak to face me. We would win too easily and I fear how StarClan might punish us for such cruelty and lack of mercy.”

There was hope his clanmates could agree to his reasoning, the circumstances just didn’t feel right to the leader. “A better revenge would be for us to sit proudly at the next gathering as the stronger clan.” Fallowstar mustered a small grin and dipped his head, signaling the matter was respectfully not up for discussion. They were to focus on taking care of the injured and assist any clanmates on the return back to camp.